This is a list of notable residents of Barnes, London, a district in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.Only notable people with entries on Wikipedia have been included, and their birth or residence has been verified by citations.
Barnes, in a bend of the River Thames, is in the extreme north-east of Richmond upon Thames (and as such is the closest part of the borough to central London). Its built environment includes a high proportion of 18th- and 19th-century buildings in the streets near Barnes Pond. Together these make up the Barnes Village conservation area, where along with its west riverside most of the mid-19th century properties are concentrated.
Barnes has retained its village-like atmosphere and, with its easy links to central London,Trains from Barnes can reach London Waterloo station in 23 minutes. it has attracted residents from the financial and arts sectors. Its past residents include the composer Gustav Holst (1874–1934) and Ninette de Valois (1898–2001), founder of the Royal Ballet. They each lived in houses on The Terrace which are now marked by blue plaques.
Living people
Name DatesDescription NotesRefs ImagesMichael Ball b. 1962 Singer and actorLives in BarnesSir Tim Besley b. 1960 EconomistLives in BarnesSamantha Bond b. 1961 Shakespearean actress best known for playing Miss Moneypenny in four James Bond films and for her role as Lady Rosamund Painswick in Downton Abbey She was born in BarnesGyles Brandrethb. 1948Writer, broadcaster, actor, comedian and former Conservative Party MP for the City of ChesterLives in Barnes Niamh Cusackb. 1959 Irish actress, whose roles have included Dr Kate Rowan in the UK series Heartbeat (1992–1995) Lives in BarnesDuffy b. 1984 Singer, songwriter and actressHas lived at 26 The Terrace in Barnes Michael Edwards b. 1938 Poet and academicWas born in BarnesSheherazade Goldsmith b. 1974 Environmentalist, jeweller and columnistLives in Barnes Zac Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith of Richmond Park b. 1975 Life peer and former MP for Richmond ParkLives in Barnes David Harsent b. 1942 PoetLives in BarnesPatricia Hodgeb. 1946 ActressLives in BarnesTomoyasu Hotei (布袋 寅泰) b. 1962 Japanese musician, singer-songwriter, composer, record producer and actorMoved to Barnes in 2012Karen InglisChildren's authorLives in BarnesRonan Keating b.1977Singer, songwriter, musician, philanthropist and broadcast presenterHe and his wife Storm live in BarnesMatthew Kneale b. 1960 Writer, best known for his 2000 novel English PassengersBrought up in Barnes Susan Kramer,Baroness Kramer b. 1950 Life peer and former MP for Richmond ParkLives in BarnesGary Lineker b. 1960Sports broadcaster and former professional footballerLives in BarnesSuzannah Lipscomb b. 1978 Historian, academic and broadcaster specialising in the 16th century Lives in BarnesGeorge MacKay b. 1992 ActorBrought up in BarnesDr Tania Mathiasb. 1964 Ophthalmologist and Conservative Party politician who was MP for Twickenham from 2015 to 2017Brought up in BarnesBrian May b. 1947 Musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band QueenHas lived at Suffolk Road, BarnesRoger McGough b. 1937 Performance poet, broadcaster, children's author and playwrightLives in BarnesAlistair McGowan b. 1964Impressionist, comic, actor, singer and writer Lives in BarnesChris Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes b. 1944Life peer, Chancellor ofthe University of Oxford, and former MP for Bath, who subsequently served as 28th Governor of Hong Kong and Chairman of the BBC TrustLives in BarnesRobert Pattinson b. 1986Actor, musician and songwriterBrought up in BarnesJan Ravensb. 1958 Actress and impressionist known for her voice work on Spitting Image and Dead RingersLives in BarnesDan Snow b. 1978 Historian and broadcasterBrought up in BarnesRoger Taylor b. 1949 Musician, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, best known as the drummer for the rock band QueenLived on White Hart Laneand at 40 Ferry Road, BarnesPete Tongb. 1960Disc jockeyLives in BarnesStanley Tucci b. 1960 Actor, writer, producer and film directorLives in BarnesJulia Watson b. 1953 Actress known for playing Barbara "Baz" Wilder in the BBC medical drama CasualtyLives in BarnesHolly Willoughby b. 1981Television presenter, model and authorShe and her husband, television executive Dan Baldwin, lived in Barnes until 2024.
Historical figures Those marked § are commemorated in Barnes by a blue plaque.
