Fred Dibnah How to climb a chimney overhang at 50+

Fred Dibnah How to climb a chimney overhang at 50+

[@davey3765]

Former tower climber here, highest I've climbed is 850' (feet) or ~259 meters. Watching this guy sends chills down my spine. He climbed that entire chimney without any safety harness. On top of that - the thing that scares me the most are any type of over hang. Those are my biggest fears because how easily your feet can slip. Watching Fred do this without a harness freaks me out and sends chills down my legs.

[@georgedavidson957]

have parachuted and climbed for fun ... sitting on my computer chair watching this is giving me vertigo! glad its not just me who feels this way.

[@lt4324]

What's amazing is the way he climbed the ladders at the overhang! That itself takes strength IMO, a ladder tilting in the opposite direction with no gear! I know many old timers who do something close to this and they are so fit at their age its unbelievable! My Unc Mike is 75 and he climbs like he is 20 years old! My unc will out live me possibly, LOL. I'm 61 and out of shape, well not really, I am shaped like a pear! LOL

[@reubensandwich9249]

The vertical ladder is secure, the overhang ladders deflect every step he took.

[@Baneslayer]

Firefighter here who climbs aerial ladders with huge gaps in the rungs 7 stories up..... I shit my pants watching this guy Fred... his balls are much bigger than mine 😲

[@Moleymole]

Yeah I did feel kinda sick watching him climb past the overhangs with only the akward load dangling from his waist to cushion his fall! 😱🤢

[@Jonbombs]

_Some of the stones at the top weigh as much as 5 tonnes each_ 2 stones in particular Fred

[@pauloconnor7951]

@@countdublevay7327 Western civilisation is a good idea . Ghandi.

[@malcolmcanning548]

5 ton who put them there ..

[@dickJohnsonpeter]

@@pauloconnor7951 They have to go back - Gandhi

[@craigfulton3316]

Your not kidding mate sold iron he was a excellent man

[@samuelwoods164]

@@malcolmcanning548 the builders.... but I think you're missing the joke, by stones he was referring to the guys testicles, he was saying the guy had huge balls to climb up there like that. If you didn't get that joke then I guess you have been R/Whooshed

[@danpearce4547]

The U.S had the space programme, the U.K had Fred Dibnah and an infinite supply of ladders.

[@sukottora]

Haha! That made me laugh out loud.. Which scared the dog.

[@danpearce4547]

@@sukottora Sorry dog.

[@UKBamber]

@Dan Pearce You are today's winner on the internet for that comment.

[@TheHarrip]

Yea that proper made me laugh 👍

[@CameTo]

Irony being, one really happened, the other didn't.

[@johnbuxton6009]

He was and still is a real national treasure. Thank you Fred for being a true Brit.

[@hackerkillea]

Tom “why am I doing this” Davies sent me

[@Paddy_17301]

Tom “I don’t believe it” Davies

[@ribbel8210]

Tom "Get in" Davies

[@kaik625]

Tom "are we filming?" Davies

[@surfexcel9178]

Tom "Oriental" Davies

[@Nick-nh4nf]

lol

[@carmenpower1869]

"you can ride a bike around here" (300 foot up), only Fred would say that. An amazing man.

[@TONE11111]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXe4lKukq6aYg8U

[@dalehipkins6317]

Carmen Power of

[@bobforton3722]

He'd probably carry one up on his back and do it!

[@maxbowie6074]

I cannot express how much admiration I have for this man. Utterly fearless. When he said "They reckon some of the stones up here weigh 5 tonnes", he means people on the ground referring to the size of his balls. Just extraordinary bravery, strength and skill. Don't be fooled by the carefree demeanour....you didn't survive in that trade unless you knew *exactly* what you were doing, and he clearly did. A master steeplejack for the ages. 🙏🤜👌

[@Andrewhicks-t4i]

Blimey, he put a Union flag up there, you couldn't do that now, the police would arrest you.

[@dylanklebald8123]

I like the bit a about the buzzard. As if he is on about some girls husband. Like he has fought him before. Makes me laugh that.

[@Cattletruck1]

Loved Fred, he lived in the next town to me, he enjoyed a pint of tets (Tetley Best Bitter) and I had the pleasure of having a pint and a chat with him in Bolton pub one afternoon..

[@saintnick7]

Absolute respect for this man, he was a master at his trade and to watch him scale those chimneys is just awe inspiring. A true legend

[@mareklew5108]

My second job after school was as a trainee steeple jack ,(43 or so years ago) I still remember the effort in laddering a chimney ..... no lightweight aluminium , just heavy strengthened timber about 8' long and 2 1/2 - 3 foot wide , weighed a blood tonne .... lost all my skin from both shoulders lugging these up one at a time to hand over to my foreman who incidentally was also called Fred ,who to help me out passed me his flat cap to put onder my jacket to cushion the ladder ( there was a strengthening wire under each wrung which caused all the skin loss ) great camaraderie amongst all the guys , fearless and hardworking just like Mr Dibnah

[@inhaletime]

fucking stupid if you ask me, why not have padding? little bitch

[@TheEudaemonicPlague]

My father always kept his ladders outside...brilliant. Yeah, they eventually broke. I don't recall wire ever being used for that purpose....it was a good bit thicker than wire, it was solid rods of steel, and the better ladders had that run through a groove, which protected them a bit. I'm happy with my aluminum ladder, though it's much too heavy for me anymore--bad back. I need to get a fiberglass ladder. When I was in my teens and early twenties, I used to climb buildings for fun. Once, me and some friends snuck into the football stadium--I climbed a lighting tower. Another time, we found an iron ladder on the outside of a university building, with pavement below and no cage. We climbed it to the roof five or so stories up, but found a door and the stairs to go back, because we weren't quite stupid enough to take further chances. I like watching Fred...even at my boldest, I wasn't nearly so confident.

