American Reacts to Fred Dibnah Laddering a Chimney pt. 1 and 2

[@DoctorAkikoFukuwara]

Fred couldn't use a manlift sadly No company was able to build a manlift strong enough to carry Fred's massive balls

[@gourmetwaters6916]

Guy took down a chimney by hand. Fred had stones so big that wrecking balls were rendered obsolete lmao

[@jahhaj007]

Haha so true brother,only 2 freds bring history to life this fred and mr fred flintstone...both are my heros.

[@MrMiddenfacemcnulty]

Lol

[@xPadge112x]

I wish he was around to read these. He missed a cult following he never knew he would have. But tbh Doubt it'd make much difference but make him politely smile and say. "That's nice that int it?"

[@johnpotter4750]

Fred was like a "touchstone" the awe to be close to him, he sprinkled "Brave" around him.

[@moneybackmoneybackmoneymon726]

I’m Fred’s grandson this makes me proud that people in America are watching my grandad ❤️❤️ Thankyou to the channel host

[@ukdashcamguy500]

Did he teach you any tips or knowledge?

[@moneybackmoneybackmoneymon726]

@@ukdashcamguy500 hello oh yes we used to stay over n play in the garden I remember he had a big brass plate we used to take turns see who’d polish bits of it best I miss him so much I’m proud ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@moneybackmoneybackmoneymon726]

He built a chimney on my grans house off Manchester rd Bolton where he grew up in and to this day it’s still there it’s on one of the documentaries from the 1980,s he used to look up from his bedroom upon Weston street and the train bridge was facing his window this is what intrigued him into all he ever did

[@ukdashcamguy500]

@@moneybackmoneybackmoneymon726 you have every right to be proud. He was a one in a million guy.

[@flightssights953]

We all love Fred.

[@geofo60]

The man is a legend. He spent his entire life doing jobs the “old way”, his knowledge of the Victorian era & post Industrial Revolution was impressive to say the least.

[@mikecaine3643]

You will have to watch him "laddering an overhang" Dear God you could not pay me enough to do that . One Lady asked him " Have you ever fallen off a chimney" Fred " No - You tend to only do that the once "

[@NorfolkMancave]

I'm with you there. He was a legend.

[@garethwilliams5809]

You wouldn't catch me going on the crane!

[@frederickwoof5785]

I was sh##ing myself when painting the upstairs bedroom window frames, years ago.

[@handsolo1209]

I think Alan needs to climb up one of those chimneys when he visits the UK.

[@davepiper7823]

Fred's reply put a smile on my face.😀

[@carlhartwell7978]

When he says _I've done this 7 times before,_ he means this specific chimney.

[@folkme3042]

Exactly!

[@ItsOnlyNiall]

Correct

[@user-lo7es6gw1x]

@@ItsOnlyNiall he never fell off..lol

[@markosporn8315]

@@user-lo7es6gw1x you think ?? 😉

[@tSp289]

@@user-lo7es6gw1x Well, you only get one mistake.

[@MrAnderson321]

Fred was an absolute legend in the UK, a real character, died far too young. Age 66 from bladder cancer, 5 kids. RIP Fred.

[@kdri155]

He was a man born out of time, as well as a steeplejack, he was an engineer, a keen amateur historian, had excellent draughtsmanship skills...sadly one of the last of his ilk.

[@stevec4471]

Pisshead and prob wife beater too but I like the fella

[@martinsmith6049]

Bricky...

[@jimclarke5049]

@@stevec4471 neither from what i know hes was a friend of my best mates dad

[@jimclarke5049]

He used to rnd my mates dads n sit on there sofa in his overalks 🤣🤣

[@lyndonwortley6329]

Fred was a man who could turn his hand to anything!

[@williamagar7160]

Blokes like Fred are what made Britain the world power it used to be. If something needed to be done, it got done, no fannying about, just hard work, determination, and a pint or 10 of beer. The type of bloke every boy would have loved to have as a granddad.

[@firefox3187]

The way he did this has not changed for over 150 years. Until modern equipment, he was the last true Jack.

[@patchthesinclair5896]

So many of us Brits forget that Great Britain is actually the name of the island that we live upon, as opposed to any of the smaller ones( Pomona, Man, Ireland, Anglsea etc).Fred however, was a Great Briton, in the sense of his own achievements, a " Legend in His Own Lunchtime".

[@Gothtecdotcom]

Agreed

[@Andys_Vauxhall_Vids]

My old man said when he worked in the Scottish shipyards all the guys were pissed to the eyeballs, throwing up after lunch then starting again, but built the best ships in the world, funny that, maybe we need booze back in the workplace!

[@patchthesinclair5896]

Beer lubricates workingman's genius

[@robb5433]

RIP Fred.. The legend, Gone but literally never forgotten

[@paulgoodchild3482]

I think the chimney scaffold video is even more heart stopping.

[@alanross2790]

Indeed, man had balls of steel.

