New home for Armstrong Siddeleys
Organisations unite in creating a new centre to protect treasured marque
The Armstrong Siddeley Owners’ Club (ASOC) and Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust (ASHT) have joined forces to create the new Armstrong Siddeley Centre.
The new Centre in Pentre near Shrewsbury will house the vast collection of spares amassed by the ASOC while the adjoining building, which will feature a see-through wall, will be used to house the Trust’s everexpanding collection of Armstrong Siddeley photographs, records and artefacts. With the combined areas, the new premises takes up approximately 8500 square feet (nearly 800m2) and should provide a long-term home for these important institutions.
ASOC chairman, Keith Dewhurst, said: ‘Over the years the initial emphasis on keeping the cars on the road has been joined by the need to safeguard the substantial heritage of Armstrong Siddeley and I was very pleased to support the formation of the Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust.
‘I am delighted that by working with the trust and with the support of our members, we are both able to co-site ourselves in one location and create a new Armstrong Siddeley Centre in Shropshire. This will secure the future of both organisations and give those interested in Armstrong Siddeley a far better experience and range of services in substantial premises.’
Construction work is underway with plans to resume the Club’s spare parts supply by the end of the year and the Centre opening proper in 2023. The new premises also allow the Club to entrust its library of archive material to the Trust, creating one site for all things Armstrong Siddeley. ASHT chairman, Iain Campbell, said: ‘The new Armstrong Siddeley Centre is the fulfilment of a long-held vision to have all aspects of Armstrong Siddeley interest brought together in one place.
‘We expect to display longhidden papers and artefacts. This move presents us with the exciting opportunity to recreate a boardroom using the original 19th century Waring and Gillow’s furniture, along with other fitments from the former Parkside factory, as well as a meeting room and work areas for research and cataloguing.’
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