John Vaughan Barber

John Scott passed away on 3rd January 1832,

Sarah Scott was the only daughter and heiress to the family estates of John Scott (1764 - 3 Jan. 1832). Thus in 1832 Robert Wellbeloved Scott inherited the Red House at Great Barr.

In March 1832 the property was advertised in the Birmingham Gazette for rent, being available from Lady Day, 25th March 1832

To be LET and entered upon at Lady-day, the RED HOUSE at Great barr, midway between Birmingham and Walsall, late the residence of John Scott, Esq. deceased, containing a spacious entrance-hall, dining-room, drawing room, library, fitted up with marble chimney pieces, modern grates, &c. servants hall, and other necessary apartments on the ground floor: five principal chambers, and four attics; with coach houses, stabling and out-offices; the whole in a complete state of repair, situated on an eminence commanding extensive views over the surrounding country; together with Lodge House and Park, containing about 30 acres of good and productive Pasture Land and three Pools of Water, which have been tastefully laid out with walks, cascades, and fountains, by the late proprietor regardless of expense, and the whole belted by thriving plantations.

It would appear that it was John Vaughan Barber who rented the Red House.

Whites "History, Gazetteer & Directory of Staffordshire, 1834", stated that "Red House, near Sneal's Green, is a neat Gothic seat" and belonged to Robert Scott Esq, but occupied by John Vaughan Barber esq. who was a Banker in Walsall (Barber and Marshall).

John's wife Elizabeth (nee Wickes) had died in Great Barr in November 1833 aged 58 (reported in The Jackson's Oxford Journal). They had married in Tewkesbury in January 1798.

In June 1835 the Staffordshire Advertiser recorded his eldest son, Croomer Barber, had died in Derby, and in October 1836 his only daughter Eliza had also died, aged 35.

In October 1840 a sale was advised of all the contents due to Mr Barber "declining housekeeping". In 1841 John Vaughan Barber was recorded in the London Gazette as being bankrupt. A John Vaughan Barber, Gentleman of Leamington Priors, is recorded as having died in 1856.

Although John Vaughan Barber has been described as a banker he is referenced as a Iron Founder i.e. owner of an Iron Foundry in Derby.

1841 Advert: 'NOTICE is hereby GIVEN, that the  Partnership, lately subsisting between WILLIAM MARSHALL, late of Bescot Hall, in the county of Stafford, Iron Founder,`JOHN VAUGHAN BARBER, of Barr, in the said county, Iron Founder, and HENRY MARSHALL, of Stanton by Dale, in the county of Derby, Iron Founder, carrying on the Trade or Business of Iron Founders, at the Britannia Foundry, in the Borough of Derby, under the style or firm of "Marshall, Barber, and Co.," has been dissolved, and all Debts owing to the said late Co-partnership are to be paid to Mr. THOMAS WRIGHT, of, the said Borough of Derby, Iron Founder, by whom the said Trade or Business will in future be carried on. And all Claims and Demands against the said late Partnership are requested to be sent to the said Thomas Wright, in order that they may be examined and (if found correct) discharged.'^[2]

The census of 1841 shows John Horn, Engineer, in residence. He is shown in Transactions of the Institution of Civil Engineers as living at the Red House, as an Associate Member in 1841.