Merrythought has been handmaking the quintessential British teddy bear since the company was established in 1930. Now the last remaining British teddy bear manufacturer, its bears are still made in the company’s original Victorian factory in the World Heritage Site of Ironbridge, Shropshire.

Originally a mill in Yorkshire spinning mohair yarn, the founder Gordon Holmes had the idea of turning his mohair into teddy bears. The company is still a family business, currently owned and run by the fourth generation of the Holmes family: sisters Sarah, Hannah and Sophie Holmes. The company has also remained independent with only a very small number of family-only shareholders.

There is nothing mass-produced about a Merrythought toy because each one is 100% handmade in England, and no two animals of any design are ever exactly the same. Traditional methods and materials, such as mohair, are still used for the bears, with the company preferring to produce a limited range of toys that is of the highest quality.

Recent commemorative bears include ones for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and in memory of the late Oliver Holmes. Merrythought was also selected to produce the official teddy bears of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Over the years Merrythought has supported a number of charities by creating limited edition bears including their Marie Curie Bear, Make A Wish Bear and Help for Heroes Bear.

For more details please visit http://www.merrythought.co.uk/.