Attention, fashion fans who are looking to ditch the city: the country mansion once belonging to Laura Ashley is now up for sale.
The residence and the surrounding landscape have been credited with inspiring the designer’s famous floral prints.The Laura Ashley textile design company was founded by Bernard Ashley, an engineer, and his wife Laura in 1953. Over the next twenty years it grew to become an international retail chain, will sales totalling over £276 million in 2000.
It was sold for £1.2 million in the spring of 2010 to the current owners and since then the property has been extensively restored. It’s now back on sale for £1.8 million.The restoration improved the original leaded, stained glass windows, cast iron guttering, and the owners added a pillared porch, two balconies and a roof terrace to maximise the views of the impressive rural landscape.
As well as this accommodation the mansion has four principal reception rooms, a kitchen diner, six bedroom suites, and a cellar.