[@ceebs23]

oh yes, the looking down through it definitely adds pucker

[@ckb911x]

The scaffolding round the top of the chimney always makes me feel sick when you watch Fred climb out on the overhang and the scaffold is all moving

[@ItsMeYourRealDad]

Definitely. Amazing, brave and crazy bloke he is

[@steviesimpson1680]

Yeah it defo is there all good let’s have it men of Steel the men of old he’d have 3 to 5 pints before going up

[@christianbuczko1481]

Fred lived like a victorian. If he had been born 150yrs ago, isambard kingdom brunel would have gone to fred to learn his trade.

[@russcattell955i]

For sure Fred would have been on IKB's team.

[@justinsmith6296]

IKB would of gone to Fred and said "I've got this idea how would you do it"

[@hawkmoon4459]

@Andy XxX So was Fred and a very good one at that .

[@christianbuczko1481]

@Andy XxX fred built steam engines, the equipment to do it, had a full steam workshop, collected and studied everything about victorian engineering. He was an expert on archecture and knew alot about industrial history and archeology. He could hand build the tools to build the steam engines, as well as understand the design and science behind it. IKB designed things.

[@myview5840]

Fred's biggest regret in life was he was born 100 years too late. Very touching when he said it. I think he was on a visit to an old steam powered mill. Thankfully I got to meet him and visit his house, when I was about 6-8 years old, with my dad. He was a friend of my grandads, however Fred was friends with everyone in Bolton. Great bloke, sadly missed.

[@MikeDent]

You missed the real “sweaty palms” bit, when he lashes the rigging and boards to the top of the chimney and climbs over the overhang! Balls of cast iron our Fred!

[@Tigermania]

Exactly because the ladder is not straight up any more but leans out at an angle in order to pass the overhang.

[@CarlPaulsen]

Every time I watch that bit, my arsehole puckers like a piper's lip...

[@coyote5735]

Have you ever tried to climb a ladder angled like that, your feet want to come off? I am sitting in a chair watching sweating.

[@georgemorley1029]

@@CarlPaulsen The old brown balloon knot gets twitching like a rabbit’s nose.

[@PiersLawsonBrown1972]

Dude is a fucking legend, Britain needs more men like him again

[@allbies]

Men like that are born of necessity and hard times. It's unlikely you'll breed people like that anywhere in the developed world these days.

[@bear1245]

There would be if Thatcher didn’t sell us out

[@staffh3815]

The health and safety police put an end to that

[@gazhughes6533]

Britain was full of men like Fred . Great men great Britain

[@angelomckenzie6304]

I think Fred's reference to seven times before, means he's climbed that particular chimney 7 times before. And his 'fear" is what allowed him reach a ripe old age . Big balls for sure. Before the age of health and safety, and being tied on the things. You could see any job on a chimney or church steeple could be you're last as one tiny mistake is all it takes. He's the man.

[@chrislyne377]

I miss this kind of programme-making. These days there would be all sorts of dramatic music, camera edits, arguments between Fred and the other bloke. All in the name of 'drama'. Give me this old-school type of programme ANY day.

[@twatmunro9563]

Ah, back in the day before the BBC was shit. When reality TV showed actual reality, rather than Jay Blades and his buddies pretending to repair some junk shop crap.

[@jamesmackenzie9837]

I agree. I'm 25 and prefer the older programs. Just simply better

[@heyabusa1]

Abso-blankin-lutely. Totally agree. And there was me thinking it was just me.

[@hanvyj2]

You get better quality stuff on KZbin now. Watching two channels build wooden boats and it's got no drama, well produced, better quality than anything on tv

[@Dec38105]

if filmed now Fred would be up against a pointless fictional deadline " he's got 2 days to drop the chimney or else....."

[@dannygray4898]

Fred Dibnah worked on 1 of 2 huge chimneys that were next to each other, were I grew up in 1982. He was a 1 off, true bloke. RIP Fred Dibnah, you were a legend. Who else is thinking "wait till u see him do the staging, at the top"?

[@cudwieser3952]

He did a string of documentaries about building Britain. The no BS honesty and insight is just brilliant compared to the stiff authority by some narrators.

[@CyrusGris]

They were on BBC Iplayer very recently, sat and watched them all myself. Quite educational and 'easy watching'

[@rmcguire7033]

'Never Shall We See His Like Again.........springs to my mind. Youngsters have it too easy..sorry

[@cottonlung]

@@rmcguire7033 absolutely spot on! No grafters left. If today's youth was placed in 1939-1945 we would all be German now, sorry to say.

[@scotgoth]

i'm pretty sure all 7 parts of the documentary on him are here on youtube

[@CyrusGris]

@@scotgoth I was referring to Fred Dibnahs Made In Britain, which had 12 episodes. Its actually on KZbin as well tbh though..

[@dingapotamuss6213]

God didn’t rest on the 7th day, he created Fred Dibnah who told God “put yer feet up pal, I got rest of t build covered!”

[@nickgoode8579]

He was from Bolton 🤣

[@dingapotamuss6213]

@@nickgoode8579 Aye I know but I didn't know how to put that accent into words 🤣🤣🤣

[@xPadge112x]

Is Bolton more thee thar and they. Instead of to, t and int. Like the leeds lot?