[@mareklew5108]

@@TheEudaemonicPlague You know it probably was steel rods.... many years ago and the memory fades

[@SJM6791]

Look at how fast and hard the wind is moving that flag. It takes some serious balls to free hand climb a ladder that high under those conditions. This man was truly an amazing human being and an English treasure. Every school child in Western society should be made to watch this man work.

[@organbuilder272]

Oh, Really - An English treasure?? Where was England when his machine shop was being knocked down, the machinery, boilers, engines and tools being sold like toys. Where was England when the contents of his house, half of which he built, were auctioned off and scattered like chaff in the wind. Where was England when the demonstration mine pit and mine head machinery were demolished and removed without any trace? England had forgotten all about Fred Dibnah. His time was twice passed in 1890 and in 2018 when all traces of his lifetime works were obliterated from the earth. England didn't care enough to put his estate in trust for preservation. There should have been restraints oon what could be done just as is the practice for "Listed" buildings. There are plenty of "Heritage" sites. The estate could have been in the care of his 2 sons with an oversight committee - just as for other historical places. But no - As is the rule today it is all talk and no action. Nothing, outside of the ill fated efforts of 1 guy, was done to assure that Fred's amazing workshop and traditional tools remained as functional institutions, just as has been done with other places. It didn't have to be restored - it was fully functional in 2004 when he died. All the weeping and wailing about his passing and all he stood for are aligator tears - NO ONE lifted a finger to preserve his heritage - HIS heritage, no some company. His workshop and two steam machines were all rebuilt by him - not to mention every machine tool he owned. - All gone All you stout Englishment had the chance to save it - TWICE - and you did nothing.

[@organbuilder272]

+Jimmy Twigg - Thank you. Many people knew Fred that honor should go to them. I only wish I have the honor and privilege of meeting that man. It would have been my first pint and time well spent. As a child I knew a man like him. Too sadly I never knew his worth at that time. Frd was unusual, self taught or not he mastered everything he touched. All too soon was he snatched from this life and so much more he had to give. If I am his champion, no better man could I have chosen.

[@MrIrfan12345]

@@organbuilder272 Yes you are spot on those who run this country are a joke.

[@johnhili8664]

@@organbuilder272 I agree with you my friend here in Malta it is the same problem we have a lot of very old machinery in our water pumping stations they are being thrown away for scrap when I talked to our cultural minister about it to save them for posterity he told me there is nothing he can do!!!!!!!!!!!! Our countries are being run by a bunch of idiots:-(

[@organbuilder272]

@@johnhili8664 @John Hili - There is something you can do - Grab it. Get some people together and buy it at scrap value - Better yet start a public campaign. You have the web to help you. Certainly you are not the only one who feels unhappy about the destruction of historic buildings, machinery, and processes. Historic preservation is important. Dig in, take your cause to the public and it will succeed.

[@garyhubbard1973]

This is the sort of thing that keeps you sitting on the edge of the chair, Not tv soaps, that mans courage is 10 times taller than that tower,what a fella..r.i.p.dear,fred.

[@dougdowling6931]

Drone adventures h Gazsx

[@richardsandwell2285]

Yes so much better than the grotty soaps which are just degenerating society, not to mention the dire shit they put on TV during Saturday evenings, so glad I no longer own a TV.

[@johnturner1073]

Can you imagine the 'modern' BBC commissioning a series on a Fred Dibnah now? Wrong boxes old boy...

[@grimmblade]

Can you imagine how many times he was told that it couldn't be done, and yet he did it and the solution was so simple. Common sense, good work ethic and a shit ton of courage👍

[@peetduplessis7401]

I am a South African, and became aware of Fred during the lockdown. I watched every series that he had a part in. How i whished i could have met him. If somebody wants to have a go at the English it is prudent to keep in mind that this type of tenacity is sprinkled throughout the pale tea-drinkers🤔

[@onchnc3546]

Fred an absolute legend. Amazing skill and strength to do his job. What a character. Sorely missed

[@1951GL]

Half a day out wi'th'undertaker - a phrase I haven't heard for a while. Couple that with "yuh could ride a bike round here" and you are laughing. He was well worth the honorary doctorate the university gave him. RIP.

[@johnbrewer9833]

ChakRaLight if only

[@kevtucker7386]

I've seen this clip many times and it still amazes me now.Unbelievable to see Fred climb up there, and yet to him it was all in a days work.And as someone else said,he put the ladders up as well! He makes it look so easy but as he used to say himself,one mistake up here and its half a day out with the undertaker lol.Great guy,great craftsman and a truly great steeplejack.We won't see his like again.

[@coinop7278]

He was the best version of himself! Not many can say that. Rip Fred what a legend.

[@RamblinAround]

What an impressive human being Fred was. Tough as nails.

[@johnayres2303]

Fred Dibnah goes where Chuck Norris fears to tread.

[@TheGeezzer]

Couldn't have said it better myself! lol.

[@johnayres2303]

Steven S I am sorry that it has caused you so much distress that you would refer to me in those terms.

[@stevens5541]

John Ayres fuckin idiot

[@johnayres2303]

Steven S Chill out!

[@TheKonga88]

Steven S Because he wants to and he can 😇😈😈

[@oneandonlyjaybee]

Nowadays he'd be plastered in go-pro cameras and have 4 million Instagram followers.

[@MikaelLevoniemi]

Back then it was BBC and his own tv show. Yep, he did that and was at least locally famous.

