THE BARBER FAMILY OF GREASLEY

 Along with the Rollestons of Watnall Hall, there was another family of the landed gentry in our area, the Barber family of Lamb Close House Greasley. In close proximity to each other, there are close historic ties between the two families and similarities. Both families have memorials placed in St Mary's Church in Greasley. Both families were noted for their charitable donations to the local community. One notable comparison between the two families was the strong tradition amongst the landed gentry to give the new born sons the same name as the father. This led to a succession of Lancelot Rollestons and Thomas Barbers. The strongest tie between the two families can be found in the history of the local regiment, the South Notts Yeomanry. Both families had a long run of officers in the local unit. The Watnall Troop of the South Notts Yeomanry established in 1817, its first two officers were Lancelot Rolleston, and Thomas Barber. Several more officers were supplied through the 19th century by both families leading up to the time when the regiment finally saw overseas service in the Boer War and WW1. During these two times we see another interesting comparison, Lancelot Rolleston being the regiment's commander (1896-1908) and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and mentioned in dispatches during the regiment's first conflict in the Boer War. We then see Thomas Barber being the regiment's commander (1915-1916) and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and mentioned in dispatches during the regiment's second conflict, WW1.

The Barbers first came to the area in 1705 when John Barber from Arnold leased Castle Farm at Greasley. John Barber had a keen interest in the mineral deposits in the area. The family stayed at Castle Farm for much of the 18th century. In 1753 his son Francis Barber moved his family to Lamb Close House which still stands today and is located very close to Moorgreen reservoir. Lamb Close House was to become the family's seat from then, almost permanently till recent times. The house dates back to the early 18th century and was owned by the Lamb family of Melbourne Hall who used it as a shooting lodge.The house has been continuously changed, expanded and updated throughout its history. The family's money came from coal mining in the local area. In 1787, Thomas Barber (1738-1818) went into partnership with Thomas Walker of Bilborough (who's country house is Eastwood Hall, still standing today). They established the firm, Barber, Walker & Co, which became one of the most dominant companies in coal mining in the East Midlands, lasting till nationalisation in 1947. At one point, the company employed around 7000 workers with several collieries in the area. D.H.Lawrence was the son of a minor working for Barber, Walker & Co. Lamb Close House appeared in several of his books under different names, as did the owner of the company at the time, Major Thomas Barber. It is even thought that "Wragby Hall" from Lady Chatterley's Lover was based on Lamb Close House.

With the establishment of the Watnall Troop of the South Notts Hussars, its first Captain was Lancelot Rolleston (1785 - 1862) and its first Lieutenant, Thomas Barber (1778 - 1857)

The South Nottinghamshire Yeomanry, along with many other similar units across the country was established in around 1794 when it was decided a home defence force, a "Home Guard" was needed at the time of the Napoleonic emergency in case Britain was invaded by the French. The Officers were recruited from the local landed gentry and nobility. Acquiring an officers commission usually involved great personal expense and adding funds to the new force was generally expected. In return, local gentry were rewarded with increased social status in their local area being Officers in charge. The South Notts Yeomanry throughout the 19th century found itself acting as a kind of civil defence force in the face of local unrest and rioting which was quite frequent in the first half of the 19th century. In response to how much The South Notts Yeomanry was needed,The South Notts Yeomanry found itself throughout this period being expanded, reduced, and disbanded alltogther, in relation to how much the unit was needed, and how much funds were available.Throughout the unit's history, there can usually be found a Lancelot Rolleston, and a Thomas Barber amongst its Officers.

In 1817 the Brandreth riots in Derby began to spread into Nottinghamshire, and at one point threatened to reach the City where serving at that time was Lancelot Rolleston as a magistrate. The South Notts Yeomanry Nottingham Troop, along with the 95th of foot were called in to defend the city. The local military forces, the Derbyshire Yeomanry managed to cut off the Brandreth rioteers and prevent them reaching the city, but as the rioteers have made their way across east Notts.

