Tours of Fred’s House
Update: the last open day took place on the 22nd August 2009. Keep an eye on the News section for further updates.
This is quoted from the eBay auction of the current owners of Fred Dibnah’s home:
“Hello please allow me to introduce my wife and myself as the proud new owners of the famous Fred Dibnah’s house and worksite. we have purposely kept things low key whilst we settled in and got our bearings. we have been genuinely touched by the many well wishers and would like to make it official that it is our intention ( subject of course to the approval of the planning dept. ) to return this famous and revered property to its original state just as Fred would have kept it.”
“We have spent many hours, days and weeks fettling the house to get it back to its former glory after 4 years of standing empty, blood sweat and tears aplenty, and we hope we have done a good job, we like it anyway, we have gone all out to bring the house back to its original habitable condition, its a very quirky house but we love it.”
“Next job is the work site ie. the workshop, work shed, boiler house, all the machinery and the grounds, which were in a bit of a state to put it mildly as you can imagine after 4 years of neglect.”
“In order to carry out this mammoth task as always there is a need to raise money and that’s were hopefully you the Fred admirers of this world come in, we know its credit crunch time and everybody is feeling the pinch, us included, and that’s why we need your help.”
“Now then to kick-start this massive regeneration project we are going to have a pre planning application one off event which hopefully when planning has been approved we will be able to duplicate, but that cannot be guaranteed.”
“So if you would like to come to the first ever opening of Fred’s place for a pleasant evenings entertainment this is your chance, we are going to have a very limited number of people along to this event probably no more than 25 to 40 people in all, there will be a guided tour of the grounds and workshops which will be as Fred left them, just as if he has nipped out for a pint, there will be a “Fred talk” by his missus Shiela Dibnah which will be very entertaining I promise you, and also a chance to meet and chat to some of Fred’s mates/colleagues, I am hoping there will also be one or two surprise guests but I cant say who at this stage, Alan Mc’ewen the author will be there, Alan was a long time pal of Freds for over 25 years. plus the opportunity to purchase some memorabilia if you wish to do so, accommodation can probably be arranged for you locally if you are travelling some distance at extra cost, please say if this is required.”
Sorry, no items available to list. Manual Search?
Click here for more details of the tour.
“Please don’t think this is just to line my pockets, my intention is purely focused on getting this place fettled so it shines like a new pin, something that Fred would have been proud to see. we cannot let this famous piece of history vanish forever, lets save it for future generations this place is fantastic and is steeped in history.”
Hello i would love to come to the tour could i purchase a couple of tickets i live just round the corner and have been a massive fan of Fred for ages thanks
Hi Dave, click on the link above to get more details on how to get tickets.
If you see the words “Sorry, no items available to list.” then the tickets are currently not for sale. Stay tuned.
Hi Roger or Jack may remember me . Im from sussex in the south coast and a great admirer of the late fred. I made Fred about half a dozen model chimneys with him climbing up ,installing ladders, lighting the fire ect ect ect,and was wondering what happened to them. Fred loved them and told me they were the best he had seen, i even made a model of his land rover.If these items were no longer required i would love to have them back to present to our local steam museum. I was wondering if Roger or Jack had an email site i could contact them on. I have loads of photos of Fred ,the last being at a steam rally i believe in kent where we met up .He and Sheilawere pleased to see me ,this is when i presented him with the latest model i had made for him.Any help in tracing these models would be of great help. If they are still required your end then ok but i would just like to know they are still appreciated, many thanks Roger Lee
hi would anybody wishing to purchase tickets for the 22nd august evening at Freds place please email us at freddibnahtours@live.com we still have a few tickets left, the July evening was a fantastic evening, the atmosphere was electric, many thanks Leon
Glad to hear the first open night was such a tremendous success.
I was lucky enough to go to the first open night and had a great time, to see Freds place and meet some of his friends was unforgettable, the hosts did a brilliant job, such a relaxed atmosphere. I wish them good luck with their plans, it is what is needed.
hello there are you planning any other open days for the future
Hi Stephen, I’ve not heard any more news regarding any further open days, other than the Heritage Centre’s plans to be open and ready by 28th April 2010, which would have been Fred’s birthday. If I hear more I will post.