[@JoanneCRL]

Aye

[@peterbach1126]

nope, many people do this kind of epic shit all the time. And then, there are those who just do it to post it online.

[@Dreadpirateflappy]

@CHOPPER 86 what the fuck?

[@RosinGoblin]

@@MikaelLevoniemi Big Black cock is the best television network

[@jacktar9567]

A legend, a different class of man from a different time, humble, unassuming, the guy next door... but the bravery & commitment to scale that hight, with no harness, no means of prevention from a possible fatal end is of superhero quality... total respect!

[@marshalllucky]

Not a hi viz or risk assesment clipboard in sight ...fabulous man , he was and remains a northern treasure .

[@superflibblefull]

As a kid I loved heights and would regularly scale the biggest trees I could find in my local woods. As I got older my "what if" doubts kicked in and I have just watched this video with my palms sweating despite being cold! I'm amazed Fred's massive balls didn't knock him off balance. Respect to anyone that works at height - even with all the modern safety procedures one of the tall cherry pickers is enough for me! Glad my servers are in a nice air conditioned room! RIP Fred - a real legend of a bygone era.

[@danmcbmusic]

How on earth did he get those ladders on the overhangs ... !? The guy was extraordinary.

[@Ribbo]

There is another video showing him "laddering" a chimney

[@tomsmith9208]

Having watched Fred ladder normal shaped chimneys, and feeling that was a big achievement, I would have been fascinated to have seen just how he managed to ladder these overhang sections, because there must have been a moment when he would have had to have climbed out and up while the tops of them were floating, I just cannot compute how anyone could manage such a thing ! Just unreal.

[@nuntana2]

Pulleyed up top and roped from below by his mate is all. ;-)

[@glennharrowven9816]

How the hell does he do the overhangs? Is there any footage?

[@matoko123]

I don't get it guys, I mean that's what we just watched isn't it, Fred laddering overhangs?

[@johntowers1213]

@@matoko123 you dont get it because you didn't watch it . Fred's climbing the overhangs to the top not setting the ladders ..

[@matoko123]

@@johntowers1213 Sorry I mistook what you meant by 'laddering'. By the way smart arse, I watched every second of it. You see, you don't know as much as you think do you.

[@_tgreg1]

Everyone congratulating Fred for climbing the chimney but nobody congratulating me for holding my breath for 5m52s 😂

[@krisraps]

You Ain`t Holding Your Breath For Almost 6 Minutes Man, Don`t Lie./

[@telswood]

@@krisraps didn’t get the joke did you kris?

[@screenname6829]

Ngl i think i forgot to breathe watching the last 3 minutes

[@davidp3807]

Exactly that Tom!! 🤣

[@islerenner]

Thanks for that, made me laugh out loud.

[@GypsyHunter232UK]

Fred was the epitome of a real true English man who was a true master of his craft and a real down to earth gentle man who can never be betterd. One in 10 billion. Cannot be replaced or forgotten ever. REST IN PEACE FRED OLD FRIEND. I REMEMBER U FROM OUR MEET AT UR HOUSE LOOKING AT UR LATEST STEAM PROJECT ..

[@Avidcomp]

I'm watching sitting in my chair, and my hands are sweating and I feel like I'm going to fall. By-eck…!

[@shaoliner2007]

Same here, sweaty hands, holding my breath, muscles tensed. Fred was such a legend, a fearless man with balls the size of planets, salt of the earth. Good ole fred 👍

[@dennytyler4798]

This is what I watch when my feet are cold. Just takes about 4 minutes of the 5:52sec video to warm them right up!

[@ArcturanMegadonkey]

I have sweaty palms too lol

[@johnc3403]

you and me both. I actually feel sick watching this..

[@davidprobert168]

Fred this man is was back bone of English manpower and the brain of a engineer to be proud of RIP Fred 💙☀️🙏🏻

[@myuselessopinion]

Watching this makes me want to lay on floor 😳 what an incredible man, I could watch him all day, and sometimes I do 😊

[@craigcope3369]

myuselessopinion so do i, the physical strength to climb up that high amazes me his age.

[@normanrossall3898]

I once had a crack at window cleaning but was so scared of heights i ended up specialising in bungalows, or to be more specific, the little cat flap in the back door. Only charged 20 bob per flap and would be out in all weathers come rain or shine on late Monday afternoon when the dole money i got on the previous Friday was all gone by Saturday morning. Love old Fred Dibnah. Top man.

[@markfoley5595]

The guy's an absolute legend - Absolutely amazing.

[@RobinHood-uv6uw]

Years ago when Fred Dibnah had his series on tv, a great friend of mine, Grigor McKinnon, (sadly no longer with us) noticed Fred's phone number on Fred's van, so Grigor phoned the number and had a chat with him. Like Fred Dibnah, Grigor was a hard working man well into his late 50's early 60's. I'm sure Fred and Grigor have had a lot more chats together up in Heaven. 💓

[@deusvult8251]

You only go to heaven if you are BORN AGAIN and have a personal relationship with Lord Jesus Christ through regular prayers repentence of sin and Thanksgiving to God in prayer

[@RobinHood-uv6uw]

@@deusvult8251,, stupid comment.

[@deusvult8251]

@@RobinHood-uv6uw So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and *shall cast them into the furnace of fire*🔥: there shall be *wailing and gnashing of teeth.* Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord.

[@deusvult8251]

@@RobinHood-uv6uw *And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.* When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his 🐑 sheep(born again believer) from the 🐐goats(wicked infidels/false convert): and he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave theedrink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me! *Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: * for I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into *everlasting punishment*: but the righteous (saved born again christain) into life ETERNAL.

