IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Chadwick Street, BOLTON, BL2 1JN

The former house of the late Fred Dibnah MBE.

A fun time was had helping Fred stoke his boiler for a test of his new steam engine silencer (fashioned from an old fire extinguisher).

The Haulgh in Bloom. The house behind it was the home of the late Fred Dibnah-steeplejack and TV personality. The land behind it falls away very steeply to the River Tonge.

The house at the end of the road, originally a park keeper's lodge, was built in 1854 to serve Bolton's first public park, established by the Earl of Bradford on his estate. This grade II listed building (Historic England List entry Number: 1388245 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1388245 ) is of an interesting design, the street façade is one storey whilst the rear is two storey as the land falls away sharply towards the River Tonge. It has an arched doorway, with ornamental strap hinges on the front door, and mullion windows to each side. There is painted coat of arms of the Bradford family in high relief beneath apex of right-hand gable, and a trefoiled panel carrying the date (1854) balancing it on the other gable. Its main claim to fame, however, is indicated by the blue plaque on the wall of the brick extension which informs us that this house was owned and occupied by famous steeplejack, TV personality and raconteur Fred Dibnah “Revered Son of Bolton” (Image]) who bought the house in the 1960s and lived in it until his death in 2004. The house and its approximately a third of an acre of land was opened to the public as the “Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre” in 2010. It is expected to close in March 2018.

A view from the yard, towards the rear of Fred's house (Image]). The house, originally a park keeper's lodge, was built in 1854 to serve Bolton's first public park, established by the Earl of Bradford on his estate. This grade II listed building (Historic England List entry Number: 1388245 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1388245 ) is of an interesting design, the street façade is one storey whilst the rear is two storey as the land falls away sharply towards the River Tonge. To the right hand side is the brick extension which Fred built in the 1990s. The house and its approximately one third of an acre of land was opened to the public as the “Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre” in 2010. It is expected to close in March 2018.

This former park keeper's lodge, now a house, was built in 1854 to serve Bolton's first public park, established by the Earl of Bradford on his estate. This grade II listed building (Historic England List entry Number: 1388245 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1388245 ) is of an interesting design, the street façade is one storey whilst the rear is two storey as the land falls away sharply towards the River Tonge. It has an arched doorway, with ornamental strap hinges on the front door, and mullion windows to each side. There is painted coat of arms of the Bradford family in high relief beneath apex of right-hand gable, and a trefoiled panel carrying the date (1854) balancing it on the other gable. Its main claim to fame, however, is indicated by the blue plaque on the wall of the brick extension which informs us that this house was owned and occupied by famous steeplejack, TV personality and raconteur Fred Dibnah “Revered Son of Bolton” (Image]) who bought the house in the 1960s and lived in it until his death in 2004. The house and its approximately a third of an acre of land was opened to the public as the “Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre” in 2010. It is expected to close in March 2018.

Plaque on the wall of Image] Bolton & District Civic Trust Home of the late Dr FRED DIBNAH MBE Steeplejack Honorary doctorate: Aberdeen & Birmingham universities, artist, draughtsman, Carpenter, stonemason DEMOLITION EXPERT intuitive engineer, steam enthusiast, devotee of our industrial heritage, raconteur and television celebrity REVERED SON OF BOLTON 1938 - 2004

This shed was built by Fred Dibnah to house the steam powered winding engine which operated the winding gear for his “pit head”. The steam engine had originally been used to tie ships at harbour. During the time between Fred’s death and the site being occupied by the current owners, thieves raided the engine, stealing the brass parts and pressure gauges. The current owners glazed the shed to protect the engine from further damage. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRFEKPpqVGw video showing Fred working on the winding house in summer 2003).