In its 99 years Twickenham Studios has had a rich history, which all started in 1913 on the site of a former ice-rink in St Margarets.

When it was first opened Twickenham Studios was the largest studio in the UK, but in 1915 the London Film Company, set up in 1913 by John East and Percy Nash, experienced sharp losses after the pair left the studios in 1914 to form Elstree Studios.

The venue adopted its current name in 1929, when Julius Hagen set up Twickenham Film Studios, with Henry Edwards and film director Leslie Hiscott becoming fellow directors. Their first production was Ringing The Changes.

Early film that graced the stages include Sherlock Holmes film the Missing Rembrandt, made in 1932, during the birth of "quota quickies", where films would be created back-to-back, one at night and one during the day.

In 1935, a fire destroyed the studio building, taking with it the entire contents of the camera and sound departments and claiming 15 years of work by the studio’s stills photographer Cyril Stanborough. Further destruction was caused throughout World War II, when the studios took a direct hit from a bomb.

In 1958, Kenneth Shipman formed Alliance Film Distributors with Sidney Box. The company made several films at Twickenham, including the Challenge starring Jayne Mansfield.

Kenneth and his brother Gerald Shipman had taken over the company just two years before from their father Alfred Shipman, who died suddenly in 1956. He had set-up Alliance Film Distributors in 1946.

The 1960s was a great period for the studios, bringing in movie giants like Alfie, the Italian Job and a Hard Day’s Night – which saw the Beatles visit. Many feel this was owed to the artistic direction of Guido Coen, who joined the studios in 1959 as executive director.

The studios enjoyed further success throughout the 1970s, with hits such as Superman, released in 1978, prompting owners to expand the facilities. The expansion included further cutting studios and offices.

A new sound centre opened in 1980, making way for the John Landis' comedy horror in 1981, An American Werewolf in London, the George Orwell adaptation, 1984, and the 1988 comedy A Fish Called Wanda.

In recent years, the studio’s reputation within the film world has continued to grow, with many famous movies taking advantage of the facilities.

Last year, Steven Speilberg's War Horse was released after some scenes were filmed on site, alongside Phyllida Lloyd's the Iron Lady, which looks into the life of Britain's only female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Oscar hopeful My Week with Marilyn used the old viewing theatre and wardrobe department for the film, which was based on diary entries from Colin Clark, who worked as an assistant director on the Prince and the Showgirl, where he met Marilyn Monroe.

Famous faces and experts from the film industry have expressed their sadness at the closure of the studios, which gathered a strong following in its 99 year reign.

Sound designer Jimmy Boyle worked at the studios as a freelancer for 17 years.

He said: “The loss of Twickenham Film Studios is a great shame and a major loss to the British film industry after nearly 100 years of film making.

“My area of expertise is in post production sound and to lose the sound centre, the Richard Attenborough Theatre, one of the country's premiere mixing stages and the talented individuals that worked there, is a massive loss.”

The director for My Week with Marilyn, Simon Curtis, visited the studios to film scenes in the old viewing theatre and the wardrobe department.

He said: "I am really sad to hear the news about Twickenham Studios. It is a fantastic facility steeped in film history and I am proud to have worked there many times, most recently in My Week with Marilyn."

When talking in December about My Week with Marilyn, Mr Curtis said: “I love Twickenham Studios. We loved the wardrobe and corridor outside the wardrobe at Twickenham and this is where Emma Watson filmed some scenes for the film.”

Rupert Lloyd Parry worked as a photographer on My Week with Marilyn and also The Iron Lady, which were both shot at Twickenham Studios.

He said: “I do think it's a great shame Twickenham is to close, I understand present day economics might make the site very attractive to developers but whilst parking was always a nightmare, Twickenham Studios made a substantial contribution to the British film industry and I think for those of us that worked there it will be a great loss culturally, especially at a time when the film industry appears to be dusting itself off and looking forward to another successful year.”

Twickenham film producer husband and wife team Sloane U’ren and Ant Neely have been promoting their film Dimensions and just won the Gort Award for Best Film 2012 at the 37th Boston Science Fiction Film Festival.

Mrs U’ren said: “The loss of Twickenham Studios would be an absolute tragedy for the Twickenham area, the British film industry and film fans worldwide. The studio is an important part of British film heritage, and should be protected as such."