[@deusvult8251]

@@RobinHood-uv6uw it only takes 1 Sin pal, ever lost your virginity outside of being in marriage?!? Guilty of HELL, ever told a lie / false witness?!? Your guilty of HELL, Ever been in drunkenness?? Guilty! Guess what... Your going to Burn in so much pain and crying and WAILING like a big sissy boy, your going to be down on your knees crying like a bitch before the Lord JESUS CHRIST, because while you yet drew breath you rejected HIM! him who took the Death for your Sins pal. REPENT AND BEG GOD FOR FORGIVENESS ON YOUR KNEES. HELL IS REAL!! AND ITS WAITING FOR YOU!!!!

[@csb7376]

Just take a minute to think of the architectural beauty of a chimney. The Victorian age was an amazing era when what were essentially "working buildings" were constructed with the same eye to detail as a stately home. The Crossness pumping station (sewage works) resembles a 5 star hotel.

[@m101ist]

They don't build like that anywhere in the world these days. 🙄

[@michaelbalfour3170]

@@m101istthey dont build like that now for good reason.

[@m101ist]

@@michaelbalfour3170 Lost skills and cost. 🙄

[@michaelbalfour3170]

@@m101ist Skills are still around just not in as great quantity as there is not the need for them now. Well its a bit more nuanced than cost, it became innifiencient to build like that as people actually gained rights and fair pay. The aesthetics of old buildings are a fair sacrifice for the safety, wellbeing and fair pay of people who build.

[@richardgrant7055]

It's funny - you've got Fred, and you've got the chimney. Somehow, you forget the chimney.......................

[@ianjames8794]

Balls of steel. The world lost a legend the day he passed away.......gone but never forgotten. R.I.P. Mr Dibnah

[@Guru316]

Balls of steel on this bloke. An incredible human being.

[@AJyfm700R]

Every once in a while I return to this video just to be absolutely amazed for few minutes. His nerves and confidence is absolutely mindblowing.

[@onthemove301]

That man had more courage than I'll ever possess.

[@orbitalforest]

Literally no amount of money could get me half way up those ladders let alone all the way to the top , how the hell does he climb up those ladders leaning back ? Absolute legend of a man.

[@karlsumner5594]

In response to the last comment, Fred would never have done social media, he was his own man and wasn’t needy like so many these days.

[@Beatlefan67]

My ring-piece goes in and out like the tide when I watch this, and when he says 'You could ride a bike round here...' Phurrrrt!

[@gcfcos]

Couldn't have said it better lol

[@mattstatham5571]

Best comment on the interweb

[@Q3Cyrus]

+John Penny Good one lol. That's a slack ring-piece btw. Try dipping it in some meths to tighten it up.

[@neofox.]

+John Penny Mine is far too clenched to do anything watching this.

[@malcolmstarkey1062]

The skill in all this is not climbing the ladders it’s the installing of the ladders in first place, Fred must have been fearless.

[@kroon275]

When Chuck Norris is feeling a bit nervous about something, he watches this video for inspiration ;)

[@noooddle]

That's because Chuck wants to be Fred when he grows up.

[@phatheffer3439]

God almighty, i could barely watch this. I just cannot fathom how fearless he must have been. My palms and feet were sweating just watching this from the comfort of my bed. When he got to that overhang my heart dropped. Just absolutely mind-boggling.

[@edwardmorton6691]

When men were men , Fred was a superman. I remember watching him as a kid and I was amazed at his capabilities. As and old man now, I'm totally in awe of his strength of character, his knowledge, wisdom and indestructible determination to get the job done nomatter the risks. He should be taught in schools and used as a paradigm of manliness, if ,indeed, such a thing is allowed nowadays, which I'm sure it isn't. RIP , Fred.

[@edwardmorton6691]

@Lauren Lewis oh dear me

[@Cartoonman154]

@@edwardmorton6691, I'm sure she's the sort of person who will falsely accuse people and has no self awareness.

[@JohnnySmith-no2zc]

@Lauren Lewis You're the knuckle dragger. What a sad and angry person you must be to make such a vicious accusation.

[@richsackett3423]

A superman who'd lived a damn sight longer if he was better at drinking enough water.

[@thomasmoore7224]

"Beautiful magnificent stones" Yeah, that pretty much describes him to a t.

[@AdventureCornwall.]

Back in my climbing days i would have looked at this with my stupid youthful uneducated ego an gone your not a climber. Now I’m older and a bit wiser, have some skills and no dumb ego, I can see that Fred was one of the greatest climbers in the Uk. What a Legend.

[@lewisgreen2957]

That’s true. In all the vids of Fred climbing he always appears to be in complete control..

[@123TauruZ321]

3:43 Waving his arms to get some blood in them and stretch'em, but not at all worried about losing his balance up there ^^ I can't get over it. He must have been incredibly strong.

[@jameswalker7459]

Fred dibnah was the greatest chimney climbers in the world!he was the best self taught engineering genius....we miss u Fred....rip

[@UnderAlog572]

I don't think I'd physically be able to do this even if I was given one million dollars.. It's a shame because ironically I'm a bricklayer and I really want a million dollars

[@6lr6ak6]

@Urien Rheged Yr right, that's some climb with the overhang. What some would do is say yea l can do it, then 2/3rds way up freeze, unable to go up or down then there in big trouble.

[@thomasnathan8035]

BAAAAAAAAAAAH 😂🤣😂🤣

[@Oink_McJeffery]

I wouldnt do this for a billion dollars. My hands are soaked just watching.

[@Kodakcompactdisc]

Not for all the 🐱 and 💰 in the world

[@coyhutt8022]

Urien Rheged imagine how sketchy it would be to put the ladders in to get you round the overhang? I think there’s a video of that somewhere.