The government at this time had started to become more favourable to Yeomanry Cavalry units acting as a local defence force, and in June 1817 gave local Majors and Constables the power to call on local Yeomanry Cavalry in the event of riots breaking out. In response, Lancelot Rolleston established the Watnall Troop of the South Notts Yeomanry. On 11th August, the Duke of Newcastle (at Clumber Park) made a request to the Government to establish two new troops at Wollaton and Watnall. In response on behalf of the government, Lord Sidmouth stated that Lancelot Rolleston would be allowed two Lieutenants and a Cornet (2nd Lieutenant in modern terms) and 70 men. Permission was granted by Lord Sidmouth .The officers of the Watnall troop in 1817 were Captain Lancelot Rolleston, Lieutenant Thomas Barber, Lieutenant Samuel Potter, and Cornet George Robinson. By October, both Wollaton and Watnall Troops were fully recruited, and on the 9th of December, both new Troops were drilled and marched on Nuttall Park for the public to see. Being Yeomanry Officers, a part time role, Lancelot Rolleston was still free to pursue his career as a Magistrate, and later go into politics becoming MP for South Nottinghamshire, and Thomas Barber free to manage the family company, Barker, Walker & Co

In the Militia and Yeomanry National List of Officers for 1820, the Watnall Troop had dropped down to just two officers, Capt Lancelot Rolleston,and Leut Thomas Barber. They appeared together again on the list for 1825 along with two others. In 1826, the unit became a titled regiment with five Troops known as, The Southern Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry. In 1830, Lancelot Rolleston left the troop, presumably to pursue his career in politics. As such, the Duke of Newcastle at Clumber Park promoted Thomas Barber to Captain of the Watnall troop. In the Officers list for 1833, the commanders of Watnall troop are shown as, Captain Thomas Barber, his son Lieutenant Thomas Barber junior (1805-1874), and Cornet T. Campbell.

Captain Barber struggled to come to terms with the death of his wife in 1844. He retired and moved to Germany where he died in 1857. Lancelot Rolleston died in 1862. A brief break from the Regiment for both the Barbers and the Rollestons followed until 1865 when another Thomas Barber (1843-1893) was commissioned as a Cornet and appeared in the army lists for officers in 1866 as such. The army list for 1869 shows Thomas Barber had been promoted to Lieutenant in 1865, and in 1868 Lancelot Rolleston (1847 - 1941) had started his military career being commissioned as a Cornet in 1868. The army list for 1869 shows the two familiar names again, Lieut T.Barber and Cornet L.Rolleston. In 1871 T.Barber had fallen off the list leaving Cornet L.Rolleston. in 1875 L.Rolleston was commissioned as a Captain and by 1888 was an Honorary Major while retaining the rank of Captain. In the 1896 list, Lancelot Rolleston was now a Major, and Honorary Colonel, Commander of the regiment, a title he held till 1908. Colonel Rolleston took the regiment overseas for the first time in 1900 to the Boer-War as part of the 3rd Imperial Yeomanry. Lancelot led the Regiment and fought with great distinction in the conflict. He led a mounted charge on the Boers in an attempt to rescue a colony of 500 British prisoners of war. He was shot and severely wounded in the attack, but managed to make a good recovery with the help of his wife Maud, and rejoined the regiment to fight on till the end of the Boer war. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his bravery and in 1911, the Knight Commander of the Order of Bath, making him Sir Lancelot Rolleston, and also mentioned in dispatches.

Also mentioned in dispatches with the regiment during the Boer War was 2nd Lieut Thomas Barber (1876 - 1961) , son of Thomas Barber (1843 - 1893). 2nd Lieut Barber first appeared on the officers list as 2nd Lieut in 1895. He served under Colonel Rolleston during the conflict 1900 - 1901. In May 1901, the original contingent of the South Notts Hussars were sent home, those who remained were under the command of Capt Birkin including Lieut Barber. At the beginning of July, General French planned a big drive against the Boers in the Camdeboo mountains, an area which saw heavy fighting throughout the entire campaign. With this, Lieut Barber's Troop was sent to Bethesda Road. From there Barber went onto Blaauwater to relieve a unit of the 2nd Imperial Yeomanry. During this skirmish,Barber was shot at, at close range by the Boers, but managed to capture four of them. The next three months saw the remaining South Notts Hussars widely dispersed in the region. Thomas Barber was sent home on sick leave after having been mentioned in dispatches for his actions.

