A process for the production of ethers from an olefin containing feedstock. The process, which uses two stages for the production of ethers comprises, in a first stage, isomerizing an olefin containing feedstock over a thermally stable layered metal oxide type catalyst having interspathic polymeric silica between the layers so as to produce iso-olefins and then, in a second stage, reacting the resultant iso-olefins with alcohols in the presence of an etherification catalyst so as to produce ethers from the isoolefins.