[@dingapotamuss6213]

@@xPadge112x I should know better as my father is from Diggle and sounds exactly like Fred 🤣🤣🤣

[@sneak2023]

@@dingapotamuss6213 bolton is in lancashire not yorkshire fred sounds more like peter kay not me

[@timpies6592]

Fred didn’t invent these techniques; he is using old Victorian steeple jack skills that time has forgotten. And this was his job. Legend.

[@EmptyGlass99]

Famous saying by Fred - "You only fall off once and then it's half a day out with the undertakers"

[@tommortlock5341]

I miss Fred being on TV, his shows were somehow both calming and absolutely edge of your seat, nightmare inducing terror

[@kinasc1575]

BBC Four are showing a series of his programs there's one on every weekday at 7 p.m. and repeated again around 1 a.m.

[@tommortlock5341]

@@kinasc1575 ahhh cool thanks for the heads up, much appreciated

[@paxillusinvolutus5213]

There was one of his programs on tonight. 23rd Feb’21. It’s probably on iPlayer now or in a few hours.

[@hadrianbuiltawall9531]

Just type his name in KZbin and quite a few pop up. The overhanging tower can make you scared of heights while your sat in a chair.

[@tommortlock5341]

@@hadrianbuiltawall9531 I can't watch the end of this one hahaha

[@richardamner7432]

The guy was and still is a legend in the UK.

[@RayM53]

Fred is deeply missed, he was the sort of person everybody wished they knew personally and despite being famous throughout the whole UK, he never let it change him. Old fashioned and brilliant.

[@rogerbrown5763]

would have loved to have a few beers with him

[@bikerchrisukk]

Well said and spot on 👍

[@richardamner7432]

If he was still alive he would be in my top ten legends list to go to the pub with on day 1 after lockdown.

[@bikerchrisukk]

@@richardamner7432 And in a perfect world, we'd come out the pub the day after :)

[@johnchetwynd3618]

Fred, a legend in the U.K. and a national treasure. Biggest balls in the world. Never affected by the fame he got. Much missed

[@matthewparsons4955]

I second that.......

[@gjsrc9667]

he was a legend and I loved his programs at one time I watched with pride coming from Bolton myself, shame he was a wife beater

[@stevehessle1959]

Fred was like an Engineer from the Victorian era transported to the 20th century. Hugely knowledgeable and continued to make tv series despite suffering from cancer from which he died in November 2004. Still classed as a 'National Treasure' . His programmes are often re-run.

[@jasonlund6770]

You’ve not even seen the bit where Fried has to negotiate the Chiminey rim, “not even King Kong has balls that big!”.

[@myelvischannel1992]

That's a gooden made me laugh

[@raymartin7172]

You've got to watch that one.. My heart was in. My mouth the whole time.

[@charlestaylor3027]

Mountain climbers negotiate overhangs all the time.

[@streetkaaccord344]

There's one where he gets to the top of a chimney, and it's bigger than he thought. And he shouts 'you could ride a bike up here'

[@mk1cortinatony395]

@@streetkaaccord344 i remember seeing that for the first time and cracking up at his comment. Better than "one small step for......."

[@rossturpin8047]

Glad that Fred has made it across the pond. He’s a working man hero here in the UK. PEACE ✌️

[@TheUnsignedbands]

Fred was a legend . This is no exhibition, this is how the guy worked. He rebuilt steam engines and machinery as well. The man loft was for the camera guys.

[@arto679]

Men like him built this country and men in fancy suits tore it down

[@johnbeck1978]

Men in dirty boiler suit's and flat caps built this country, men in suits with expensive ties ruined it. ::Fred Dibnah.

[@arto679]

@@johnbeck1978 alas the pen is mightier than the sword

[@Durgesuth]

Have you heard the story when Fred sent the tv producer up the ladders in his pin stripe suit? It’s scary...

[@arto679]

@@Durgesuth not heard that one, be nice if there was some footage of it

[@Durgesuth]

@@arto679 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jl7Can5vjJp5g5o

[@finbarstadt7213]

Fred's not climbed seven chimneys - he meant that he's climbed that particular chimney seven times. Man's a legend.

[@PaulWhitley]

About to say the same thing.

[@ppgedez]

Freds the man. No doubt. 🇬🇧

[@callyemby4587]

He climbed and felled hundred's of chimneys. The man was truly a legend

[@ianaddie7779]

Yup we all knew that but ...

[@gmseed1908]

Fred and his kind were men who had real balls. There are few who would go up a chimney like that. The classic for me is when he passes over the overhang. Once the ladders are strapped to the chimney there is great footage of him climbing the entire length of the ladders with tools and lunch tied to a rope round his waist. He climbs the entire length of the ladders in a one without the use of safety rope, passes the overhang and then stands on the top smoking a cigarette and throws the butt over the side. His classic lone is that you ride a bicycle round the top. It is some of the best documentary footage you'll ever see. I saw this footage when it came out several years ago and it made Fred an instant hero. I am from Lancashire in the UK and Fred is missed greatly since he was an absolute legend.

[@jolo-bolo]

I knew Fred drank with him and spoke to him a few time boy the man could drink. The lift platform would be filming and if he had to hire on it would cost a fortune. They have to many wind restrictions on the lift platforms so he wouldn’t be able to use them and would lose to many work days. Fred was up those chimneys rain shine wind you name it he was a worker and didn’t take fools gladly. Was a sad day when he passed.

