The Hollycombe Steam Collection is
the vision of one steam enthusiast Mr. J Baldock. It was started over 40
years ago and has grown into an extensive collection including railways,
farm machinery and a funfair, all of which are steam powered.
It actually began as a private collection, but Mr. Baldock was
persuaded to open it up to the public. In the early years he faced much
local opposition and problems with the planning department, which meant
the collection could only be opened for a restricted number of days each
year. Combined with a poor spate of weather and high running costs he
was forced to sell the funfair side to Madame Tussards, under the
proviso that the collection would never be sold abroad.
Unfortunately, Tussards was taken over and the new owners sold on the
collection with two rides ending up in Switzerland. However, these
fairground machines were considered such important examples of British
craftsmanship that the Committee on the Export of Works of Art decided
that they should be kept in Britain. the story has a happy ending, as
the rides are once again part of the Hollycombe Collection.
Even in the period after the fairground rides had been sold, the running
costs of opening to the public was still high and much outweighed the
takings, so in 1984 Mr. Baldock decided he would have to close the
collection. However, a small-dedicated band of enthusiasts persuaded him
that if they worked on a volunteer basis the collection could still be
kept open. Since then Hollycombe Steam Collection has gone from strength
to strength with more engines, more rides, more open days and more
visitors.
Hollycombe Founder Receives MBE
Commander John Baldock, founder of the Hollycombe Steam
Collection at Liphook, was awarded the MBE in the New Years
Honours List, for services to the preservation of English
Heritage. This award was made in recognition of his work over
many years in saving many unique examples of steam driven
machinery and the setting up of the Hollycombe Steam Collection.
Commander John Baldock was one of the pioneers of preservation,
buying his first traction engine, Burrell Gold Medal tractor No.
3815, Sunset No.2, in the early 1950's. This engine is still at
Hollycombe, working on most open days and now in the ownership
of Mr Baldock's son, David.
The aim of the collection has always been to provide a place where the
craftsmanship and beauty of steam engines could be admired, and the
great impact they had on the development of this country could be
witnessed.
The collection includes three different gauges of railway, as well as a
miniature railway. there is an industrial 2ft gauge that was saved from
the Dinorwic Quarry in North Wales when it was closed. there is a
standard gauge that runs a number of locomotives, as well as 3ft gauge
that runs a rather unusual locomotive, the Aveling and Porter tramway
locomotive that was built in 1880. It was used in a Lancashire quarry,
but it is more like a tractor fitted with railway wheels than a railway
loco!
Steam power not only brought massive changes to the way people worked,
but also to their leisure time, and the mechanical funfairs of the
Victorian era were particularly popular. In a time when the working
class had few holidays and rarely travelled outside their local area,
the funfair brought their first experience of electric lights, moving
pictures and exciting rides.
Hollycombe steam powered funfair is chance to experience that sort of
excitement, especially on the "Funfair at Night" events when
the scene is aglow with lights and images. the collection includes the
Razzle Dazzle roundabout and the steam yacht Neptune, which were both
returned from Switzerland, as well as steam swings, chair-o-planes and a
big wheel.
Steam power did not only have a dramatic effect on Britain's
manufacturing industry but also increased the productivity and
efficiency of farming. the work of many animals and men could now be
done by one steam engine. the only problem with the early steam engine
for farm use, was the sheer weight of the engine. One method adopted by
farmers was to attach the cultivating machinery to a cable between two
steam engines so that it could be pulled across the land. Demonstrations
of this method of steam ploughing and threshing are given at Hollycombe,
as well as steam driven saw milling and comprehensive collection of barn
machinery driven by a long line of shafting.
Hollycombe Standard Gauge Railway
Commander B. An 0-4-0ST no. 2450 built by Hawthorn Leslie in
1899 and purchased by the Admiralty for Chatham Dockyard.
Hollycombe Steam Crane
Built by Grafton Engineering Co in 1956 for British Railways
& used at Nine Elms loco shed. It was used for lifting ash
& had a capacity of 30 cwt.
(as above)
Founder of Hollycombe Steam Collection: John Baldock.
Hollycombe Traction Engines & Steam Roller
On the right, a Wallis & Steevens "Simplicity"
"Christopher" reg CG571 built in 1932.
On the left, a Marshall "Convertible" "The
Hermit" reg TA2434 built in 1901
