Opening date confirmed
No official announcement as yet but I just noticed a eBay auction of tickets to what seems like the official opening of the Heritage centre at Fred’s former residence.
Update: Heritage centre confirmed to open in June. The press have been told that the official opening date is the 15th June. But the eBay auction for tickets (link below) still lists it as the 14th. Confusion.
Update 2: The opening date has been confirmed as the 15th, seems the eBay listing below incorrectly reported it as the 14th.
Word is that the first day open to the public will be 14th 15th June 2010, with the Heritage centre to be opened by Norman Critchley, current Lord Major of Bolton.
The tickets will cost £12 and must be booked in advance. Tours are limited to two a day with a maximum of 30 people per tour. The centre will be open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday as well as Bank holidays. We are told ample car parking as well as local accommodation is available.
This is great news for everyone who has been following Fred’s old house over the past couple of years. And this a announcement comes the day before what would have been Fred’s 72nd birthday!
Remember there are also lots of Heritage Centre memorabilia available for sale as well.
Click here for details:
Otherwise here’s the full text (sorry about the SHOUTING CAPS LOCK, that’s the way Leon and the team at the heritage centre do all their eBay listings)
WE ARE AIMING AT OPENING ON 14TH JUNE 2010 AND THE LORD MAYOR OF BOLTON WILL BE CUTTING THE RIBBON FOR THE FIRST DAY OF BUSINESS AT THE FRED DIBNAH HERITAGE CENTRE. WE STILL HAVE LOTS OF WORK TO DO SO TAKE US AS YOU FIND US, BUT WE ARE NOW TAKING BOOKINGS FOR OUR GUIDED TOURS.
PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT ALLOW PEOPLE TO JUST TURN UP, IT WAS A STIPULATION OF THE PLANNERS THAT ALL VISITORS PRE-BOOK, SO PLEASE DO NOT JUST BUY A TICKET PLEASE EMAIL US FOR DETAILS OF AVAILABILITY BEFORE YOU BUY.
TICKETS ARE £12 EACH AND WE ARE ONLY ABLE ( ALLOWED ) TO HAVE TWO TOURS PER DAY WITH A MAXIMUM OF 30 PEOPLE PER TOUR, THE TOURS WILL BE FROM 10am TO 1pm AND 2pm TO 5pm, THESE TIMES ALLOW FOR YOU TO SIT DOWN AND RELAX AFTER THE ACTUAL TOUR AND TAKE IN THE WONDERFUL ATMOSPHERE OF “FREDS PLACE”, HAVE A CUPPA TEA OR A COFFEE AND A SANDWICH OR CAKE, DAYS OF OPENING WILL BE TUESDAYS,WEDNESDAYS, THURSDAYS, AND SATURDAYS, PLUS BANK HOLIDAYS.
THE OPENING OF THE HERITAGE CENTRE WILL BE A HISTORIC EVENT AND WE AIM TO GIVE YOU AN EXPERIENCE YOU WILL CHERISH FOR YEARS TO COME.
WE HAVE COMMISSIONED OUR VERY OWN LOCAL ARTIST AND HE HAS TO COME UP WITH SOME WONDERFUL ARTICLES OF MEMORABILIA THAT WE ARE SURE YOU WILL ABSOLUTELY LOVE, THEY ARE EXCLUSIVE TO US AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE, THESE WILL BE ON SALE IN OUR LITTLE OLD SHOPPE.
MANY THANKS FOR LOOKING AND GOOD LUCK !!
For further detailsplease email us at freddibnahtours@live.com.
PLEASE BEAR IN MIND THAT THESE AUCTIONS ARE FOR ONE REASON ONLY AND THAT IS TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE RESTORATION OF FREDS PLACE.
WHEN YOU VISIT FREDS PLACE YOU WILL BE SHOWN WHERE HE FETTLED HIS MACHINERY, SEE ALL HIS TOOLS, SEE HIS BLACKSMITHY TOOLS, HIS FORGE, TAKE A WALK AROUND HIS MAIN WORKSHOP WHERE THE STEAM ROLLER AND TRACTOR USED TO BE KEPT, SEE ALL HIS PULLEYS, HIS MANY BLOCK AND TACKLES, ALL HIS STEEPLEJACK EQUIPMENT INCLUDING HIS FAMOUS RED LADDERS, SEE THE TOP OF SWAN MILL CHIMNEY IN THE GARDEN, SEE HIS MINESHAFT, WE HAVE LIT IT UP SO YOU SEE THE IMMACULATE BRICKWORK AND WORKMANSHIP, SEE THE BEAUTIFUL 50ft CHIMNEY IN THE GARDEN, SEE ALL HIS MACHINES ALL DRIVEN BY STEAM, ( THESE ALL NEED REFURBISHING AND YOU WILL HAVE A CLOSE UP LOOK BEFORE WE START WORK ON THEM ) SEE WHERE FRED SHOT THE ARROW FROM IN THE FAMOUS SCENE ON BBC SERIES, WE ACTUALLY HAVE THE ARROW HE USED, SEE HIS BOILER HOUSE AND THE CURRENT STATE OF THE BOILER, CAN BOB FIX IT, YES HE CAN ! ( WE HOPE ) SEE THE FANTASTIC PLANS FRED HAD FOR THE MINESHAFT WHEN IT WAS FINISHED, HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN IN FREDS BACK GARDEN.
ACCOMODATION CAN BE ARRANGED LOCALLY AND WE HAVE AMPLE PARKING FACILIES , SO COME ON DOWN, EMAIL US AT freddibnahtours@live.com
PLEASE ALSO NOTE ; WE ARE THE ONLY GENUINE FRED DIBNAH HERITAGE CENTRE !!!
Booking is essential to visit the heritage centre. For details email freddibnahtours@live.com.
£12? I can imagine Fred’s comments ….
Was the best £12 I ever spent. Had a fabulous day there and the whole family loves the place.