[@sootymush1]

Absolute legend was Fred 👍 Kev hope you concur with putting Freds knowledge into our school curriculum 😀

[@kez0o9]

Common occurrence to see his land rover driving round back in the day round Bolton. His love was his steam engines had his own collection. Built a statue of him which resides in the town centre still

[@computertechnician4896]

Yes, That's correct. That platform was just for the film crew.

[@TheMish65]

We Brits loved this man, he was a legend. When he died all his skills were lost forever. The world needs men like him, the only one who comes close is GUY MARTIN he has balls of steel too.

[@johnclark1925]

This! 😎👍

[@MrOttman001]

Here we are watching the documentation of his skills that Fred left for future generations. While they have fallen out of practice, those skills are not lost due to a great man. I know it's not quite the same, but it's still a wonderful achievement.

[@wilspu5590]

Both hard core northerners.

[@tooyoungtobeold8756]

Guy Martin is brave but not that bright. Fred was very bright.

[@robertwoodliff2536]

@@tooyoungtobeold8756.......,i would not judge this on brightness, this is Dibnah's working life, Martin, we mostly see his hobbies, not the smarts he take to his working life.

[@marconi460]

Fred was one of the last of the old school steeple jacks, he still used the old methods and was being filmed to record his methods. He was famous for his knowledge of old engineering and a legend in the UK.

[@zigzee1]

Fred was a national treasure here in England. Not only repaired the chimneys, but also knocked them down -worth seeing. Fabulous Character - god bless him. RIP.

[@mikeselectricstuff]

And he probably had a few beers at lunchtime as well...

[@mark314158]

Probably?

[@1973retrorabbit]

That was the done thing, when I worked in the shipyard. The barman in the snooker club had 3 or 4 trays of beer and a couple of trays of whisky and vodka ready when we arrived, just so he'd have a chance of keeping up with the orders, the other pub we went to used to serve up free soup and bread to go with our pints. Good times, doesn't happen anymore. That said, the canteen where I work is licensed... 🤔

[@TheDoosh79]

It dates back to when water wasn't fit to drink, so all the men in heavy industry like forging etc. would hydrate with pints of weak beer because the water used in brewing had been boiled, so beer was safer to drink than water!

[@liquefactiondnb]

I'd have to drink a pub to do what he did

[@stuartstevens2069]

A few brown ales at least..😂😂

[@rogerhitchcock]

Fred was a national treasure, his knowledge of engineering and mechanics from the Victorian age was amazing. He had an incredible knowledge and hands on experience never see his like again.

[@cottonlung]

Alot of knowledge and wisdom was lost when fred left us.

[@slayer9240]

Yes it was sadly 😔.

[@Durgesuth]

Some of the old ways yes..... But this is a traditional way of laddering a chimney stack ... not much different today apart from the safety lines.....

[@tamar5261]

Yes we did, but there are lots of Fred type guys working away in the background that just haven't been discovered. I used to love fred

[@fatlad5090]

brilliant old fred deid in 2004 RIP he is a legend and balls of steel watch all his stuff he was from Bolton Northen England proper English accent

[@HuntersMoon78]

Fred had Adamantium balls

[@johnbeck1978]

Balls of phosphor bronze.

[@deanburrell5595]

He died because the soft millennials had arrived

[@youneverseeanoldmaneatinga7416]

@@deanburrell5595 'Soft milenials' had arrived way before then considering the older 'milenials' are pushing 40. You're probably misusing that label for generation Z. Most people make the same mistake as they don't know what they're talking about. This whole milenial/boomer labelling shite is getting really old.

[@northernguerrilla3168]

The man was all that it means to be a northerner, a true legend.

[@wallbanger6248]

I went down the Fred dibnah rabbit hole of videos a few years ago and trust me it gets even more insane...I don’t know how the guy was able to carry those massive balls up those ladders

[@damiano7612]

Same here! Watched them all. Sad when the wife left him, he was in bits.

[@iainfield9906]

Fred was a national treasure. Thank you for your tribute.

[@paulbangash4317]

Fred is a Lancashire legend . And yes , it is how they were still doing it. Check out the one with the overhanging chimney. Or Fred episode 4 : drinking and climbing gives an insight into the fellow himself ( and north west England/Lancashire).

[@CatholicSatan]

This is the one that had me shaking my head - and I used to go mountain climbing. Just bonkers!

[@ceebs23]

yep similarly, natural heights, no problem, but those, you'd have to remove my fingers from the rungs with a crowbar

[@1998TDM]

The one where he goes to the pub for lunch? Nice looking pint.

[@jahhaj007]

I got a job erecting tower cranes in 1970s shown basics in company yard just 1st couple of sections rest was on site we erected a 240ft crane and guys went to the pub to celibrate toping out then went back to finish the gib/arm these guys were not only going out climbing along the side of the arm to the end but walking along the beam on the top of the triangle arm no harness and more than a couple of pints in them! I quit before 2nd job didnt trust myself not to do same.