After the regiment had returned with distinction from the war, Rolleston and Barber appeared on the Army Officers list for 1903,1907, and 1909, Barber now a full Lieutenant, and holding the same rank as an honorary title with the regular army. Barber was promoted to Captain in 1908, and in 1910, to Major while still holding his honorary army rank of Lieutenant. In 1914, the regiment was again mobilized for overseas service in WW1 with Major Thomas P Barber amongst its officers. The South Notts Hussars had now formed into three squadron's with Major Barber in command of "B" squadron. The South Notts Hussars set about acquiring horses to take on the campaign. Sir Lancelot had managed to acquire 74 horse's from Eastwood and the surrounding area. The Regiment departed Nottingham on the 8th of August 1914 with its Officers including Major Barber and just over 500 men. In April 1915 the Regiment landed in Egypt. The unit dismounted and was given infantry equipment The Regiment saw its first action at the Battle of Scimitar Hill, 21st August 1915. The South Notts Hussars were heavily shelled by the enemy and suffered many casualties. The then Colonel of the Regiment , Colonel Cole was wounded and given command of the 3rd Notts & Derby Mounted Brigade, this left Thomas Barber to take command of the South Notts Hussars, (1915-1916). Although only a temporary command, it is still interesting to think that two of the regiment's commanders Rolleston and Barber during a time of war came from the same area after having a long combined history with the regiment. On 2nd September, 1916, Barber was granted two months leave to take care of urgent business with the Barber,Walker & Co mining company, doing essential war work supplying the area with fuel. Barber had also fought at Gallipoli, had been wounded three times including the loss of a hand. He was mentioned in dispatches two times during the war, and like his near neighbour Sir Lancelot had been in the earlier conflict of the regiment, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1918.

After WW1, Thomas Barber continued to run the company. Another strong link with the Rollestons, Thomas Barber was a member of Notts County Council in which he served from 1898 till his death in 1961. Sir Lacenlot Rolleston was the Chairman of the Notts County Council during this time.Barber took over the role as Chairman from 1931 to 1945. Barber was also a Justice of the Peace, Pro Chancellor of Nottingham University, and from 1944 till 1956, Thomas Barber became the Honorary Colonel of the South Notts Hussars Yeomanry, just as Sir Lancelot had been. With the death of Sir Lancelor Rolleston in 1941, sadly the close working links of the two families would come to an end. Thomas Barber DSO became Sir Thomas Barber DSO in 1960 becoming a Baronet.

There are many more notable Babers, too many to cover in this short study, however, with continued military connections, Sir William Francis Barber (1905-1995), son of Sir Thomas Barbeer DSO. An officer in the South Notts Hussars becoming a Major in 1947, and honorary Colonel of the Regiment, 1961 - 1966. He served during WW2 with the regiment, the South Notts Hussars now part of the Royal Horse Artillery fighting in Palestine, Egypt, North Africa,becoming Lieutenant -Colonel of the 307 South Notts Hussars Yeomanry, Royal Horse Artillery of theTerritorial Army. He became a prisoner of war in the Italian campaign. He was the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, 1964 - 1965. He succeeded his father when he died in 1961 the 2nd Baronet Barber of Greasley.

So, it is clear to see there were strong connections between the Rollestons of Watnall and the Barbers of Greasley. Watnall Hall was well known for hosting balls, parties and dinners. It is fair to assume amongst the invited guests would at some point have been the Barbers as the local gentry for Greasley, along with the Sedleys as the local gentry for Nuthall. A Thomas Barber and a Lancelot Rolleston worked together in the forming of the Watnall troop of the South Notts Yeomanry, and another Lancelot Rolleston and Thomas Barber worked together in the continuation of the Regiment, and on into war in 1900. They then continued to work together for many years in local Government. Both families were well known for their charitable donations and work in their local communities. An earlier Lancelot Rolleston had donated a large sum of money in 1751 towards the education of local children. A tradition carried forward right to the very last two Rollestons of Watnall Hall who would host garden parties for the local community and always had a strong and active presence in local affairs. The Barbers had a theme of helping the local community with the health of the workers. Such as Thomas Barber (1843-1893) who was a generous supporter of good local works and had built an institution at Underwood for the local miners at a cost of £3000. The Berbers had planned on having a hospital built in Eastwood which did not happen.instead, a fund of £2689 was handed over to Nottingham General Hospital. This resulted in "The Thomas Barber Walker Employees Memorial Bed"

In the images,

The original Barber family crest.

