A PORTFOLIO landlord has bought a former award-winning Worcestershire school in a multi-million-pound purchase.

Gemini Properties, based in Kidderminster, has recently acquired Abberley Hall School, near Stockton-on-Teme.

The purchase of the 93-acre site was completed around two weeks ago.

Abberley Hall School came under financial pressure in February 2023 due to significant financial losses and Malvern College's unable to support the school's costs.

The prep school was forced to close at the end of the 2022/23 school year, despite over £1 million being raised to save the school.

A spokesperson for Gemini Properties said: "There was a lot of anger in the local area about the closure.

"Our CEO, Tim Hopkins, felt it was something that needed to be protected."

Gemini Properties has a large portfolio in the county with properties such as Elms Hotel which isn't too far from Abberley Hall.

"Through our research in trying to buy the property, we found that the Elms and Abberley Hall have a history that goes back 180 years to when they were owned by the same family," the spokesperson said, "For us, it's an example of history repeating itself."

The property's most famous feature is its Grade II listed clock tower, which stands at a height of 161 feet and Gemini Properties have said they intend to honour that.

The spokesperson continued: "We know how iconic and important the clock tower is to people, so Tim has made a promise that it will be retained forever."

With the purchase completed just two weeks ago, Gemini is still working out what they will do with the property.

The spokesperson said: "We have looked at it being used for residential property, becoming retirement property or perhaps a mixed development.

"Whatever we do, it has to be what's best for both us and the property." 

Abberley Hall is a Grade II listed building, but Gemini Properties believes it won't be a hurdle in their plans: "There are always limitations with any listed property, you just have to be more considered with what you decide to do with it.

"The listed status won't stop us from doing whatever we would like to do with it, we will just have to approach it in a different way."