About Robert Lee Distribution

The Robert Lee you see today is a hybrid of two of the industries most respected and independent distributors, Mark Abrahams and following their acquisition in 2000 Robert Lee London Ltd. Known today, simply as, Robert Lee Distribution Ltd we are arguably the UK’s largest independent distributor of bathrooms, showers and plumbing products, supplying retailers and merchants.

We have 27,000 different product lines and with a purpose built 95,000 sq ft head office in Waltham Abbey and branches at Swindon, Tamworth & Manchester.

We supply 99% of our customers on a next working day delivery.

Ordering is easy, a team of over 20 experienced staff are waiting to take your call, and all orders received by 5pm will be delivered next working day.

To find out about the history of Robert Lee, view our timeline below.

1850
1855 Lord Palmerston becomes Prime Minister at 70 years of age.
1855 The first edition of The Daily Telegraph is published on 29th June.
  
1855 Mark Abrahams sets up in business selling glass in London.
1855 David Livingstone discovers Victoria Falls (named after his queen) in modern day Zambia.
1880
 
1880 Mark Abrahams acquires new offices in Leadenhall Street and installs one of the first telephone systems.
 
1880 Gilbert & Sullivan’s ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ opens on 3rd April at the Opera Comique in Westminster.
1880 W. G. Grace makes his England debut in the first Test match in England against Australia.
1880 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) is adopted as the official time for Great Britain.
1910
1912 RMS Titanic hits an iceberg on her maiden voyage and sinks with the loss of over 1500 lives on 15th April.
1914 Britain declares war on Germany on 4th August beginning what came to be known as the Great War.
1930
1934 The first Mersey Tunnel, The Queensway, connecting Liverpool with Birkenhead opens.
1934 Stanley Matthews makes his England debut against Wales and scores in the 4-0 victory.
Mr. Robert Lee in 1934.
 
1934 Mark Abrahams & Sons acquires builders merchant Humphrey & Gordon and Swayes Tiles.
1940
 
1946 Robert Lee founded in Islington, North London.
1960
 
1966 Robert Lee moves to 33 Sutherland Road, Walthamstow, London E17.
1969 The Lunar Module from Apollo 11 lands on the moon on July 20th.
1966 The Ford Cortina MK1 goes into production.
1970
1972 The final part of the M6 motorway - The Gravelly Hill Interchange, known as Spaghetti Junction opens.
 
1972 Robert Lee bought by Diplomat plc.
1979 The Jubilee line, London’s newest Underground line named in honour of the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977 opens.
 
1979 Robert Lee Swindon depot opened.
1980
 
1981 Robert Lee Thetford depot opened.
 
1983 Robert Lee moves to Clifford Road, Walthamstow.
 
1984 Robert Lee Tamworth depot opened.
1984 ‘Do They Know it’s Christmas?’ is recorded and released by Band Aid selling 3 million copies.
1990
1990 In November, following the merger of Sky Television and British Satellite Broadcasting - BSkyB becomes the UKs largest digital subscription television company.
1995 Blackburn Rovers win the Barclays Premiership.
2000
2000 The Millennium Bridge across the Thames is opened in June then closes again for two years as it is considered ‘too wobbly’.
 
2000 Mark Abrahams Distribution Ltd buys Robert Lee.
1995 Blackburn Rovers win the Barclays Premiership.
 
2007 Robert Lee purchases new purpose built warehouse in Swindon.
 
2003 Robert Lee moves to new premises in Waltham Abbey, Hertfordshire.
 
2007 Robert Lee purchases new purpose built warehouse in Swindon.
 
2008 Arley Professional brand relaunched nationwide.
2010
 
2010 New premises opened in Huddersfield.
2010 Birmingham based confectioner Cadbury is bought by American food chain Kraft for £11.5bn.
 
2013 Robert Lee purchases JSB Ltd in Manchester.
 
2014 Robert Lee launch the Synergy brand nationwide.