Fred Dibnah's Bolton, Pt 1: Fred's former home & workshops 

What a disgrace his workshops and tools weren't kept in pristine condition.That place was as important as any stately home in England.Shame on the Heritage Trust.Future generations need to know what knowledge and values Fred gave to Britain.A true Brit more important than most..certainly talked more sense than any politician of late.Thank you for the video.But very sad to see.

Fred Dibnah was a fantastic all round man. I never get tired of watching his videos. So so interesting, compared to the rubbish that's on TV today.

We love fred in the southern USA. So much like the men I grew up with. Keep his kind of knowledge alive and tackle those projects you've been wanting to. Push yourselves. With love from the USA

I had tea with Fred in his kitchen one afternoon - god bless him

Freds spirit is still there,did anyone else sense that ? our National treasure who was born just a bit too late but he lived the life he wanted,there is just a touch of sadness about all of this,we loved you Fred and still do.

Fred was a legend , the world is a lesser place for his passing. Sadly missed. RIP Fred.

Yeah its such a shame they didnt keep his yard as it was! That was a lifetime of work that went into that! thanks for taking me back there buddy! Liked and supported!

Came across Fred on RU-vid a few weeks ago, I've been watching all his documentaries since. They seem timeless. I had my first pint of Guiness this evening and felt very thankful to have found Fred. Thank you for helping to keep his memory alive!

Sir Fred Dibnah & Isambard Kingdom Brunel would have been great mates. R.I.P To you both.

First off, can I say how much I like your accent :-) I do think regional accents are a national treasure that must be preserved. You might like this ,many years ago I went to Blists Hill Industrial Museum (By Madeley, Telford in Shropshire) as Fred was going to be there signing his latest book. While I was milling about waiting for the book signing to start I was looking at one of the volunteers who was having great problem getting a small steam rollers fire started, next thing I knew Fred walked up, took of his work jacket and got stuck in helping the lad. As if this was not a great indicator of what a down to earth bloke Fred was a bit later at the signing Fred had a chat with with every one who wanted a book signed. Now being a decent bloke he did not just scribble his name like some "celebrities" he wrote a personal message is the most wonderful boiler plate hand writing. His wife at the time said " oh just sign your name Fred" Fred turned round and said"some of these people have come a long ways to see me" she then shut up! I treasure meeting a wonderfully down to earth honest working man. Rest In Peace Fred

Bolton council made plenty money out of Fred so did the BBC, them and the heritage trust allowed his legacy to be dismantled. His last wife Sheila was in a legal battle with the family over rights to her share of his estate forcing his sons to sell the traction engine he had left them in his will.....not nice not what Fred would of wanted. Luckily the bloke that bought it keeps them both involved in maintaining and showing it including driving it.

Fred’s workshop was mostly steam driven! The original steam punk, Bolton calling! Freds tool got auctioned off they were probably 100 years old when he was using them. That’s the thing with tools, some of them will stills be getting used properly and doing their thing. Half my workshop is older than me, 3rd generation at least. The wheels of industry keep turning but a less skilled place without people like Fred.. Absolute legend and one of the greatest working class Englishman who ever lived balls of steel, stout in the veins, a bronze lightning rod wit and a heart of gold. Climb high Fred

Thanks for showing us Fred’s house you can almost hear him talk when you are looking around , he was salt of the earth , there will never be men like him again , god bless Fred .

Thank you Mr. H for the video. Over the last 3 months ive been watching Fred dibnah on RU-vid and dvd ive bought and I never realised how much tv work Fred did. I come from Wigan however I moved away for 31 years to join the army so only returned to Wigan in 2021 and I just want to say THANK YOU for your video because I stood proud outside Fred's house and I was allowed a look at the sheds ECT in the yard. But without you Mr. H I managed to find Fred's resting place to pay my respects to the great man. I've left a dvd cover at the grave with a note on it to Fred. If you ever go back to the grave please please have a look at it. Once again thank you Mr. H Regards Sir Damon k. Wheeler KBE

Fred was a man and a half, if we had bred more men like Fred ,is this poetry as Fred would have said, no this country would be a far better place.

A lovely look at the life of Fred, one of England's true eccentrics. The videos of Fred laddering a chimney are nothing short of industrial works of art. Much missed!

He was an incredible all round engineer, not many left of that type of engineers. You have an amazing accent too.🙏

If Fred had any idea that all his hard work and tools would be gone after he died he be pissed that nobody put it to use he showed us that it was all worth it to keep this stuff going That’s what’s wrong with the generation today we’re forgetting about the past

Fred was such a fab character loved all of his videos. Many thanks for this. ……

I first became aware of Fred when I was 8 yrs old and his first documentary was on in 1979. Fred's story was greately sad. It makes me sad seeing his house now.

