Suspected arson destroys Denbigh’s Cae Dai 50s Museum

Note that since April 2010, the owner has been able to open a small display in the community hall on the Cae Dai site.

A suspected arson attack on the night of December 1, 2009, has completely destroyed Denbigh’s Cae Dai 50s Museum in North Wales, together with all but one of the exhibits, the lorry used in The Great Train Robbery of 1963 – an Austin Loadstar which had been fitted with a secret compartment to hide the proceeds. The lorry was used by the gang during the robbery, then later recovered during a police raid on the gang’s safe house, Leatherslade Farm in Oxfordshire.

Also lost were the Ford Anglia used in ITV’s Heartbeat, a car owned by Diana Dors, and Ford Fiesta once owned by Christine Keeler. Other vehicles lost included a Chrysler Windsor, Mercedes-Benz saloon (payment to the owner for a bad debt when he ran a garage in London) , Riley 1.5 saloon, A55 hearse, pink Vauxhall PA Cresta, Standard Pennant, Berkeley sports car, “big bumper” Cadillac convertible, and a BSA motorcycle. An FX3 taxi from the 1950s had also been recently acquired, to transport visitors to and from the local railway station. There were at least 12 cars in the museum at the time. Outside the main museum, were an A35 and an A40, plus a collection of Reliant three and four wheelers,  two 195os shops, and a period garage. Also lost were Ronnie Biggs’ birth certificate, a mink coat in a glass case, and a collection of 1950′s boxing paraphernalia.

The museum was divided into a number of areas: Showbiz and Music, which featured a large collection of photographs, and a section on the owner’s own group of the 1950s, Sparrow and the Gossamers; Crime: the owner and his group had played at Esmereldas’s Bar, owned by the notorious Krays, who eventually employed him to run the bar, and featured various correspondence from them; Sports: the owner was an amateur boxer, with 200 contests to his name (and still runs the Denbigh Amateur Boxing Club – some 30 years after retiring from the ring); 1950s rooms: there were recreations of two lounges and two from the time, both fully furnished

The museum’s caretaker stayed in a caravan on the site, and was taken to hospital as a precaution measure in case he had suffered from smoke inhalation, but was released the following morning. The caravan he lived in while on the site was also destroyed by the fire.

The damage is estimated to be in the order of £100,000 with the building accounting for about £50,000 and insured, and the collection also at £50,000 but uninsured.

A 46-year old man was later arrested by police on suspicion of arson, and released on bail.

The Cae Dai 50s Museum web site is still online, together with its Guestbook where past visitors have been expressing their sadness at the loss.

The museum’s owner, Sparrow Harrison, has already indicated his intention to both restore and expand the museum, and offers of support and donations have already been reported.

Anyone able or wishing to help can get in touch with the 50s Museum through the web site given above, or by phone on 01745 817004 during office hours, or 01745 812107 at other times. The trust can also be emailed at: caedaitrust@tiscali.co.uk

I learned of this fire some time after the event, from one of my trade journals, but the incident was reported locally, The Leader – News from Wrexham & Flintshire – Suspected arson attack devastates Denbigh’s Cae Dai museum, and by BBC News – Arrest after 50s car museum blaze. The losses are unfortunate, and I have commented on the loss of many small museums throughout the country over the past decade, particularly in Scotland, not only to this sort of attrition, but to closure due to lack of interest or available finances or funding. I didn’t have the opportunity to visit Cae Dai, as it seems to have come into being just as my regular commutes to North Wales were coming to an end, so this is one I have definitely missed.

There may be later stories published on the web if more information comes to light, so it may be worth searching for the museum, to see if their is any conclusion to the story.

Cae Dai is more than just the museum mentioned above, and the following article which was published by The Independent in May, 1994, provides a more detailed description and background to the estate, and more current references can now be found on the web:

Shovelling dirt like ‘normal’ people: Virginia Ironside visits a Welsh estate that offers care and work to those neglected by the mainstream – Life & Style – The Independent

Cae Dai is Welsh for David’d Field. The Cae Dai Trust exists to help disadvantaged adults, and many of those who it assists also work within the Cae Dai programme. The trust was set up after the North Wales Psychiatric Hospital closed some time in the late 1980s.

Story update February 2010

I spotted an update to the above, in a letter published by Mr Sparrow thanking the various people and clubs that have come forward to offer help and support.

It seems that while the building were insured, the policy for the contents only came through the day after the fire. While the insurer is doing what it can, it seems that the fact that arson was definitely involved is complicating things a little. Because of this aspect, the owner is not touching anything, or starting any work until this issue is resolved. The local MP has offered his support too.

It’s just a shame that it’s so easy for some fool to ruin twenty year’s worth of someone’s work, and ruin things so completely for ordinary, decent folk.

I’m hoping there may be more details in the next month or so.

Good new – Update April 2010

I have to admit that I don’t look too closely at the news, as most of it’s depressing, so it’s a welcome change when something akin to good news is received.

In this case it’s the follow up to the Cae Dai story. As noted above, there was a problem with the insurance for the collection, as the documents were (I believe) one day out of date, therefore not in force. Following discussion and representations, the insurer has agreed to pay on both the building and the collection claims. The site is now reported to have been cleared, with only the remaining supporting structures present, although these have been condemned and will also be cleared before the restoration of the museum and collection proper begins.

It may have been the end of more than twenty years’ effort, but it looks as if the outcome will now be positive, and a ‘lost’ museum is on the road to recovery.

Temporary exhibition opens May 2010

Just at the end of April, I noted a news item telling of the opening of a temporary display in the community hall which lies on the Cae Dai site.

Owner Sparrow Harrison has noted that the number of visitors is similar to usual at this time of year, and that there is still plenty to see from the surving collection.

Admission is free, but donations are very welcome after the disaster at the museum.

Yorkshire Motor Museum closes

As if to emphasise my observation above that circumstances are changing, I also noted confirmation that the Yorkshire Motor Museum would close in 2010. Formerly known as the Skopos Motor Museum, located at Batley, West Yorkshire.

This was a more substantial affair than Cae Dai, and had around 70 vehicles on display, many belonging to the businessman Stephen Batte, who had created the museum. The remainder were on loan, meaning that the collection varied over time, making it more interesting. The museum had its own workshop, where restoration work could be carried out, and was a facility shared with the Northern Aeroplane workshop, which did work for the Shuttleworth Trust.

The museum was opened in 1996, by Lord Montague of Beaulieu, and covered everything from the earliest days of motoring through to the latest supercars. It seems that a change of landlord means the museum has to close by the end of January 2010, so it’s not only the tiny museums that can have survival problems.

Quoted from the museum’s own web site, which is still in existence as I type:

Yorkshire Motor Museum was founded by Stephen Battye in October 1993 as part of a regeneration scheme for Batley. it is the home of approx 40 classic and vintage cars. Some of which are owned by the museum and others are privately owned .

The museum workshop repairs and maintains the museum cars. Also, the museum takes in outside work for restoration repairs, and service.

It is also the home of the Northern Aeroplane Workshops (NAW) . The group is undertaking a “new-build” of a 1917 Sopwith Camel aircraft built to air worthy standards.