Edward Barnard & Sons

Edward Barnard & Sons were recognised as potentially the oldest manufacturing silversmiths in the world and through various changes of ownership, operated until 2003 when they finally closed.

They can trace their origins back to Anthony Nelme who set up a silversmiths firm in 1680 in Ave Maria Lane in London. On his death in 1722 his son, Francis Nelme took over the business and ran it until 1739 when Thomas Whipham took over.

The firm went through a succession of changes of ownership with Thomas Whipham’s son, Thomas Jr entering into partnership with Charles Wright to run the business in 1756 and in 1775 it passed to Charles Wright on Thomas  retirement.

In 1786 the business amalgamated with Henry Chawner, a neighbouring silversmiths. Edward Barnard was an apprentice of Chawner (turned over to him in 1784 from his original master Charles Wright) and was kept on a the foreman for the new amalgamated firm.

John Emes became a partner in 1796 and went on to take over the business when Chawner retired. Barnard was kept on as the manager. When Emes died in 1808, Barnard went into partnership with his widow Rebecca and when she withdrew in 1829 Edward Barnard became proprietor with his sons, Edward, John and William and started trading as Edward Barnard & Sons.

The Barnard family sons went on to run the business up until 1910 when they became a limited company under the name Edward Barnard & Sons Ltd. They became a subsidiary of Padgett & Braham in 1977 and the firm finally ceased trading in 2003 – bringing to a close a trading history of approximately 323 years.

They were regarded as skilful exponents of the Neoclassical and revived Rococo style and continued to trade using their historicist skills rather than producing 20th Century contemporary styles. As primary purveyors of military, ecclesiastical, presentation, sporting and municipal silverware, they needed this expertise in styles of the past and had clients such as Rundell, Bridge & Rundell, Elkington & Co and Gerrards amongst other prestigious names in the silver trade.