Attention fashionistas: Laura Ashley’s former mansion is up for sale

Attention fashion fans looking to skip town: Laura Ashley’s country mansion is up for sale.

The legendary fashion designer – whose designs are in millions of homes – moved into the mansion with her husband, Sir Bernard Ashley, in 1961.

The residence and surrounding landscape have been credited with inspiring the designer’s famous floral prints.

The house has often appeared in photo shoots as a stunning backdrop for her laid-back country designs.

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, with sales totaling over £276 million in 2000.

The picturesque property was sold by the Ashley family upon Bernard’s death in 2009. He had been a widower since Laura passed away in 1985.

It was sold for £1.2 million in spring 2010 to the current owners and the property has since been extensively restored. Now it’s back on sale for £1.8 million.

The restoration has improved the original stained glass windows, cast iron gutters and the owners have added a pillared porch, two balconies and a terrace to maximize views of the stunning countryside.

Rhydoldog House is set in three acres of gardens with panoramic views across the countryside and down to a lovely waterfall.

The current owners have built a luxury apartment on the site to live in while they renovate the property.

In addition to this accommodation, the mansion has four main reception rooms, a kitchen for meals, six suites and a cellar.

Along with the mansion and its gardens, the sale also includes a 33-acre forest which is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

There is still structural work to be done to improve the property, most of the house has been returned to a rougher state and now just needs a new owner to complete the restoration.

According to the McCartney estate agents who are selling the property, the new owners have access to the restoration plans that have been followed to date, or they can create their own vision.

With planning permission, they say there’s the opportunity to create a stunning boutique hotel in the countryside or to make the Ashleys’ home your own.

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