A Truly Likeable , Talented , and Genuine Man . Bolton through and through . RIP .

I was fortunate to visit this place in 2010 when it first opened. Managed to meet Sheila Dibnah on the day who was lovely. All Fred's gear was still there then, even his old jumper but visitors over time had half inched a lot of stuff. That chimney also had his ladders attached which you were allowed to climb but I bottled it half way up. The wife managed it though.

Great memories, I went a couple of years ago and bought a ‘dog’ (the tool used to attach ladders to walls), now used for holding up a hanging basket. A shame Bolton council didn’t show an interest early on, would have made a great educational centre as well as museum.

Thanks for this Mr H. I've only been round to gaze and take a few photos through the railings, am still in awe of Fred even after all these years since his passing.

Nice little vid mr H love watching anything to do with the great man. Thankyou

Absolutely wonderful" Fred Dibnah was the ultimate superior "a real Great British man and of men ,that made our country,,and they should of been in our governments, there would of been, no wastage, economic,no waffle and industry's would be thriving, pride,law and order, he was a magnificent historian, its crying shame this mans knowledge, intelligence,love and pride,wasn't at the peak, and now this is why ,,we are where we are now,,

Looks like it’s been sold - I drove past and had a look I noticed work had been done in the garden and lots of cars in and around Fred’s old sheds

Fred was a down to earth, no nonsense type of guy, who called a shilling a shilling. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of Britain`s great industrial age, the type of man that our country needs today. I could imagine, being sat in a pub with him and never getting bored. R.I.P Fred.

Just bricks and mortar now but Fred put the soul into that building. Shame. Really love the bloke. He was a great insight into history.

I had the pleasure of chatting to Fred for about an hour in the bar after a meeting where he'd been invited to give a talk about some of his exploits. He was so unassuming and friendly. A real pleasure to have had the chance to get to know him a little. He mentioned that he never made much money from the BBC for all those programmes. This would have been about 2001 or 2002 I think.

I’ve actually been in there and I bought one of Fred’s plumbing tools 🛠️, I have it and I treasure it, the owner is a gentleman, 👏🏻☘️.

Nice one mate,i called at Fred's about three times on one occasion he was sat in front of the chimney chucking wood on the fire for the boiler to keep the engine running cheers Steve ..

Hi mate Leon Powsney he did a good job trying to keep it open as a musieum under present circumstances and we must respect the new owners who now own Fred Dibnah's homestead as we look at the homestead we see the hands of a true crafts man who could turn his hand to anything it is amazing in some ways how I saw Fred's love of steam a real engineer

Fred needs to be remembered. Thank you.

Enjoy every minute thanks for showing us again ture legend 👍👍👍👍😁😁😁👍😀

I enjoyed this video, seeing part of. Fred's real life. Facinating and a fitting tribute to a fascinating legand.

Mr dibnah was a legend, remember me dad always watching him!

Mr H Hotpot really enjoy your videos of the legend Fred Dibnah mate Fred brought a chimney down in 1989 at Ballymena paper mill Mr H Hotpot when you watch Fred's Videos you never get tired of watching he earned that MBE for services to engineering Mr H Hotpot he called one of his steam engines Betsy his mother was called Betsy, he wasn't long in his grave that someone broke in and removed the name plaque of the steam engine

Sad to see shead empty. Met Fred ones at local vintage rally. Nice man full of interesting story's.

Great video, but so sad Fred's workshops are all empty now, rip Fred.

Brilliant video well enjoyed it thank you Fred seem like a proper character and one off

Thanks for posting! ❤️🙋🏻‍♂️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👏👍

It's amazing how Fred had the time to do all the different things did, most in great detail. I always remember Fred appearing on television in the Russel Harty talk show in the 1970's, Fred asked Russel do you mind if I smoke (cigarette) he lit one up. that would not happen today.

Good one , lads. Really enjoyed watching it and I was always a fan of Fred's activities, back in the day. Keep up the good work.

Real sorry to find out that the Heritage Center closed I visited it in 2016, really enjoyed it. There was quite a bit to see then, it's a shame what's not there now.

How sad on reading the comments and learning that everything in the garden was auctioned off ,I was on the understanding after Fred's passing that it was to be kept as a museum... Very sad

many thanks for filming his house and work area, keep up your good work,

It's such a shame to see it like that without the steam engines andr the effort and all of Fred's hard work has gone. Unfortunately, but he will never be forgotten. That's for sure.

Nice video , and filmed with respect .