[@grahamjones4888]

I knew Fred for years and helped him out on occasions. He was still doing this 15yrs ago. You need to see him board the top and also climbing out over a parapet!!

[@ManxAndy]

Fred’s saying was.......if you fall off them, it’s half a day out with the undertaker....you tend to only fall off them once....lol 👍🤣🇮🇲

[@christianbuczko1481]

When he says he's done it 7 times before, he meant hes done THAT CHIMNEY 7 times, those holes are nicely spaced because he drilled them. And english health and safety are just as impressed with freds methods. Thats why he was popular, everyone watching thought he was crazy. However, he is actually a genius and was a living museum even when he first became famous in the early 80's.

[@hadrianbuiltawall9531]

Says something that even if they used the crane to lift and secure the ladder to the chimney, they'd still use the ladder to work off. Once its fastened its going nowhere.

[@roddersfiftynine]

Puts John Noakes climbing Nelson`s column firmly in the shade ! I was lucky enough to meet Fred at a Steam Traction Engine Rally in Cheshire - a lovely man. Interesting to note that the camera crew refused to film Fred climbing the chimney unless they were given saftely harnesses and hard hats (both of which Fred din`t need).

[@ireway1988]

Born and raised in my home town of Bolton, North West England. We have a statue to him on Newport street.

[@lynnelowe7615]

That statue looks nowt like Fred!

[@gailcrook2687]

Just to say, my friend has Bolton ' s first ever number plate, BN 4, 1904

[@shaunportlock4924]

He had a nice house in the centre

[@ELLIOTNEWPIP]

I’m a Londoner, and respect him through and through. Well done Fred

[@flightssights953]

Are the statues of Peter Kay and Big Sam coming soon?

[@davidbonnett2422]

I was with Fred doing a chimney repair and lunch time he'd had 6 pints of beer and went back up the chimney.

[@barnabus1976]

And I'll bet he was almost sober as a judge while climbing it...

[@davidbonnett2422]

@@barnabus1976 yes he said he has a few more if it's cold as it numbs the pain, fantastic man, same off screen as on.

[@davidmarsalis1522]

That’s why Fred was Fred . Absolutely fearless. It’s amazing watching him it really is. I don’t think anyone will ever be like him again. And he was born about 70 years too late. Just incredible he definitely knew what he was doing. 💪🏼.

[@janwitts2688]

Back in the days that a tradesman could support a good sized family... Nowadays... 2 adults worked to death and not even able to support basic lifestyle let alone kids..

[@Robbo1966]

Totally agree. The Capitalists, fund managers, tax accountants, consultants? have all got there greedy noses in the trough. The good wages have gone for ever.

[@timmy3456]

So true my mum and dad bought us up on a digger drivers wage. We had holidays 2 cars and raced moto x. Know i drive the same type of machine and have to do 6 days a week just pay bills. Its just all a trap

[@gailcrook2687]

A miserable time for you, but just to say, it wasn't easy either, we went without things that people take for granted, no car, phone, central heating, washing machine, not even a fridge for years, definitely no holidays either., but it was easier to get a mortgage, we borrowed three times my ex's s salary, £ 2, 700 to buy a £ 3.000 house and borrowed the £ 300 deposit, I was earning £ 7 Pw, doing evening work, it was hard tbh, all the washing was done by hand and disposable nappies were unheard of.

[@FullCanoe]

Exactly! Somewhere in the 60's, the workforce were doubled. Now that should mean that the household income was too, but in general that certainly does not seem to be the case. I feel that somewhere, someone is laughing all the way to the bank.

[@sally6457]

I'm almost 40years old, I remember seeing Fred demolish a similar chimney in my hometown when I was around 10 years old, I've recently found out that he charged less than £1000, (around $1700 at the time) That was in 1990, In 2008, only 18years later a statue was erected in his memory, at a cost of £46,000. People filming themselves climbing cranes on youtube as a hobby make more money than he could ever imagine. He worked 100 times harder than any modern construction industry executive for 1000 time less money.

[@paulentwistle1204]

Fred was a friend and drinking buddy of my father. I have met him several times and he is what you see. He was born 150 years to late, he should have been Victorian.

[@Robbo1966]

I agree there, especially when he described the landscape when he was a young man, described the dying manufacturing, factories and all the chimneys

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

Actually, I beleive he was a Victorian! Thoroughly nice chap though. Met him a couple of times,

[@heathcotepursuit8]

He was born in 1938 so 150 years earlier would have made him a Georgian not a Victorian and there'd have been precious few chimneys for him to climb :)

[@PercyPruneMHDOIFandBars]

@ Heathcote Pursuit: I was talking spiritually and mentally. The man was a legend!

[@comedywriter8408]

There is no question, Fred was very intelligent. He was multi-talented. He originally went to art school, and his drawings are something to behold. He was a natural born engineer, there wasn't much he couldn't design, fix or improve. He had nerves of steel, as witnessed by his work at extreme heights. And lastly, he was thoroughly entertaining, which accounts for the huge TV viewership which he richly deserved.

[@tomm9752]

The one I love is 'fred dibnah, how to climb an overhang at 50+' more suspense than any horror film lol

[@johnbeck1978]

That one makes me sweat just watching it

[@tomm9752]

@@johnbeck1978 yep every time.

