Words by Steve Mather
Luxury travel lovers are being given the chance to find out more about their family history and stay in their ancestral homes thanks to a new concept by Storied Collection.
Combining centuries of history, with people’s growing interest in searching their family lineage to get to know the lives of those who have come before them, it offers exclusive use of grand castles and estates to the high-end traveller, with many of the properties on offer hundreds of years old. And it is the historic element that is one of the main ingredients, with the company aiming to attract ancestors of the people who have lived there through the ages.
The company was launched in 2022 by a group of founders with plenty of experience and knowhow in the industry, with former Airbnb and Best Western leaders on board.
Co-founder Michael Goldin is a big history fan and his inspiration for Storied Collection came when he was looking to find a beautiful castle to stay in on a trip to the UK from his home in the USA. Eventually he found a 12th century Scottish Castle called Fenton Tower and after a little more research, he discovered that he had an ancestral link to the property – his 13th great-grandfather owned it in the 16th century.
To help people find out if they have a similar link to its collection, the company has teamed-up with Ancestry.com to allow visitors to search a property, location or surname to find out if they have a link to one of its grand homes.
Eilidh Bennett, head of property relations said: “These are high-end estates that people want to visit. They have amazing, unique elements – combined with high-end amenities and Michelin star chefs.
“Storied Collection members are the top level of luxury and have countless authentic local activities perfectly suited for multi-generational families, corporate events and film shoots.
“Each one of the Storied Collection members is an estate owned by the same family for many generations, with the oldest dating back to the 1400s. Our aim is to find those seeking family ties to the properties.”
As well as working with Ancestry.com the company also has its own in-house historian, Claire Potter, a history graduate from the University of Chicago. She delves into the past of all of the properties to find out who has lived there and often unearths amazing stories. “She has actually uncovered lots of interesting tales that even the owners had not previously been aware of,” said Eilidh.
A lot of work goes into ensuring that the properties are right for Storied Collection.
“We visit each of the estates before they can become members of Storied Collection. There is a list of variables we look at such as size, quality of the estate, quality of the service offering, as well as historical interest and visual appeal. Some of the properties enquiring about membership unfortunately do look their age. We have to keep a standard on par with our other brand members and ensure each location would be a place discerning travellers want to stay,” added Eilidh.
The team say recent successful TV series such as Downton Abbey, Bridgerton and The Crown have instigated a rise in people’s interest in history and in particular, staying in period properties. “History and historic houses can sometimes feel a bit stuffy so we want to modernise it and broaden the appeal by making it interesting, sexy and fun,” Eilidh said.
Storied Collection advisor, Hopwood Depree, is another history lover involved in the project and delved into his family’s past to find that his ancestral home was Hopwood Hall, Manchester, which he is currently renovating.
He has documented his adventure on his YouTube channel and written a best-selling book about the process, called Downton Shabby. Upon completion of the renovations, his 25-bedroom venue will also join the collection.
Storied Collection currently has nine members under its wing – a mixture of castles, estates and grand country houses available for exclusive hire.
These include the Dunskey Estate, Gilmerton House and Cluny Castle in Scotland, Pentrehobyn Hall in north Wales, Temple House and Orlagh House in Ireland, and Middleton Castle in England.
Each is listed at Storied Collection’s website, with details on the original building date, associated family names, what makes it special and what to expect when you arrive.
“We are very early in our grand vision to bring awareness and interest to such incredible accommodation. So far, the feedback has been incredible and that only fuels us to do more, better, and faster,” said Eilidh.
Factbox
Find out more at storiedcollection.com.
