A ‘historic’ Laura Ashley factory is set to be demolished this year. The factory site in Carno had been used to create the famous Welsh designers' works since 1963, closing in 2006 to the ‘devastation’ of local residents. The site was bought by West Yorkshire Fellmongers Ltd in 2015 and turned into a leather factory, revealing plans to demolish the Laura Ashley factory in place of a parking lot for 24 lorries.
The community were in uproar over the plans to turn the old station site into an ‘industrial village’ whilst historians mourned the loss of the site as a monument to the late designer. Caersws Fish Bar named amongst 20 best in the UK Joy of football found for first women and non-binary football team in Machynlleth Pantperthog community hope to breathe new life into old hall once a 'hub of activity' Machynlleth school must help Caereinion with Welsh language Ann Evans worked in the Carno and Newtown factories for 20 years during Laura Ashley’s reign, and now runs Heritage Hub 4 Wales, working to preserve the history of the famous company as well as other parts of Welsh history. She said: “The owners don’t care about it’s history.
“It was important for the Ashley family that their factories worked for the communities too, so it was devastating when the Carno site closed [employing 220 people]. “I was dropped off there one summer morning in 1975 and ended up working there for 20 years. “People left so suddenly, what’s left now is like Mrs Havish.