Book on 100 year history of Bicester base to launch

Marking the centenary of Bicester Motion, 100: A Technical Site’s Centenary will feature 100 carefully curated photographs gathered over 12 years.

Launching at the Scramble event on Sunday, April 26, the book will chronicle the site’s journey from its transient beginnings in the First World War, through its formal establishment in 1926, to its current role as a centre for automotive technology.

Bicester Motion took ownership of the 444-acre site in 2013, restoring and preserving much of the former bomber base, a significant portion of which carries Grade II listed status.

Before this, the site saw varied use, including as a Gulf War satellite US military hospital, and had remained unoccupied for 20 years.

Readers keen to take home a copy of this historical reflection can do so for £12 at the Scramble event, and a select number of hardback editions will be available.

The book will subsequently be available for purchase online.

Bicester Motion, a future-oriented mobility site, creates an environment for automotive and aviation technology businesses.

It champions a sustainable mobility future, providing an innovative hub for industry leaders, manufacturers, and innovators.

Around 99 per cent of the site’s buildings were meticulously restored or repurposed for modern business use, earning Bicester Motion recognition from Historic England as a prime example of constructive conservation.