Person    | Male  Born 21/10/1871  Died 28/1/1960

Lionel Barnett

Lionel Barnett

When we first listed these memorials in 2014 we could find no information about "Mrs" but the Encyclopaedia Judaica listed a Lionel Barnett that could be our Lionel and Wikipedia adds some details: Orientalist. Born Liverpool. Joined the British Museum in 1899 and was keeper there of Oriental printed books and manuscripts 1908 – 36, and worked there again 1948 till his death. Also lecturer at UCL and SOAS.

We could find nothing at the time to connect him with Hampstead or Waterloo or the House of Commons but his interests would not be inconsistent with the urge to preserve the fabric of old London. It's possible that the stonework was offered to the BM and when they rejected it he took it in charge. Our colleague, Andrew Behan, researched the Barnett's (in 2021) and found a connection to the NW11 area where they lived in the 1950's and we believe these are our couple.

Lionel David Barnett CB, FBA, was born on 21 October 1871 in Liverpool, Lancashire, the eldest of the three children of Barron Lewis Barnett (1843-1914) and Adelaide Barnett née Cowen (1851-1911). His father was a banker and is sometimes recorded as Baron Lewis Barnett.

The 1881 census shows him living at 10 Wellesley Terrace, Princes Park, Toxteth, Liverpool, with his parents, his brothers Ernest Emmanuel Barnett (1873-1946) and Francis Samuel Barnett (1879-1962), his uncle Philip Eliezer Barnett (1831-1901), a nursery governess, a cook and a housemaid. In the 1891 census he is recorded as an undergraduate at Victoria University living at 105 Bedford Street, Liverpool, with his parents, both brothers and two female domestic servants.

When the 1901 census was carried out on 31 March 1901, he is shown as a civil servant at The British Museum, boarding at the home of a Sarah H. Knight at 25 Gordon Street, St Pancras. Later that year he is recorded in the 2nd quarter as marrying Blanche Esther Berliner (1876-1955) in the Marylebone registration district. They had two children: Helen Angela Barnett (1906-2004) and Dr Richard David Barnett CBE (1909-1986).

The 1911 census shows him as a keeper at The British Museum, residing at 15 Avenue Cresent, Acton, with his wife, their two children, a nurse, a cook and a housemaid. Local directories show that from 1925 to 1934 he was listed at 8 Royal Crescent, London, W11 and from 1935 to 1938 at 19 Prince Edward Mansions, Pembridge Square, London, W2. In the 1939 England and Wales Register both he and his wife are recorded at 20c Holland Villas Road, London, W14 and his occupation was given as a retired civil servant. Local directories confirm that they remained at this address until 1950. When his wife died on 5 April 1955 her probate records show that their address was by now 33 West Heath Drive, London, NW11.

He died, aged 88 years, on 28 January 1960 at home at 33 West Heath Drive, London, NW11. Probate was granted jointly to his son and his solicitor on 22 March 1960 and his effects totalled £4,944-19s-10d.

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Lionel Barnett

Creations i

Well-head from House of Commons

This plaque is affixed to the top of the stonework of the well-head. Andrew ...

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Other Subjects

John Cornelius Park

John Cornelius Park

From The Teddington Society: "a prominent builder and land owner. He was born in Wootton-under Edge, Gloucestershire but by the 1851 Census was living in Teddington. He bought the Lordship of the M...

Person, Benefactor, Property

1 memorial
Thomas Lynch

Thomas Lynch

Donor to the Bridge of Aspiration.

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial
Harriet Mary Margaret Hall (née Knipe)

Harriet Mary Margaret Hall (née Knipe)

Eldest daughter of Edward Knipe, of Water Newton, Huntingdonshire.  Married Newman Hall (as his second wife) on 29 March 1880, with no issue.

Person, Benefactor, Friend / family

1 memorial
Croydon Almshouse Charities

Croydon Almshouse Charities

Charity. Formed from the amalgamation of several charities in Croydon to administer the Elis David Almshouses.

Group, Benefactor

1 memorial
Keshava Raghuveer

Keshava Raghuveer

Keshava Raghuveer was born in January 1947 and was a director of several companies including Harndale Shipmanagement Services Limited. Electoral registers from 2003 to 2006 show him listed together...

Person, Benefactor

1 memorial