[@AA-yg5jm]

Not exaggerating, went dizzy watching that

[@BernardWilkinson]

India Mill. In my home town or as I say "Mi 'ome town"

[@Durgesuth]

Yet Fred said that chimney was a friendly one..... Curls my toes thinking about it😀

[@bearclawdius]

Fred was the David Attenborough of the engineering world. He was awesome and truly unique.

[@ekibarthenid]

One thing to note on the wooden plugs for the dogs, they have to be bone dry seasoned timber so if they get damp they expand and tighten the grip , if the wooden plugs are damp or fresh they will shrink and your dead..

[@mikejames3060]

Over in the UK we are very proud of our boy Fred such a kind and gentle soul is great we have films to remember him. Decent reaction vid.

[@redacted4246]

I could (and have) watch Fred Dibnah all day long. They don't make them like him anymore.

[@danielthomas1735]

Completely agree, I met him when I was a kid at a Steam Rally.

[@damedusa5107]

@@danielthomas1735 this comment is almost copy and paste. Seems like so many met him. Good that he was about and so approachable.

[@nipperparr6709]

Fred was one of are national treasures still is I grew up watching him and still love watching him to this day it's great to see other people from around the world can now have have the pleasure in watching this great man!!

[@Hockernant]

Fred always did the ladders when working on the chimney’s. The lift was just for the film crew. Fred loved everything about the industrial revelation. His job as a steeplejack was a job started in that period and he used the techniques and tools used for that job. His own workshop at his house was all steam powered using Victorian machinery. Cannot forget about his beloved steam traction engine

[@OriginalgEd]

I saw Fred at the Bishops Castle steam fair with his traction engine in about 1976 ish. Heck of a bloke.

[@Hockernant]

@@OriginalgEd when i was younger i watched a few of the Fred documentaries or Tv shows he did in his later life with my grandparents even went to one of the museums he featured with them

[@twowheelsandwhiskey3868]

Old Fred had balls of steel, i am a tree surgeon and this scares the bejesus out of me lol

[@garytaylor5273]

So am I, I e had a few scary trees but he is on another level

[@the_useless_photographer]

Watch the scaffolding by our Fred around the top of a chimney for another scare. Then watch the one where he climbs to the very top over the collar. He angles the ladders and simply climbs up at an angle. It's how they did things back then.

[@ganjiblobflankis6581]

When you ladder chimneys for decades without safety gear and are still walking, you carry on doing it that way. I would not say he was superstitious, but he was eminently practical and had a logical method that empirically worked over and over again. If he had put his mind to inventing a giant steam powered cherry picker that functioned to his satisfaction then he would have used that, but he was busy steeplejacking.

[@Durgesuth]

He was superstitious.... Fred never lit the fire when he toppled chimneys.... It was normally his wife....

[@RenaissanceEarCandy]

"Steam Powered Cherry Picker" sounds like an avant garde folk metal band, or the name of a company that makes steampunk jewellery.

[@pasti67]

The legend that is Mr Fred Dibnah. One of his regular sayings was "did yer like that?" Fond memories of a very talented man!

[@gizmo1252000]

that was his job ,not for show ,he did it ,day in day out ,he was a national treasure and sadly missed by all :(

[@darrenjones5885]

It frightening to watch Fred at heights even knowing that he survived his career as a steeplejack. He was, and is, immensely popular as a TV presenter as he’d talk to experts and in getting answers for himself he got them for his viewers. Guy Martin does similar today.

[@jabbawonger6572]

Fred was a national treasure. Great to see him still being appreciated.

[@MakoyUnggoy]

The man was a legend, my stomach would be churning sitting in that cradle on the crane just doing the filming!

[@douglasfleetney5031]

This was filmed back in the late 1970's and through the 1980's. The man lift is for the film crew who were with him part time. He used the ladders as he had to work between filming. Things have changed since this series was filmed, it would never be done like this today. I am a UK resident, and remember this first time it was shown.

[@WillieDines1]

Nope, this particular video with Fred laddering the chimney was recorded around 1993/94 and he still did it the old school way right up until about a year or 2 before he died, God bless him.

[@awildman69]

The lift was just for the film crew, Fred always did it old school.

[@MF-tw2xn]

i remember Fred and he was a legend and a gentleman also know by most people in the north west of england , fred did things the old fashioned way even though there was others doing this with more modern equipment this is how fred could do a cheaper quote for the job than some others , Even though this looks as if its before health and safety regs its not , obviously they were not like they are now but if this was a guy working for fred it would not have happen, but because fred is working for himself it was not needed the same , but yes for sure if it was now it would not be allowed at all , RIP Fred , Thanks for the reaction loved it

[@andrewharrison1194]

In the immortal words of the great Fred Dibnah "D'ya like that?". :o)

[@MegaBartle]

It broke his soul making money from destroying Lancashire's last large industrial chimneys.

[@matthewparsons4955]

End of an empire..

[@spwicks1980]

It did. Better him than some random though. He kept them safe and pretty for years then took them down at the end.

