First Suffragette Office Revitalized in Prestigious Covent Garden Development
An iconic building that once served as the first office for the Suffragette movement has been given a fresh chapter thanks to an inspiring residential development project. SDS London proudly contributed to this transformation, partnering with Solmaz Ltd to supply essential ironmongery and hardware for the site.
Located in Bedford Street, Covent Garden, this historic space now houses five luxurious flats, with 76 doors fitted with ironmongery exclusively sourced from SDS London. Over 40 high-quality product lines, primarily sourced from UK manufacturers, were supplied to the project, which turned the former office building into a refined residential complex while honoring its legacy of social change.
Until its recent conversion, the building had been used as office space up until 2012. As the main contractor, Solmaz Ltd collaborated with developers Stonehaven Group to bring the project to fruition. Faruk Tepeyurt, Contracts Coordinator for Solmaz Ltd, expressed pride in working on this unique development: “It was an honor to work with the Stonehaven Group on this prestigious project. The fact that it was used as the first office for the Suffragettes movement gave the project extra impetus.”
Tepeyurt highlighted the essential role SDS London played in the project’s success: “A project of this nature demands that you use the very best suppliers, and SDS is very much this when it comes to ironmongery. Their range of products, knowledge, and customer service can’t be matched. They played an integral role in ensuring the development was a success.”
SDS London, based in Wimbledon, has been a trusted provider of hardware to both retail and trade clients for over 30 years. With a portfolio of over 10,000 product lines in stock —including the addition of brands like Rocky Mountain, Oliver Knights, and Groël—the company is well-equipped to meet the demands of landmark projects.
Simon Ayers, SDS’s Sales Director, shared his excitement: “The Bedford Street development is another project that we can be proud of. The team worked hard to meet the specifications and timescales, and we look forward to working with Faruk and his team on more projects going forward.”
The redevelopment of this historic property not only preserves its architectural charm but also honors its place in history, bringing a renewed spirit to a building once at the heart of the fight for women’s rights.