[@marsultra7032]

I still can't understand how he fixes those ladders over that overhang. This man has balls of steel

[@ashtea23]

Been thinking myself

[@firebladenut]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGGXlXqBZsSqj6M

[@firebladenut]

@@ashtea23 kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGGXlXqBZsSqj6M

[@marsultra7032]

@@firebladenut still can't get my head around it. Especially the size of that overhang

[@watsappenin2865]

Facts at 5:30 that gives me anxiety how tf he going to get down

[@timblackwood1531]

They make heroes of mountain climbers but this man Fred was far better and did everything solo ......he should have been knighted !!!

[@Catcrumbs]

He did get an MBE.

[@gravyboat2370]

A knighthood most definitely deserved

[@parker550]

I'm sure he did get an honour... Top lad..👍

[@gravyboat2370]

Knighthood would have been better. Considering bankers get knighthoods

[@10wanderer]

@@gravyboat2370 you did mean WANKERS did you not?

[@smackeddie3826]

Absolutely amazing how those ladders can support the weight of his massive balls 🤣 legend of a man.

[@gmang1521]

2019 and you need a days training to lift a box🤣

[@MrThenry1988]

Lol.

[@smeghead666]

and a whole n'other days training if you wanna lift that box above 3ft high

[@deanoflip7459]

I know, it's a joke the way Health and Safety is today, Safety Executive would have a heart attack if he seen Fred on that Ladder nowadays haha...

[@tomtalk24]

@@deanoflip7459 You're welcome to climb that ladder yourself without gear. Only once mind.

[@Tombrosapien]

And a license to use a ladder...

[@gcfcos]

Hands are sweating from start to finish

[@danh5150]

Same here. ;o)

[@bigmikeobama523]

I used to build scaffolding for a living and my hands still get sweaty, probably cuz i havent done it in a while if your up high all the time you get used to it and its no big deal after a while, really everybody is scared at first even if i took 6 months off that job my first time back up high (50ft+) ib be nervous

[@bighands69]

During military training we had to scale a cliff face in the dark and if you seen in in daylight it would make you think twice about it. If you were brought up into that way of life at a young age you would not be bothered by it. In my old age I shiver at the things I did in my youth there is no way I could do it now.

[@Antarath]

Been watching these videos daily for weeks, and I keep thinking about them when I'm going to bed and I continue to sweat. If I ever suffer from salt deficiency, I blame these videos!

[@francisboyle8068]

+Antarath. don't watch them then. FS.

[@Isthatyoudermot]

I just discovered these videos today. This man is a legend. The health and safety blokes of today would have a heartache watching Fred work in the air or on the ground. I heard him say in another video that death is possible once you get past the height of the first ladder. I suppose you could say the ever present danger kept him alive. Not just at the top but from the first rung of the first ladder

[@MichaelGeorge161]

I discovered only a few weeks ago, I like how the algorithm favours his work

[@raylp4751]

If he fell off the top it would have killed him. The landing at bottom a different matter. I reckon he'd still narrate on the way down. Pointing out dodgy brickwork and the view.

[@schrottmax5099]

Um da hoch zu kommen braucht es eine Top Kondition und Kraft....Chapeau....

[@JWS1968]

Remember when we were proud to be British, hey them were the days lad.

[@dylanmartin9190]

Be proud of things you actually do, not luck of the draw

[@james9311]

@@dylanmartin9190 it’s called being proud of your heritage and the people you come from

[@dylanmartin9190]

@@james9311 I know what nationalism is, thank you. I'm saying it's unwarranted. It's kind of like being proud of the colour of your skin. Well done! You happened to be born in the country your ancestors also grew up in. What are the odds... Being British is an idea, why are you proud of a collective idea? To some people, Britain is supposed to be facist and authoritarian, with only white inhabitants, even though we proudly beat the nazis. Not one single person has a monopoly on THE idea of Britain. What you are doing is trying to attach innate virtues to Britishness so you can claim that you are the proud owner of them. Well we can all do that, cant we? Doesn't mean we fought in ww2 against facism, or worked in the coal mines under Thatcher. It's depressing to be proud of propaganda. Just be happy you have heritage to identify with. If you study history you realise that your history and heritage goes further back than English people. We are all basically Scandinavian, and before that we were African. What exactly is the point? So I say again, be proud of your actions not other people's. It's like when people say they have faith. Well done! You will believe something BECAUSE there is no evidence in it. So you have zero critical faculties and are PROUD OF IT! It's just something people say. Just think about it a bit. It makes no sense to be proud of your passport and proud of these Tory cunts and the Austrian Royal family. They are proud to be British too, and they don't mind cutting funding, they don't mind when people are going hungry and getting sick! It's either a huge lie, or only ONE of you is right to be British and proud.

[@chroniclesofbap6170]

Discretion is the better part of valour. You make good points, but sometimes it's best just to keep them to yourself.

[@dylanmartin9190]

​@@chroniclesofbap6170 Reader discretion is advised* Thank you for offering your valuable advice, Falstaff

[@Mechtec500]

Great comments regarding Fred's climbing, but just think for a moment about the guys who built it. Hauling those stones up and placing them exactly. What heroes they all were.

[@freebornjohn2687]

And all the materials were delivered by horses.

[@stewartroberts2983]

and the children that were sent up them to clean them 🙃😄

[@ThePolicenaut]

This is one of the craziest things ive ever seen,he must have had balls the size of coconuts. And what an incredible chimney,i really dont know how they built something like that.

[@bollocknaked1975]

Water melons my friend.

