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Fred Dibnah called his back-garden pit "Qupalo" (sometimes spelled or researched later as Cubealo).The Backyard Mine and Pit GearThe Project: Fred built a working replica 30-foot winch wheel, winding house, and a brick-lined 70-foot mineshaft in his back garden in Bolton.The Purpose: He wanted to celebrate local mining heritage and hoped to tap into a local 3-foot coal seam to fuel his collection of steam engines.The Outcome: The local council halted the digging for health and safety and planning reasons, but the pithead gear remained a famous landmark and was later preserved and displayed at the Lancashire Mining Museum.(Note: If you were instead thinking of the multi-legged steel spider frame Fred used atop chimneys to help drop them, that apparatus was called the "Sputnik").Would you like to know more about how Fred Dibnah used his Sputnik rig or details on his collection of steam engines?Facebook·Lancashire Mining Museum at Astley GreenDid you know, Fred Dibnahs' Pit Head is on display with us? He built it in ...19 Jun 2025 — Alan says “ A group of us over the years used to help Fred Dibnah restore his engines and build his pit headgear. This was based on a photo of Blackrod Brow Col...TripadvisorFred's pit head gear - Picture of Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre, Bolton15 Jun 2013 — Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre, Bolton Picture: Fred's pit head gear - Check out Tripadvisor members' 205 candid photos and videos of Fred Dibnah Heritage ...BBCFred Dibnah Heritage Centre items sold at auction - BBC News18 Mar 2018 — Fred Dibnah Heritage Centre items sold at auction * Fred Dibnah became a star after being featured in a BBC programme in 1979. * Adam Partridge Auctioneers. The...Geograph Britain and IrelandPit Head Gear in Fred's Back Garden © David Dixon13 Feb 2018 — Pit Head Gear in Fred's Back Garden. As a child growing up in Bolton, Fred Dibnah had been surrounded by pits such as Ladyshore Colliery which led to an interes...Geograph Britain and IrelandFred Dibnah Heritage Centre - pit head © Chris Allen18 Mar 2018 — taken 8 years ago, near to Bolton, England ... Fred famously dug a 'pit' in his garden to a depth of about 20'. This was part of the Heritage Centre experience ...The GuardianDibnah's mineshaft can stay, says council | UK news | The Guardian25 Nov 2005 — A mineshaft built by the late celebrity steeplejack Fred Dibnah in his back garden will be allowed to stay as a tribute to him after a change of heart by Bolton...
