Iconic theme park is auctioning off its rides and attractions after shock closure

A former theme park is auctioning off some of its most beloved rides and attractions after being forced to close due to rising costs and declining visitors.

Founded in 1976, Flambards, described as ‘Cornwall’s most beloved visitor attraction’, was first opened to visitors as an aviation museum.

A Victorian Village exhibition was later developed, inspired by the popular 1990s TV series 'Flambards’, with over 60 shops set on authentic cobbled streets, adding to the historic aircraft already on display.

Over the years, the park went on to add family rides, rollercoasters and even a life-sized replica of a London street during the Blitz.

But in November 2024, after 48 years of welcoming families seeking action-packed days out, the park shockingly announced it had taken the ‘difficult decision’ to close its doors with immediate effect.

Announcing the news, a devastating Facebook post read: ‘Flambards has been a cherished destination for generations, and it is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell.'

Now, after Flambards' Victorian village was sold as just one single item earlier this year, Lay's Auctioneers is holding The Flambards Sale.

The auction, which will be held in Penzance, Cornwall, over the next two days, will see fans of the popular park now able to purchase more than 1,2000 different parts of the much-loved attraction for themselves, including a former space shuttle ride and World War II jeep.

The front half of a Concorde jet, described as ‘an important and historic, full-scale, wooden mock-up’, is also set to be presented for auction, offering a unique opportunity for an aviation lover to own their very own historic model.

Having played a crucial role in deciding the final layout of the flight deck, the 23-metre model is estimated to sell for between £10,000 and £20,000.

History lovers may also be keen to purchase a World War II US Army Jeep, equipped with a spare wheel and spare fuel that can found on the back of the vehicle.

Described by Lay’s as being ‘in very good, complete condition’ but requiring ‘some attention’, the vehicle had been a vital part of the park’s Blitz Exhibition since 1984.

There's even a life-sized, wax portrait of former prime minister Winston Churchill on sale, estimated to be the the most expensive human-form models ever sold, with price estimates at £800 to £1,200.

For those looking to emulate the thrill of a ride in the comfort of your own home, the main body of the large Spectrum Sports Rocket Rascal Space Shuttle fibreglass model may be the perfect fit.

Being auctioned at an estimated price of £150-£250, the 800 x 500 vehicle is currently out of order and lacking in seats but could have the potential to emulate a full theme park experience from home.

An iconic figure of many childhoods and known for his starring role in ‘Gus Honeybun’s Magic Birthdays’, former TV puppet Gus Honeybun is also on the hunt for a new home.

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Being sold with his original clothing, alongside accompanying photographs and birthday cards, the auction house experts ‘believe the pneumatic mechanicals are original but no longer working’, with the bear in ‘good clean condition’.

For ice cream enthusiasts, the auction includes a hornet ice cream kiosk, estimated to sell for between £300 and £500.

But, for those more interested in alcohol, a saloon is also on auction, with the mock-up structure set to go for between £200 and £300.

Meanwhile, popular characters that were often seen around the theme park can now sit in your very front room.

Standing at 120cm tall, a large, fibreglass, garden figure of Humpty Dumpty is on auction for an estimated £80 to £120.

Likewise, the display figure of a seated man who would be spotted sat next to the park’s entrance is also on the market and predicted to sell for between £80 and £120.

David Lay, director and founder of Lay’s Auctioneers, believes the ongoing auction offers a ‘unique opportunity’ for ‘members of the public wishing to acquire memorabilia of this most-beloved and iconic place’.

Describing why Flambards is so loved, he said: 'The whole is so much greater than the sum of its parts.

'To walk the streets of The Flambards Village is to be transported to a halcyon past, a past created by Audrey Hale using vast quantities of original material which is now so rare as to be akin to hens' teeth.

'Whilst we have all been enriched by the experience of cataloguing this remarkable collection, it has been tinged with sadness that this incredible creation - a whole Victorian town, perfectly realised in full-scale, with every corner, shop, street and building absolutely historically correct, down to the most minute detail, must now be dispersed.

'However, that is the nature of things, and from this auction other collections will be improved, new collections will be formed.

'This collection will be an inspiration.'