[@rpm6085]

How to build a chimney like that? Easiest to start at the top and work down. That way when you're most tired from lifting bricks you're close to the ground.

[@Nelson-rd1et]

Absolute balls of steel. And great strength and conditioning too. Incredible

[@TheShepster80]

Getting back down the bastard must be one heck of a challenge too.

[@waynethebear3264]

+TheShepster80 Imagine de laddering those overhangs , climbing down the ladder when its only tied at the bottom . F**k that .

[@bighands69]

Going down would be easier as it would not be has hard on the body.

[@cudwieser3952]

You might be surprised. More falls from height occur on the descent when you're trying to find the footing. More over the legs take a pounding on the way up (the arms take a beating too, but not at much), however you're arms are near dead on the way down.

[@ViscountVile]

After a climb like that, I thought losing arm strength while on the overhangs would be the No.1 danger. And presumably, your body is inclined to stay vertical, meaning it's a strain to keep your feet on the rungs.

[@cudwieser3952]

Over hangs are a bit of an exception.

[@itsnotalwaysblackandwhite8624]

The blokes that put that chimely up did a pretty amazing job.

[@BenjWarrant]

It's 'chimbley'.

[@rikantony6571]

@@BenjWarrant lol

[@itsnotalwaysblackandwhite8624]

@@BenjWarrant As a child you had difficulty pronouncing “Chimney” as well. Ha Ha.

[@BenjWarrant]

@@itsnotalwaysblackandwhite8624 I heard it in a song by... was it the Singing Postman? The chorus went: _Mollie Wimbly, she smoke like a chimbley but she's my little nicotine gal._

[@pitt6766]

it"s all in your attitude toward life, he knows how to live, amazing man

[@davidsedlickas8222]

I am crapping myself watching Fred climb upside down under the overhang. Memories forever about dear Fred English legend for always.

[@derekstocker6661]

Fantastic, WOW what Fred could do in a few minutes would take other a lot longer! Amazing what he did and how he seemed so damned unafraid! RIP Fred, nobody like you matey.

[@mickymazda1]

3:48 when he got to the step and took a breather to get the circulation back in his arms. He gives a giant hacking cough and I honestly thought he was going to light up a woodbine.

[@carmineredd1198]

not circulation, getting rid of the lactic acid

[@heeggie]

If anyone has climbed a vertical ladder before they'd know its hard, but to climb then go at the angle he's going with the overhang at that height is just insane hahahaha. balls of steel. Legend

[@Terminator2310]

What a man he was - no safety clips - total trust in the security of the ladder -wow

[@leesloan8216]

that's because he put the ladders up!

[@alantaylor8281]

And his own abilities.

[@holliswilliams8426]

He put the ladders in himself so he knows that they're secure.

[@jonmilligan8069]

The man was truly phenomenal! My generation and younger wound't event last 15 minutes carrying out work like that! Absolutely incredible - just the level of fitness needed to get up there, never mind the carrying ladders and kit up there too! Nothing short of amazing!!!!

[@tunnelliner.47]

I feel queasy watching these, the man was a legend.

[@caragray7010]

A flat cap, boilersuit and big leather belt, that's some climbing gear, a great man, there are none of his kind left, sadly.

[@terrortorn]

Palms of my hands are sweating watching this.

[@hofhdskfhdks]

Moms spaghetti?

[@terryhigson434]

One of the bravest men to ever grace the planet...

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

Watching Fred climb that chimney made me feel physically sick! How on earth can Fred risk his life like this????

[@salvadormarley]

I know I felt dizzy and sick too. He had some fucking balls did old Fred.

[@dkizxpt-su3ze]

salvadormarley Fred is a legend.

[@swingmanic]

Hats off to the cameraman who took the footage whilst Fred was climbing!..No drones back then.

[@guycrawshaw]

Can you imagine the health and safety and risk assessments for that climb now and not to mention the people that would get offended by the Union Jack getting hung up

[@procta2343]

@guy crawshaw, health and safety would have kittens now

[@evallyntc3164]

No one get offended by the union FLAG not jack being hung up

[@ITALJUTE]

Oh please, nobody gets offended by the Union flag. It's just moronic far-right wankstains who have created the false flag issue in order to stir up anger.

[@duncho]

exactly haha i'm glad someone was here to say this

[@columkenn]

@@ITALJUTE The so-called liberal leftys created the false "offended by everything" issues, not the right.

[@5threelborn]

It's making me Dizzy just watching Fred climb them Ladders he had nerves of steel God bless

[@simonkirk3783]

They don’t make em like Fred anymore, he was some boy

[@ghamandlupinwalkingtours]

They do though don't they? They'll be men about more skilled than Fred

[@pho2]

This part is the easy bit for him. He had to put the ladders up, and then remove them. Worrying !

[@krainey]

Thats right id like to watch the steeplejacks rigging up the ladders out of bosun chairs prior to this.. proper job

[@richardsandwell2285]

Yes, that was certainly not your average ladder installation. How the hell he did that is beyond me.

[@royalanethridge333]

Fred will still be admired in 500 years and more

[@Megalocade]

Climbing that height is one thing putting those ladders up in the first place especially on the overhangs is on another level, this guy had balls so big he needed a wheel barrow. Really interested to know how he got the ladders upon the overhang and roped them up.

[@paulgrendall5138]

When I left school In 1982 I got a job at India Mill's aged 15 years and 8 Months as a Set Carrier. This Mill made me the Man I am today!! I've been married for thirty three years and have two son's and am going to be a Grand Parent In 2023 (July) The Mill's chimney is still standing today and along with Darwen Tower Is a huge Landmark In our little town of Darwen Lancashire.

