Merrythought

Four Generations of the finest Teddy Bears

 The story of Merrythought began in 1930. William Gordon Holmes, owner of a spinning mill in Yorkshire called ‘Holmes & Laxton’, recognised the opportunity to make premium soft toys from the luxurious natural fibres they sourced. He found a beautiful brick foundry building in Ironbridge, home of the industrial revolution, and with the help of a team of skilled local seamstresses, Merrythought was born.

The first collection was designed by Florence Attwood, a remarkable pattern maker who overcame many challenges associated with being deaf and unable to speak, to create some of our most iconic designs. This included the original Merrythought and Magnet teddy bears, which still have a strong influence upon the designs we create today.

Our heritage is something we are immensely proud of, and the original factory in Ironbridge, Shropshire, remains Merrythought’s home to this day; a magical place where each teddy bear is brought to life using the finest materials and traditional craftsmanship that has been handed down the four generations of the company.