Biography
Laura Ashley
Textile and fashion designer
The Mapping Merthyr Through Women’s Histories workshop brought together staff from across the Libraries and Museum service and partner sectors to uncover, honour, and amplify the stories of women who shaped Merthyr. Informed by insights from the valley‑wide Heritage and Herstories community drop‑ins, participants each chose and reflected on a woman’s story that deserves recognition, creating a collective map of Merthyr’s past through diverse female perspectives. This project marks only the beginning — with hopes to continue these workshops and collaborate with more communities across the valley, further enriching and expanding the narrative of local women’s history.
Laura Ashley (1925–1985) became one of the most recognisable names in British fashion and textile design, but her story began in Dowlais, Merthyr Tydfil. Born Laura Mountney at 31 Station Terrace in 1925, her connection to the town forms an important part of Merthyr’s creative heritage.
Laura began developing her distinctive approach to textile design during the 1950s. Inspired by traditional crafts and an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum, she began experimenting with printing fabric, working alongside her husband, Bernard Ashley. What started on a small scale grew into an internationally recognised fashion and furnishings business bearing her name.
Her story is one of creativity, entrepreneurship and determination. From her beginnings in Dowlais, Laura Ashley developed an instantly recognisable design identity and built a name that became known far beyond Wales. Her birthplace at 31 Station Terrace is now marked with a Merthyr heritage plaque, creating a tangible connection between her achievements and the community where her story began.
Reclaiming Laura Ashley’s place within Merthyr’s story helps us see another dimension of the town’s heritage. Her life reminds us that Merthyr’s history is also a history of women’s creativity, enterprise and ambition, and that stories which began within our communities can resonate far beyond them.