[@NickT-dg5ws]

I was going to ask if this was the tower at India Mill in Darwen. Thanks

[@watchingyou5003]

They just did great things back then. Men were Men, brave and daring. Today we are in the pussifacaton generation, where they can’t even figure out what bathroom to use. Very sad humanity will ultimately fail due to the lack of heart and soul. This guy must have been a great man to know. Love he’s tenacious passion of life. I bet he knew which bathroom to use.

[@1fcuking]

That man was some thing else’ god bless you Fred 😢🙏🏻

[@igolfjtweetler4097]

Amazing man he was and so much to admire about his honest plain speaking and work ethic.

[@choppy249]

I was a rooftiler for nigh on 30 years and have been up and down ladders for most of my life , sometimes in pretty scary circumstances with no scaffolding and up to six storey buildings as well but what Fred used to do just amazes me . I could never have done the extreme stuff he did and I like heights too . The man was just amazing . He was so confident in his ability , such a competent man . I can’t get over the way he used to walk along those single scaffold boards bowing like crazy in the middle at the top of a chimney he was cleaning or taking down brick by brick. Those flipping boards snap and break in two sometimes when they are not fully supported in the middle . I know ,it’s happened to me a few times when I have been only 25 feet or so off the ground . It gives me a chill even now just looking at the old footage of him romping around atop those old chimneys . Nerves of steel that man had and buckets of courage . It’s such a shame he got paid a relative pittance for the highly dangerous work he did . One tiny mistake or error of judgement or even an unexpected gust of wind or a dodgy loose brick and it would have meant sudden death . The fact that he lasted so long in his profession unscathed is a testament to his skill , courage and ability . There will never be anybody quite like Fred Dibnah again .

[@jackscott6395]

I think the closest thing we have now is Guy Martin who cant hold a candle 🕯 to him but has that same feeling

[@henman2445]

No one asked pal

[@jackscott6395]

@xwyttuucalm down pal why don't you relax a bit, have yourself a bud

[@henman2445]

@xwyttuu your life is out dated 'sunny jim'

[@AdotHowe]

HeN MaN jog on you useless troll

[@haha-jx5ui]

there you go hollywood?? no special effects there ....spiderman in a flat cap

[@richardsandwell2285]

Yes, all their special effects look tame compared to that.

[@theoldoakvideos]

and probably had 6 pints

[@williamwallace2278]

🤣😂😅😆

[@millsbomb007]

@@theoldoakvideos at the top, and slid down the ladders no doubt. What a legend

[@fafski1199]

@@theoldoakvideos He always said he often downed a couple of pints, before climbing one

[@DazzaBo]

No matter how many times I've watched this it never fails to make my palms sweat

[@danbrooks3697]

Terrifying

[@leenelson65]

Dude my whole body is sweating!!!

[@Jack-tn2qz]

I feel like falling watching it 😢😂

[@SLOCLMBR]

I climb trees for a living, and this man is an absolute animal.

[@rolfnilsen6385]

I used to do rock climbing and even som bigger walls. This makes my palms sweat as well. The stamina, and head, of Fred was something special.

[@NoRRyRaMpaGe]

Crazy to think that he had no idea one day nearly 2 million people would watch him climb that chimney on the internet

[@grizzlygamer8891]

That's nowt compared with how many people have seen him on TV.

[@themadplotter]

he hated anything invented after the steam engine so he would think us all wankers.

[@v10moped]

not that crazy. You new to KZbin?

[@TheGalacticEmperorOfLabels]

Yeah, but you had no idea it'd be 2.3m a mere 9 months later. I'm making no predictions about future viewings.

[@armoris66]

FRED = Tinternet! What the ell's tinternet?!

[@jonbrowne8334]

When I was a young teenager in the U.K., I rang Fred because his number was not obscured. His wife answered and put me onto Fred who was more than happy to speak with me. This must have been about 1982 and I was so pleased we spoke! Not a word of a lie! He was a legend and God bless him RIP Fred

[@jackweiss3546]

Just didn’t happen Why are you lying

[@jamst123]

@@jackweiss3546 why would someone lie? The number was plastered all over his land rovers on tv

[@jackweiss3546]

@@jamst123 it’s very sad that people feel the need to lie about such Menial stuff. Sort your life out pal.

[@jackweiss3546]

@Steve Ruddick no one asked you Steve. Thanks for your input. You know whare you can stick it

[@jackweiss3546]

@Steve Ruddick well he commented on a public video, spouting a story that clearly is not true. And it is my duty as the bullshit detector to call him out on that.

[@sonnyjimm23]

Armstrong - "It's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". Fred - "You could ride a bike round up here!" 👍 Golden ✨

[@SeeDaRipper...]

🤣

[@tonymontana897]

They should've bottled his blood before he died. What a Legend of Mankind !

[@P.H.888]

😅

[@borntoclimb7116]

Ride a bike on a chimney, some daredevil on KZbin upload a video from a 280 meters tall old chimney and ride a unycicle

[@borntoclimb7116]

Here on yt there is a pretty famous video from a daredevil on a 256 meters tall chimney ride a unycycle on top or balance on the steelbeam on top.

[@samb2945]

Made my testicles retract up into my armpits just watching this.

[@markgreen9623]

Me too

[@m2db772]

@C Stew its even worst when you think how he got them ladders up too !

[@ronchabale]

Me too

[@Bart-Did-it]

That’s a shame you will grow into a man one day look down and go koowl ballz In armpits that was a shock I’d say can I have a go .

[@ChrisAndCats]

😅

[@VICTOBERN]

By any accounts, this is a remarkable feat of skill and stamina. The actual construction in the 1870's in itself is something else - but Fred makes that enormous climb look almost casual and the fact that he had to place all those ladders by hand himself frankly seems extraordinary.

