Cornwall's Flambards Victorian village sold, auctioneer confirms
An entire Victorian village display at a theme park in Cornwall has been sold to a historical tourist attraction for an undisclosed fee, an auctioneers confirmed.Flambards theme park in Helston announced in November it was closing its doors with immediate effect due to "rising costs and a steady decline in visitor numbers".The park said items from its Victorian village attraction, developed in the 1970s by Audrey Hale, were to go on sale at Lay's Auctioneers. Kynren, in Bishop Auckland, Durham, confirmed it purchased the village which would form part of its storied lands attraction as part of the UK's first live-action historical theme park.
Kynren said the village featured more than 50 sets and scenes with authentic shopfronts and interiors. It said it would "reimagine" the Victorian village as the backdrop to a dynamic and interactive visitor experience which would open in 2026.Anna Warnecke, CEO of Kynren, said: "The detail and authenticity of the Flambards Victorian village make it an incredible foundation for a truly immersive experience at the storied lands. "We are not simply relocating it; we are transforming it into a vibrant, theatrical journey where visitors will feel as if they have stepped back into the heart of Victorian England. "We cannot wait to unveil this spectacular experience as part of our new park."
'Excited for the future'
Lay's Auctioneers said it welcomed the acquisition, along with Livingstone Leisure the owner of Flambards. "While we are thrilled that the Victorian village has found such a fitting new home, we understand that some collectors and enthusiasts had hoped to purchase individual elements of the collection," David Lay added. "We regret any disappointment this may cause, but we remain excited for the future of this extraordinary display."The auctioneers said the remainder of the Flambards auction, some 840 lots, would proceed as planned and takes place on 26 and 27 March. This would include "Britain in the Blitz", the war galleries, Concorde, the shackleton cockpit and other displays, it said.
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