Lamb Close House

An Officer's N.Y.C. Sabretache from 1830

Group image of Officers including Lancelot Rolleston and Thomas Barber in 1903

Thomas Barber circa 1915

Four images of the Commission promoting Thomas Barber as Captain in place of Lancelot Rolleston for the Watnall Troop, 1830

Three images of the Commission appointing Thomas Barber (1843 - 893) as Cornet in the N.Y.C., 1865.

Three images of legal forms relating to the Barber Walker & Co from 1815, and two from 1835

Last image, the Comission's now professionally framed and preserved, and displayed with pride.

Comments from Facebook --

"Excellent reading Andrew. Thank you. Family tragedy is a common theme with both families unfortunately. Rolleston's only son and heir died in 1826 with his wife in her 40s so the prospect of another heir was sadly remote and must have been hard to bear. Remarkably like Barber, Rolleston's first wife also died in 1844 but he quickly remarried and started dynasty #2 out of which the final Lancelot Rolleston (Colonel Sir) came. So he was finally blessed with 3 sons and another daughter. I didn't realise Barber's wife died then too. The links do indeed run deep..."

"Thanks It’s so good to learn about the local history. You are brilliant at finding it out. This one is particularly interesting to me as I live in one of the old miner’s cottages close to Lambs Close and no doubt the Barber/Walker dynasty we’re responsible for them being built"

"Excellent reading, my father used to talk about the Barber-Walker family, as we used to live in one of their old colliery office buildings. But, the true purpose of home guard or yeomanry units, was not to guard against French invasion as such, but to ensure the ideas behind the French Revolution did not take root in England, by violent suppression if necessary."

"It is interesting to note that Barber had leave to attend to urgent business in 1916 . We may never know what business that was, but Earl Cowper , Duke of Newcastle died that year and his vast estates were sold . Barber Walker & Co bought land in Greasley though the purchase was not completed until New Year’s Eve 1925 . The Law of Property Act came into force the next day. Two coincidences? Maybe, who knows?"

"In reference to the Selston Common riots in his memoirs Lancelot Rolleston says that he persuaded the rioters to desist from burning the new fences , and spoke up for them at their trial, resulting in more lenient sentences."

"Just read this on another post... "I met sir William and Lady Jean Barber on number of occasions before his death as part of my work. The highlight of one of my visits was seeing a beautiful scale model 5inch guage steam locomotive he'd been given and the biggest model railway layout I've ever seen. It went through three rooms along the back of the house on lamb close behind the kitchen"

"i have been there and seen the model railway running the rooms. He came to my dads garage at Watnall to have his Bentley serviced in the 60s and they were close friends. I was a close friend of Harry Cook who was Sir Williams gardener and chauffeur."

"Just come across this - a lot of stuff I didn't know. I am the great nephew of Major TP Barber, after whom I am named. He too was known by his second name Philip. I remember him well. He only lost a finger and a half shot away, but had his Rover car (which he drove at great speed) adapted and changed gear rather alarmingly through the steering wheel. Aunt Bee, his wife, always claimed that his DSO would have been a VC, had he not been disobeying orders at the time! Both he and his two brothers WD Barber MC (Billy my grandfather), and NE Barber (Norman) served in the Great War as did his sister Gracie, who was a sort of Florence Nightingale of the Adriatic - all miraculously survived. The military tradition continued with my Father Captain WPB Barber DSC RN (Battle of the Atlantic), serving in the Royal Navy as did I, seeing service in the Falklands and first Gulf War."

"Philip James Barber That was a really interesting read about your family. I'm one of the volunteers currently researching the history of Greasley Castle. As a part of that we are researching all the previous owners and tenants. Of course your family lived there for many years before moving to Lamb Close. I would be happy to stay in touch to update you on progress."

"I remember Sir Thomas Barber from School Days. He paid a visit to our School, Beauvale Juniors, (Boys) and the Class had to stand respectfully for the eminent Visitor. He may have been welcomed as Chairman of Governors. Mr Oldbury, Headmaster at the time, introduced him."