William Ker Reid

William Ker Reid, was a Newcastle based silversmith who took over his father Christian Ker’s business (founded in 1788) with his brothers (David and Christian) in 1834.

The family was closely allied with the Barnard family, another great silversmith clan in Newcastle as William Ker and David married Mary and Elizabeth Barnard, daughters of Edward Barnard I, the founder of Edward Barnard & Sons. William Ker’s son Edward went on to marry his cousin Anna Barnard in 1847.

Christian retired in 1845 and the remaining two brothers were joined by David’s son, Christian John Reid and the firm became known as Reid & Sons.

They exhibited work as the Great Exhibition in 1851 and also at the 1862 International Exhibition. They opened London showrooms in 1853.

They registered as a limited company in 1930 as Reid & Sons Ltd. and became a subsidiary of Northern Goldsmiths Ltd in 1967.