RIP Jonathan Minns

Milton Keynes Seagull

Active member

Sep 28, 2003

775

Milton Keynes

• Nov 2, 2013

• #1

Jonathan Minns , who has died the day after his 75th birthday, was an engineer infused with the spirit of Stephenson and Brunel; entranced by steam and the marvels of mechanical antiquities, he restored a derelict Victorian water pumping station at Hove, Sussex, and transformed it into the “British Engineerium”. In 1971, with a few friends and £350 capital, he saved the Goldstone pumping station in Hove a fortnight before it was due to be demolished.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/technology-obituaries/10421780/Jonathan-Minns.html

 

Man of Harveys

Well-known member

Jul 9, 2003

18,734

Brighton, UK

• Nov 2, 2013

• #2

Fascinating Telegraph obituary that's made me feel guilty about never having visited the Engineerium despite loving that kind of stuff.

 

Norman Potting

Well-known member

Nov 5, 2006

13,967

Sussex, Sussex not by the sea and actually nearer

• Nov 2, 2013

• #3

Hopefully the Engineerium will once again be open to the public, what are they doing there that is taking them so long?

Interesting obit, interesting and rewarding life and he must have had a brilliant childhood. One to add to my "fantasy dinner guest list" - I would sit him with Fred Dibnah and just listen to the chat.

 

T

The Hon Sec

New member

Feb 23, 2009

421

Deep up County

• Nov 2, 2013

• #4

Think he showed me and my family round his mill a couple of years ago. What a missed opportunity as I didn't realise who he was.

 

desprateseagull

New member

Jul 20, 2003

10,171

brighton, actually

• Nov 2, 2013

• #5

Norman Potting said:

Hopefully the Engineerium will once again be open to the public, what are they doing there that is taking them so long?...

Click to expand...

http://www.britishengineerium.org/

"..The historic buildings with their huge steam beam engines are being lovingly restored to their original splendour, and the beautiful gardens landscaped. New exhibition buildings are being constructed utilizing the latest technologies to showcase the way that engineering has created the world.."

 

Herr Tubthumper

Well-known member

NSC Patron

Jul 11, 2003

59,487

The Fatherland

• Nov 2, 2013

• #6

Norman Potting said:

Hopefully the Engineerium will once again be open to the public, what are they doing there that is taking them so long?

Interesting obit, interesting and rewarding life and he must have had a brilliant childhood. One to add to my "fantasy dinner guest list" - I would sit him with Fred Dibnah and just listen to the chat.

Click to expand...

I seem to remember some local businessman took it over and is embroiled in a planning issue with the council. I'm not sure what his motives are or what the issue is though.

 

S

Sloe Joe

New member

Oct 7, 2010

639

• Nov 2, 2013

• #7

MK Seagull, I suggest you read Robert Rankin's 'The Brightonomicon'.
This will put everything into perspective.
Hope to see you soon, after 31/03/14 I'm gone.

 

BN9 BHA

DOCKERS

NSC Patron

Jul 14, 2013

21,530

Newhaven

• Nov 2, 2013

• #8

RIP
The Engineerium was well worth the visit, look forward to going again one day.