The Reid Bequest

The Reid bequest comprises Lauriston Castle, its contents and grounds, left in trust to the nation by Mr and Mrs W R Reid. Since Mrs Reid?s death in 1926, the Trust has been administered by the City (firstly Edinburgh Corporation, then Edinburgh District Council, and now by The City of Edinburgh Council). The collections at Lauriston in part consist of items brought from the Reid?s former home in Edinburgh. These collections form the basis of the furnishing in the house, but many further items were purchased, with specific locations or decorative purpose in mind, to create the Edwardian interior which characterises Lauriston Castle today.

The collections include: British and Continental furniture, including a collection of Southern Italian commodes; Crossley Wool Mosaics; urns and vases made from the Derbyshire Fluorspar known as Blue John; a large group of Caucasian and near-Eastern rugs; Scottish, English and French clocks; a large collection of mezzotints; a group of Italian flower paintings; and an extensive collection of Sheffield Plate.