New Armstrong Siddeley Centre to be Created

Published: 08/05/2022

The Armstrong Siddeley Owners Club Ltd. and the Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust Ltd. have secured adjoining premises for the club’s vast stocks of spare parts and records, and the trust’s ever-increasing collection of artefacts, photographs and records.  Together the premises at Pentre near Shrewsbury will be known as The Armstrong Siddeley Centre, together occupying approximately 8500 square feet.

Since 1972 the club has been the main source of spare parts for Armstrong Siddeley cars.  We now have the opportunity to bring together under one roof the club and the trust.

The Armstrong Siddeley Heritage Trust, formed in 2005, has an ever-growing collection of artefacts for which it is delighted to have found a new home. 

The new Armstrong Siddeley Centre will co-site the supply of spare parts with the heritage activities of the trust. It will also allow the club to pass its library and archive into the custodial care and management of the trust, creating a more accessible and long-term home for both the trust’s and club’s activities.

The project is currently underway with building works to remodel two adjoining premises. It is anticipated that the spare parts operation will be open before the end of 2022 and the trust’s premises will open in 2023. 

Keith Dewhurst, chairman of ASOC comments: 
“For a car club to keep a former manufacturer’s parts department stocked and ongoing for 50 years is, I think, an amazing achievement and a testament to all those who have gone before us. 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 delighted 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.”

Iain Campbell, chairman of ASHT comments: 
“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. The A/S Heritage Trust has been growing steadily over recent years making current space a concern. Moving into spacious premises adjacent to the Owners Club is most fortuitous. We expect to display long hidden papers and artefacts, also to help members and others to understand something of our fascination with the lifetime efforts of the pioneer John Davenport Siddeley, the First Lord Kenilworth.  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 A/S Parkside factory as well as a meeting room and work areas for research and cataloguing. The ground floors are ideal for the presentation of medium and larger artefacts.  Being enabled to operate so closely together opens up great opportunities which can only add value to the enjoyment of the marque.”