Merrythought

Established in 1930 in Ironbridge, Shropshire by two spinning mill owners W.G. Holmes and G.H. Laxton with the assistance of C.J.Rendell (then Production Chief at Chad Valley) and A.C. Janisch (then Head of Sales at J.K. Farnell), Merrythought was born. Here they had the talent of two established and experienced business men in the soft toy industry plus the experience and the know-how to weave and create the highest quality mohair for these soft toys.

They were also joined at this time by a designer from Chad Valley, a truly remarkable woman called Florence Attwood. (Florence was a deaf – mute and had attended school with the daughter of C.J. Rendell). Using her talent she was able to translate artists drawings into patterns and single handedly designed all 32 patterns for Merrythought’s Premier line in 1930. Up until her death in 1949 she was still Chief Designer and some of her original patterns are still in use today.

After creating the London Gold Range, The Cheekies and the Punkies and 74 years after first opening their doors Merrythought closed in 2006. Due to public demand they re-opened again in 2007, albeit on a smaller scale. Focusing on both traditional and collectable teddy bears.

Today Merrythought remains a 5th generation run company, that for 80 years has been hand making toys in England, and is still responsible, for some of “Britain’s finest soft toys”

It’s great to be eccentric and British – That’s Merrythought down to a T. From their beautiful classic range to their fun and wacky ‘Cheeky’ bears, right up to their ‘Punkies’. Design is everything!