Robert Barclay

Born in America, Philadelphia, Barclay was sent over to England at the age of 12, where he was educated at the Friends’ School in Wandsworth. He joined the family brewing business, he and his uncle bought the Anchor Brewery, and started Barclay, Perkins & Co. The brewery was a monumental success, and by 1809 it was the largest brewery in the world, with an annual output of 260,000 barrels.

In 1815, he bought Bury Hill, and made many changes to the house and estate, being a keen gardener and botanist. He created pleasure gardens which included beautiful large lakes, built hot houses for exotic plants, and had artists draw some of his most rare species and then offered them to botanical journals. Barclay also applied himself to philanthropic causes, founding the first schools for the poor in the area, as well as supporting the emancipation of slaves.