Page 88 - Remembering ISTEL

Remembering ISTEL

Studley Castle Timeline

1837 - 1968 - Studley Castle was private rfesidence and latterly a Women’s
Agricultural Colledge.

1968 - The British Leyland Motor Corporation Created and Studley Castle was
part of its plans to create a British car giant to compete with European
and Japanese manufacturers.

1975 - Leyland Historic Vehicles Created bringing together heritage vehicles
from individual companies now part of the group

1978 - Leyland Heritage Trust expanded and outgrew its accommodation at the
Longbridge factory and in 1978 the archive collections and vehicle
workshops moved to Studley Castle. The vehicles were housed in rather
charmingly named buildings such as the ‘Coach House’ and the ‘Milking
Parlour’

1979 - The Trust’s name was changed to the BL Heritage Ltd.

1980 - Some vehicles were put on display at Donington Park, but at the end of
1980 a larger selection moved to a small museum in the grounds of Syon
Park in London.

1983 - British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (BMIHT) was formed to secure the
collection for the Nation.

1986 - ISTEL Expands its Training Facilities at Studley Castle

1993 - The Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon opens, As the BMIHT vehicles and
archive collection grew and it was obvious that a new home was required.
With help from Rover Group, in 1993 the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon
was created.

2001 - BMW return Studley Castle but, it was bought back by PVH for less
than £3m. Studley Castle did not return to the MG Rover nest but to the
Phoenix property business.

2003 - ISTEL Training facilities move out of Studley Castle and are re-located to
Highfield House, Redditch.

2005 - Studley Castle Sold to a football tycoon for £4.5 million. The Grade II
listed building, which is used as a hotel and conference centre, was sold
by Phoenix Venture Holdings to Firoka Group, owned by millionaire Firoz
Kassam, who also owned Oxford United Football Club

2018 - Studley Castle acquired by the Warner Leisure Group.

2019 - After a £50 million refurbishment it reopened in April 2019 as the 14th
hotel in the Warner Leisure Hotels collection.

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