Fred Dibnah's historic house fails to sell at auction
10:40am Friday 5th September 2008 in News By Steven Thompson
Fred in familiar pose
FRED Dibnah’s historic home went under the hammer in front of a packed auction house — but failed to attract a single bid.
It was a case of “going, going, but not gone” for the three-bedroom Victorian Gothic gatehouse.
Estate agents Miller Metcalfe, which held yesterday’s auction at the Pack Horse Hotel in Nelson Square in the town centre, set a guide price of £250,000 to £300,000.
Introducing the property, auctioneer Alan McNaughton, said: “Ladies and gentlemen, lot four is 121 Radcliffe Road.
“But I think we all know it a lot better as the home of the late Fred Dibnah.
“It is a landmark building in The Haulgh and the property featured in many of the television documentaries and films that Fred made about his life and his passion for our industrial heritage.”
He asked prospective buyers to start the bidding at £250,000 but soon had to lower that figure to £130,000.
But with no bidders, the property was withdrawn from the auction.
Mr McNaughton told the prospective bidders: “I know a lot of you have seen this house and I know there are people in the room with their cheque books.
“I know people are here to buy the house so I will withdraw the property and ask people to come and see me after the auction.”
After the auction, Mr McNaughton said: “I am very surprised about Fred’s house not selling today. I am equally as disappointed about it; the estate needs to be wound up and this chapter in Fred’s life needs to come to an end.
“I felt we had the right number of bidders here today and the right sort of people with cheque books.
“Unfortunately the environment, the atmosphere and the current climate wasn’t right for them.” Fred’s home was not the only property that failed to attract a single bid.
Two houses were sold prior to the auction but of the 14 properties to go under the hammer, not one was sold. Properties included a £40,000 flat in Farnworth, a £90,000 two bedroom semi-detached house in Breightmet, and a £80,000 three-bedroom town centre flat.
Mr McNaughton said he had never presided over an auction where he had not sold a single house. He said: “It’s very much a sign of the economic climate.
There’s been a bad few months and we’re doing everything we can.
“We’re the only people in Bolton who are running a property auction and giving people another opportunity to get onto the property ladder. Unfortunately that’s not happening at the moment.”
Fred’s cottage, which dates back to 1851, is still for sale and comes complete with his tools and steam engines. The property includes a working mineshaft and steam-powered workshop. It is understood that two bidders approached estate agents at the end of the auction with a view to buying the property, but no firm offers were made.
Mr McNaughton added: “Fred’s house is still available. We’ll gladly show anyone around who has an interest in it and negotiate a price. It has got to be sold and there’s a deal to be done.”