[@evelghostrider]

How they built that tower in those days is mind blowing... People would struggle doing it today with modern equipment

[@Revvy85]

Don't forget strength. You're not climbing a ladder at that angle without the core of a silverback

[@saintnick7]

​@Old Golf Punk As Fred says quite often, most of them were built from the inside

[@GavinSaintClair]

@@Revvy85this comment is legit!

[@77thTrombone]

Yup. I was amazed how he placed ladders end-on-end against a _smooth sided stack,_ going a half ladder at a time with- what? - 8-foot lengths of rope. How he placed these cantilevered ladders without "half-laddering" boggles the mind.

[@antonyalderson6271]

This chimney is India Mill in Darwen. We inspected it a few years back and repaired a lot of lead and brickwork. We did with rope access - with 2 ropes attached at all times to your harness. And I can tell you, even with the ropes it was terrifying at first - incredibly exposed - so god knows how Fred keeps his head without ropes! No margin for failure whatsoever. I even abseiled to Harry Holden's ledge - his name is carved into the stone there! And it's not buzzards who nest there now - there's a female peregrine falcon who gets very upset when you approach her nest (of course we went outside of nesting season!)

[@lomparti]

@glynnejones1 British Asian? Whats that?

[@stoicmgtow5867]

@@lomparti Muslim.

[@jasonsmizer5431]

What was this building used for and why is it so much bigger then everything else around it?

[@j_f_kyoushallnotbeforgotte2191]

And you meet superman too

[@martinid2514]

I met my ex girlfriend at the house literally next door many years ago we used to go drinking at the base of that old chimney we always wondered what it would be like at the top

[@DrCrabfingers]

Sweat pouring out of my palms, and my legs have gone watching this. That man......if this was all he did, he would be a legend, but he did way way more.......a huge knowledge of engineering, master draughtsman, historian, contructed a working coalmine in his back garden, traction engine renovator....and tv presenter. He must have been incredibly fit....his core strength is phenomenal. All those years of working with sooty bricks, oil, grease and coal dust did for him....for Fred, eating a sandwich with black coal dust hands was normal. Health and Safety was unheard of....and it cost him his life through bladder cancer. A really extraordinary life. Had this series of tv programmes not bought him to a wider audience, his extraordinary life and knowledge may never have been appreciated by anyone outside Bolton. His love of Industrial Britain and his fearlessness help to define why Britain became the global hub it was....a truly extraordinary man.

[@smk11685]

Very well put 🍻 RIP Fred !

[@yogibeer9319]

In my opinion Fred Dibnah was one of the coolest men who ever lived.

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

Yea. Ill go with that.

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

@@pentatonicpaddy He died years ago of cancer.

[@manofkentcatapultsgunsando5069]

@@pentatonicpaddy oh i get it. He was one hell of a man though. Balls of British steel and a top class engineer as well. Dont make em like him anymore. Happy Christmas.

[@turbo682]

Yeah he used to punch his wives up and neglect his kids but yakno..

[@iRaps1]

If we're being honest here, some of the greatest men who ever lived would probably be people who actually changed the lives of millions of people for the better. Someone who had any impact instead of someone who climbed ladders really well. ...

[@yamabushi170]

It's a shame that Fred Dibnah is best remembered for his demolition work on chimneys. This was a job he undertook reluctantly. His enthusiasm for and knowledge of Victorian engineering and construction was probably unparalleled during his lifetime. Additionally he was a very skilled draftsman, and his illustrations really were things of artistic beauty. We rarely get to witness so much talent in a single person, and we are lucky that Fred Dibnah was around at a time before Television became so highly commercialised and commoditised as it is now. He leaves behind a remarkable legacy of workmanship and knowledge, and we are a richer society for that.

[@SJM6791]

yamabushi170-Very well said my friend.

[@oddities-whatnot]

yamabushi170 Thats a very nice comment you have posted. Very well said indeed.

[@ryanessex7978]

Well said

[@StonyRC]

Back off you ignoramus - you may not like what he said but he has every right to state his opinion. Even Dear Fred himself acknowledged his shortcomings as a husband and his tendency to place his work and his steam engines above his role as father and husband. That does not, however, detract from the simple fact that Fred Dibnah was a fine son of Bolton, from an earlier and better time and a Great Briton. Even soft southern pansys like me consider him the finest example of a true working man! Your comments do NOTHING to defend his honor and his legacy.

[@garyhardman8369]

Agreed. Fred was a super skilled engineer, using steam power.

[@denis9450]

Fred was a true legend don't forget he had to put those ladders up there then remove them when he was finished biggest set of balls in the UK God rest his soul.

[@featherbrain7147]

I was thinking through the video, "someone had a worse job putting the ladders there in the first place". That would probably be even more hair-raising to watch.

[@DoobiusPiff]

@@featherbrain7147 go watch fred put the ladders up he has videos of it too its intense as fuck and obviously fred just cool as a cucumber lol

[@do5e]

Fred Dibnah laddering a chimney (Part 1): kzbin.info/www/bejne/fGGXlXqBZsSqj6M

[@NorthTexasEagle1989]

That's why he wasn't scared, God gave him them giant bouncy clackers just in case he fell.

[@geneticdisorder1900]

An old guy carpenter showed me a picture where he was working on a church steeple, around 110’ high. He had ladders set up sorta like Fred did, only difference, they were all old WOOD extension ones tied together with hemp ropes. Old construction workers had balls of steel, yet on the other hand, had to do what they had to, to get the job done. No JLG boom lifts back in the 1920’s.