[@tuc-dh4df]

He is England's hero, and always will be! Rest in love Fred.

[@judgesan9542]

That was not for show he did the job. One hell of a self taught man on most things and very clever.

[@GediSpock]

Fred was the real deal.

[@scottywong]

Fred did it old school...cos it was cheaper lol

[@eamonnquinn9585]

I had the pleasure of meeting him once and bought him a pint in my local pub. He was a true gent, the truth was he did a great job, honest workmanship through and through. I’d shit myself doing that job, falling six foot will kill you just a sure as 600, it the attitude that makes it safe..

[@danw1374]

@@eamonnquinn9585 Half day out with the undertaker! Good old Fred

[@daveofyorkshire301]

This is an old fashioned steeplejack. Watch him demolish chimneys without explosives... This guy has no fear of heights...

[@drdassler]

I think he watched that one. 👍

[@paulmcdonough1093]

he does fear heights he just respects the height and is aware of it

[@Durgesuth]

It’s something you cannot teach .... After the old boys showed him what to do.... he would have gone and done it on his own

[@daveofyorkshire301]

@@paulmcdonough1093Any man who can climb a 300ft chimney stand at the top without harness or support, lean over the edge and wave down to someone - has no fear of heights...

[@MB-oc1nw]

Absolute legend with balls of steel...

[@BWFCLVAREY]

Yes EB, love seeing you react to more Fred. He’s so loved in Bolton he has a statue In the town centre.

[@claregale9011]

Is it true he was a bit of a git to his wife ?

[@BWFCLVAREY]

@@claregale9011 wouldnt like to say 100%. If you watch a certain one of his vids on here, they were filming when she divorced him. The man was married to his work and was old fashioned to say the least.

[@Zooumberg]

@@claregale9011 only as all the money they had went on his hobby, they never had a holiday for several years as he was spending all the cash on his steam engine.

[@markpalmer7215]

@@claregale9011 Fred’s first wife seemed like a nice lady & put up with a lot. Fred was married to his job & his hobby so she left him. His second wife knew full well what she was getting into & changed him in many ways but then left him took his boys with her & don’t have much time for her....which really hit him hard. 3rd & final wife, don’t know much about her.

[@MJK808]

That crane lift was for the camera crew, brother.

[@andyroid2555]

That big cherry picker probably cost more to hire to film him than he was getting for the job.

[@johnnosiennek7066]

Even with that they weren't higher than Fred

[@hadrianbuiltawall9531]

Wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if filming had to stop every time the wind got too bad. Those cranes are lethal in strong wind (which you tend to get in that part of the UK). Freds ladders though would probably survive a hurricane (and probably Fred coz he knows how to tie a decent knot).

[@johnnosiennek7066]

@@andyroid2555 As Fred said he was up there to give an estimate for the job

[@camrunner6633]

You can bet your life they were bricking it the whole time

[@charliecharliewhiskey9403]

I think when he mentions drilling a hole, he's referring to what he'd be doing if it were an unclimbed tower. Since this tower has been laddered before, the drilling is replaced with re-opening an old hole with the hammer and chisel.

[@MrSychnant]

When he climbs up and onto the scaffolding boards is good.. best of all is when he just stands on top of one and demolishes it by hand with just a hammer and chisel.

[@shauncarpenter2054]

I have one of his DVDs of him doing it and he explains that his quote to do the job was £7000, a mere pittance for what was involved

[@christophervause3061]

As Fred says "If it goes wrong, it's half a day out with an undertaker" And he was still doing this in his sixties.

[@paulharrop5879]

The scariest bit is at the top when he stands on the edge of the chimney . If you don't like heights do not watch

[@markcalder3496]

We have to remember that this was most likely filmed 40 years ago.

[@99strider]

@@markcalder3496 filmed in '79 i believe, grew up watching the fred Dibnah stuff as a kid, I'm still scared of heights to this day.... ;-)

[@valium-fm7236]

@@99strider it was filmed circa 1990s. Look at his initials with the date 1989 , on the chimney near the bottom.

[@lukejoseph3160]

The last of this series was filmed in the 1990s the irony of it was the ITV film crew went up along side him in a cherry picker.

[@jasejj]

The lift was for the BBC crew - I dread to think how dangerous it would be to climb a 300ft ladder with a 1980s Betacam on my shoulder 😁

[@jonntischnabel]

The crane would cost thousands a day, for repair work that could last week's. That's why the chimney was being laddered up the old fashioned way.

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

Working class men were cheap.

[@hadenough2005]

Watch John Noakes climbing Nelsons column on Blue Peter in 1977. Blue Peter was a kids programme on the BBC. Noakes was the star presenter as far as most of the kids were concerned and was a bit of a character.

[@sabh001]

fred's catch phrase was (did you like that eh) every time he knocked a chimney down or burned it down. classic our fred was

[@matthewgartell6380]

As a Bolton folk myself, Fred will never be forgotton. RIP fred

[@Frustino]

It all changed when lawyers realised they could make money sueing for injuries.