Really great video fred was hero of mine many thanks making this video

I worked for the Bolton Evening News for many years, and spent some considerable time in the house and workshop, along with his last wife, Sheila, as I was on the photographic team. The workshop was crammed with tools and equipment, along with one of his steam engines.

A very nice looking pie All the best

Very interesting, thanks for posting. 👍

Very enjoyable thank you....👍

Heard a story once about Fred being on top of a chimney and looking down he saw Donald chatting to a posh bloke in a suit. When he came down he asked Donald what did he want? He said he was after some business and would give you 10% off. What's he do ? said fred......Donald said " he's an Undertaker"

Thanks for the update.

He was the last of his kind. They'll never be another Fred Dibnah again.

Did a visit to the house when was ran as a visitor centre. Was definitely an experience.

I managed to get the headgear for the museum before it went to a private collector in Cumbria . My mate Jack and his dad helped me get it to Astley :)

Spent a few hours in the house when everything was in place. I was a photographer on the Bolton News, and met Sheila, his wife, on a number of occasions at the house, complete with, two of his engines, and a shed crammed with tools.

What a shame, his workshop wasn't preserved! 🙁

I found one of many of Fred’s projects fascinating was he was sinking a shaft in is back yard to make is own Coal Mine but I believe that the local authorities stopped it “what a remarkable man”

Brilliant but sad nice to see the yard again

It's a crime how it wasn't kept as a museum 😢

Really interesting mate.

ee baa gum that were a great video :-)

The heritage centre closed?? I only recently discovered this legend and I was hoping I might one day get to see his famous shed. I hope it's brought back to its former glory at some point.

Fortunately my nephew bought this house a few months ago it’s so big around the back

He was an amazing man, a one-off.

I went to Fred’s grave a few weeks ago, quite easy to find. I also seen what looks like smoke coming out of the remember too and on closer inspection it looks like a steam train on a side view!

Well Put Together Video Lads! Should be Proud of Yourselves! Well Done.

Gotta love old Fred .. off to pt2 now

Brilliant mr h remember watching freds programmes with my late father think he’d have loved to have had a place like that when he was doing his steam engine and never knew he was a doctor 👍

I think the ball on the roof now is what was there originally before fred and his mates got the other ball from someones front garden, not sure though.

Yes i did i did like that. RIP Fred.

I’ve just Come back from Fred’s House and it’s in new ownership the New owner is a really great guy He Showed us around the place. But I have mixed Feelings about because there is absolutely nothing left it’s all been sold off from Spanner’s to machinery really sad. But hopefully the new owner has some real good plans for It an I will definitely be back. God bless you fred .

Saddened to see it without a single bit of Fred’s tools / machine parts left about the place at least if they were left there you’ll feel Fred was only go in for a cupa tea and be back in a few min. I wonder where his red Land Rover went to. Hopefully someone has it preserved.

Thank you.

I wish I did the tour years ago but missed it, a friend went on it and said it was a little amusing, as they were trying to sell stuff. See theyre still trying to sell it.

9:56 it is a deceptively big house, compared to what we see at the front. Aye, Fred's spirit was there in't back shed like! Rest in Peace Fred. Great video Mr H.

Would love to look round there, i took a picture of the b&b in Blackpool he stayed in

Sad seeing the place without Fred there.

Hi mate the chimney he built in his back yard is a smaller scale if you look at his mothers house

Just found you on RU-vid. Great content and a fantastic video thanks for sharing. New subscriber here, Del 👍

If I could have any four people to dinner Fred would be one of them!✌️

Used to bumb into Fred when I worked around Bolton as a tree surgeon great bloke and his lad who was older than Fred proper bloke

Iits ALL about the money lads like my wife soon to be x she just wants the money ,she can piss off.

Thanks for sharing

Should have been awarded "Listed Building" status imo

Just subbed really enjoyed this video 👍

There is some film of Fred with a bow and arrow shooting a line across the river behind his property for a pulley system I’m not sure but it could have been Donald on the other side of the bank trying to retrieve the arrow..classic Fred will always be sadly missed...

Fred must have been in constant motion all the time. RIP.

A true legend of Bolton what a character Fred was they don’t make em like that no more

A great video, & a big thank you. Do You know what happened to his family & his first wife Allison I think she was called

I would like to go for a walk with you one day. Looks interesting

I really miss seeing him release the steam into the woods

Hi has anyone claimed copyrights to this video of Fred's old home, because mine has?

I think he built that Chimley in the back garden as his grave stone to be honest the way he spoke about it he said that’s what he wanted it to look like . And I think he new no one will ever want to take it down.

It’s now for sale

It’s not like this now, it’s been ripped to pieces. It was the heart of what being British was. What a shame. And shame on the heritage and lottery for letting this happen.