Beaver & Tapley

Beaver and Tapley was a British furniture manufacturer operating from the 1930s, originally based in Southall, Middlesex. The company started making tea trolleys before expanding into furniture production. For three generations, the Richardson family ran the business, initially competing on price before shifting strategy in 1956 to focus on quality and design.

The turning point came through collaboration with leading British designers, particularly Robert Heritage. In 1956 they produced the Penguin Bookshelf in partnership with Penguin Books – wall-mounted shelving dimensioned specifically for paperbacks. The design was right but the name limited its appeal; people assumed it was only for Penguin titles.

After visiting the Cologne Exhibition in 1960, Roger Richardson and Robert Heritage developed Tapley SL – a wall-mounted modular system using concealed fixing battens instead of visible wire ladders. Launched in 1961, it allowed users to configure their own storage arrangements without the constraints of traditional furniture. The system used teak and sapele veneers with brass fittings, typical of better-quality British furniture from the period.

Tapley 33 replaced SL in 1975, introducing adjustable metal wall bars to compensate for uneven walls – a practical solution to a real installation problem. The name came from the original cabinet width of 33 inches. The range expanded to include floor-standing pieces alongside wall-mounted units, giving buyers flexibility to mix both formats. Over 150 different modules were eventually available in various wood finishes.

The Richardson family sold the business in 1998. Subsequent ownership changes included a move from Southall to Nottingham, range reductions, and name changes that didn’t stick. The company was sold again in 2005 and eventually dissolved in 2011. Vintage Beaver and Tapley pieces from the 1960s-70s – particularly Tapley SL and Tapley 33 ranges – remain sought after for their modular flexibility and solid British construction.