[@darrenhogan8081]

"The Dib" was a legend and a very knowledgeable fella, need more of his type

[@UKRR]

Dude - Fred was a steeplejack in the halcyon days before HS&E took over. He was employed for his skill and bravery by companies who needed to 'get things done on the cheap' he took on jobs for beer money and cost companies probably 5% of what it would cost today. Fred was a steam engine enthusiast from bygone days. He survived his steeplejack days - became a loved UK icon and died comfortably in his sleep. we all understand your 2021 sensitivities but DONT apply those to Fred - he was a one off and made his money on his legend....there will never be another Fred

[@MrAndyLocksmith]

Thank you, you’ve hit the nail squarely on the head!

[@mikemurray2027]

It's got nothing to do with Health and Safety. Fred was self-employed, not an employee. He handled his own insurance and took his own risks. He was in law a 'qualified person' and could do it this way without problem even though the H&SAWA was enacted in 1974.

[@patrickkkpakerr6442]

@@mikemurray2027 Them phychos didn't have the power they have now , now you can't even step on a two foot stand without them crying , they have brought the western world to a near stand still and near bankruptcy , to hell with them.

[@mikemurray2027]

@@patrickkkpakerr6442 Who is 'them'? You're a product of decades of people who should know better talking BS to get you mad about workers' safety. What you are probably angry about are restrictions put in place by businesses who don't want to be left high and dry by their insurance companies if they've been negligent. Somehow this has all been blamed on 'them' and 'health and safety' etc, as if they are organised bodies of people you don't like determined to wreck things without good reason. However, a few minutes thought and research would have saved you all that unnecessary anguish and outrage.

[@mikemurray2027]

@@patrickkkpakerr6442 It's all about simple legal liability. That's buried centuries deep in English Common Law. Health and safety legislation is a codification, designed to free courts and businesses from unnecessary legal cases to decide who is liable for costs after an accident.

[@ManxAndy]

When this was filmed, probably late 1980s, there wasn’t that many man riders high enough to do the job, and the costs would be prohibitive, Fred did these jobs at a sensible price, and his work was highly acclaimed, he was at the time, probably the best steeplejack in the U.K. the man rider belonged to the tv film crew.....would only be hired for the day’s filming

[@dasy2k1]

Indeed the alternative at the time this was filmed would have been to pay a fortune for scaffolding

[@Martin-cc5xn]

Late 70’s or very early 80’s this was filmed, I remember watching it as a kid!

[@khr0mm]

@@dasy2k1 Not to mention that Fred + ladders &kit + ladder man = one relatively small van/truck to move around on a daily (or however often you get jobs) basis...

[@graememorrison333]

Crikey. You must be young! (Rumour has it that Fred was getting into Acid House on the quiet by the Late 80s...😉)

[@jakeantony8447]

@@Martin-cc5xn it will be later as the bottom of the chimney has 1989 written into the muck

[@1over137]

I think the old films of the sky scraper builders working on the girders in the US is even more scary.

[@jugglerjim01]

He used to call into the local brewery and they named a beer after him, after he died his last wife told them she wanted money for them continuing to use his name, so they renamed it "Gold digger" 🤣🤣

[@Mythsinger]

That is what the old tradition of being a Steeplejack was all about. He was the best of the best Steeplejacks of his era.

[@darrenwindle3592]

Fred knocking a 300 feet chimney down brick by brick. He's a legend

[@pb-nl7oh]

That chimney belongs to Ena Mill in a town called Atherton. It's still there. See it every day as I live in Atherton. I have a very similar accent to Fred too lol.

[@graememorrison333]

The Bolton/ Lancastrian accent is definitely one of The UK's most distinctive - and up there with the best. And that's coming from a shandy drinking south Londoner!

[@sh00mi]

As a native of the next town over, Leigh, we also have quite a fair few chimneys remaining, and I’m sure Fred has been up them in his time. Sadly missed!

[@pb-nl7oh]

Thanks graeme. Nathan, Fred actually demolished alder Mill chimney. Alder Mill was on Chapel Street opposite butt's Bridge.

[@davetarbatt7737]

@@pb-nl7oh ex-Athertonian here too. Yes, Ena Mill is just off Gloucester Street in Atherton co-ordinate for Google Maps = 53.527158, -2.494342

[@davidosilverman900]

@@graememorrison333 Lancastrian? Half my relatives come from Preston and I can tell whether they come from there, Leyland or Chorley let alone Bolton.

[@dawson508]

Fred Dibnah was a legend, he sunk a mine shaft in his back garden, not because it needed to be done just because he wanted something to do.

[@rickcrane1157]

Fred is a legend a huge engineering and history fan Never will the world see another man like this A true gent

[@ManxAndy]

Nerves of steel.....and a knowledge of mechanical workings, beyond that of mere mortals 👍🇮🇲

[@neilgayleard3842]

His mate's donkey jacket brought back memories.

[@RockoOfBolton]

Fred is a legend in my home town of Bolton. Got to see the great man working in his garden one day and say hi as he only lived up the road from where I lived 😊

[@livinglavvu]

The man was born 100yrs too late. What an amazing bloke he was.

[@paulbanks223]

No Fred was born just at the right time, he saved a lot of history for us all to enjoy much that may have been lost but for Fred.

[@colinu406]

He was a ' Victorian man '.