06/11/2011
By: Rainstar

The teddy bear is a soft and cuddly toy that many, if not all, of us have owned at one point or another in our lives. This icon of childhood has been around as long as anyone can remember. 80 years ago in Telford of Shropshire county United Kingdom, a teddy bear manufacturing factory opened its doors and released its first catalog of their fuzzy friends. The factory, known as Merrythought ltd., is still alive and thriving; pumping out new designs and different bears each year. Not only is it a factory, but Merrythought contains a gift shop and museum dedicated to the history of the teddy bear and the company itself. Besides staying in business since 1931, what makes this factory so interesting is the fact that Merrythought is the last surviving teddy bear factory in the U.K.

I visited Merrythought last January when I was touring the United Kingdom with my family. Located a mere ½ mile upstream from the infamous Iron Bridge, the factory sports tall iron gates topped with festive teddy bear heads. A life-size (or rather, a very large) teddy bear statue wearing classic London Beefeater attire stands sentry just outside the museum; greeting passerby’s with a dignified air. Upon entering the museum, (if memory serves me correctly) a large chest housing several different bear designs from over the years beams down at you. A friendly clerk greets you at the door and will gladly answer your questions.

Gordon Holmes founded the Merrythought business in 1930. Like any business, Merrythought has experienced its share of ups and downs. In 1935, despite the Great Depression, the factory became the largest soft toy factory in Great Britain. During World War II, the Iron Bridge site was requisitioned by the U.K. armed forces and the factory began producing war materials. The organization was released from its military duties in 1946. In November 2006, the company voluntarily dissolved in response to, “…the ongoing effects of external economics.” More specifically, cheaply produced goods from foreign countries – against which Merrythought could not compete. The company remained closed until January 2007 when a media and social outcry rescued the company.

Oliver Holmes, grandson of founder Gordon Holmes, joined the company in 1972. Eventually, Oliver inherited the company from his father, Trayton Holmes, and became the head of Merrythought. He remained as such until his recent death in April. His daughter, Sarah Holmes, has since succeeded him.

Despite the loss of Oliver Holmes, the future could not be brighter for the Merrythought teddy bear factory. Most of the factory space (namely the large buildings outside the museum) has been rented to other corporations. Due to this, the factory has been unofficially renamed, “Merrythought Village.” Also, the London Olympic Games organizers have selected Merrythought to produce the official teddy bears for the London 2012 Olympics.

About the author

wrote 7 articles on this blog.

Rainstar is a 16 year-old cheetah from the East coast of the United States. He has been a furry for nearly 4 years and has no intentions of ever stopping. His primary focuses are in theatre and the fine arts. Rainstar's articles generally revolve around book reviews, news about animals, and happenings in the fandom. Rainstar goes by many names: Rainstar, Rain, Rainy, R, and Spots.

• Blog