Dibnah house may run out of steam...
IT’S a living and working piece of history – the unique home of celebrity steeplejack Fred Dibnah – but its days are numbered.
Flat-capped Fred, famed for his love of the golden age of steam, died in 2004, but his memory has been preserved by Leon Powsney, who bought his unique Grade II-listed home in Bolton in 2008 and opened The Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre.
The centre remains an untouched shrine to Fred’s life and work – but the house and its incredible contents will be sold off in the New Year unless someone steps forward to save it.
The property’s huge back yard and its collection of oilstained machinery featured in many of Fred’s TV documentaries.
A 70ft-deep working mineshaft and pithead winding gear, beltdriven machinery, sheds, steam boilers, a 40ft-high brick chimney and masses of antique and specialist tools remain intact – thrilling many hundreds of Fred fans who have toured the site.
But Mr Powsney, 70, says the centre will close later this year because he has not been able to find a buyer to take it on. All of Fred’s machinery is set to be auctioned off in March next year and the house will be put on the market after that, unless the centre has a last-minute reprieve.
“I have put eight years into it and I have done my bit,” said Mr Powsney.
“Once everything has been sold off the house will be put on the market. It is a shame.
“I am hoping that someone, somewhere will pop up out of the woodwork to keep it going. I have got no regrets – it has been an amazing experience and I have met thousands of people. Fred remains as popular today as he ever was. “It is with mixed feelings of regret and relief that I am announcing that the centre will be closing.
“The plan is to hold an auction to sell all the tools and machinery. There are hundreds of artefacts. I have tried to sell it as a going concern over the years without any joy, but there’s lots of potential.” Mr Powsney said Fred’s yard was his sanctuary and attracted daily unannounced visits when he was alive.
He said: “If he saw someone peeping through the railings he would stop and invite them in. Sometimes he would be doing this all day and not get any work done, but he never minded as he was so proud.”
Fred’s famous steam roller ‘Betsy’ was stored there as well as his equally well known traction engine.
The interior of the home, which dates from 1851 and is set in woodland on the banks of the River Tonge off Radcliffe Road, has been painstakingly refurbished in line with its history.
Fred rose to fame by demolishing chimneys before he became a television personality.
He was awarded an MBE for services Leon Powsney to heritage and broadcasting before his death from cancer aged 66.
For details visit www.freddibnah heritagecentre.com.