Name DatesDescription NotesRefs ImagesLouis-Alexandre de Launay, comte d'Antraiguesand his wife, Madame Saint-Huberty 1753–1812 1756–1812 De Launay was a French pamphleteer, diplomat spy and political adventurer during the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars. Saint-Huberty was a celebrated French operatic soprano. Murdered at their country home at 27 The Terrace, which they had purchased about three years earlier, by an Italian servant whom they had dismissed Ninette de Valois1898–2001 Founder of the Royal BalletLived at 14 The Terrace from 1962 to 1982§ Major John Freeman 1915–2014 Politician, diplomat and broadcasterLived in Barnes James Henry Greathead 1844–1896 Railway engineer and pioneer of tunnellingLived at 3 St Mary's Grove, Barnes, from 1885 to 1889§ Sir Ralph Moor 1860–1909 High Commissioner of the British Southern Nigeria ProtectoratePoisoned himself atThe Homestead on Church Road in 1909 Colin Patterson 1933–1998 Palaentologist at the Natural History MuseumLived in BarnesJan Pieńkowski1936–2022 Writer and illustratorLived in Barnes and was a patron of the Barnes Literary Society Lyon Playfair 1818–1898Professor of chemistry and Liberal MPLived at 26 Castelnau Villas(98 Castelnau), Barnes in 1851, while taking part in organising the Great ExhibitionAlbert Frederick Pollard 1869–1948 Historian and founder of the Historical AssociationLived at 7 St Mary's GroveSir John Power, 1st Baronet 1870–1950Businessman and Conservative MP for WimbledonLived at 1 Queen's Ride, Barnes from 1908 to 1919Sir John Russell Reynolds, 1st Baronet 1828–1896 British neurologist and physician, President of the Royal College of Physicians, 1893–95 Occupied Rose Cottage, Barnes Green as a weekend cottage from about 1862 to 1870 Robert Willis 1799–1878 Scottish physician, librarian, and medical historianLived and practised at The Homestead on Church Road from 1846 until his death in 1878
Actors Name DatesDescriptionNotes Refs ImagesJoss Ackland 1928-2023 ActorHe lived in BarnesPeter Bowles 1936–2022 Actor, best known as Richard de Vere in To the Manor Born, Major Yeates in The Irish R.M. and Donald Fairchild in Executive StressLived in BarnesPhyllis Calvert 1915–2002 ActressLived in BarnesClive Dunn1920–2012 Actor, best known as Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's ArmyHe and his wife Cilla had a house in Barnes Jimmy Edwards1920–1988 Comedy actor and writer, best known as Pa Glum in Take It from Here and as headmaster "Professor" James Edwards in Whack-O!Born in BarnesRik Mayall1958–2014 Actor, writer and comedian, and a pioneer of alternative comedy in the 1980sLived and died in BarnesPeter Mayhew1944–2019 Actor who played Chewbacca in the Star Wars filmsBorn and brought up in BarnesJohn Moody c.1727–1812 Irish actor who retired to Barnes Common as a market gardener Moody lived at 11 The Terrace, Barnes from about 1780 until his death. He is buried at St Mary's Church, Barnes with his two wives. Jimmy Perry 1923–2016 Actor and scriptwriter, co-creator of the TV series Dad's Army Born in BarnesJon Pertwee 1919–1996 Actor, the Third Doctor in Doctor Who Had a family house in BarnesTerry-Thomas1911–1990 Comedian and character actor who became known to a worldwide audience through his films during the 1950s and 1960s Terry-Thomas lived in Barnes.Frank Thornton 1921–2013 Actor (Captain Peacock in the BBC comedy Are You Being Served?)Lived and died in BarnesDame Dorothy Tutin 1930–2001 Film, television and theatre actress in the West End and for the RSC and National TheatreLived in Barnes. Married to actor Derek Waring Derek Waring 1927–2007 TV, radio and stage actorLived in Barnes. Married to actress Dame Dorothy Tutin Aubrey Woods1928–2013 Actor in theatre, TV and radioLived in Barnes
Artists, architects and designers Name DatesDescriptionNotes Refs ImagesThomas Allom 1804–1872 Architect, artist, topographical illustrator and a founding member of what became the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)Allom designed Holy Trinity Barnes and lived locally at 1 Barnes Villas (now 80 Lonsdale Road), Barnes, where he died on 21 October 1872.Brooks, Diana. "Allom, Thomas (1804–72)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 2004) Retrieved 13 March 2016. Pay-walled.Gillian Ayres 1930–2018 Artist, best known for abstract painting and printmaking using vibrant coloursAyres was born and brought up in Barnes.Lynn Chadwick 1914–2003 Sculptor and artistChadwick was born in Barnes.Christopher Dresser 1834–1904 Designer and design theoristDresser lived at Elm Bank, Barnes from 1889 to 1904.Sidney Richard Percy 1821–1886 Landscape painterPercy lived with his father, the painter Edward Williams (1781–1855), at 32 Castelnau Villas (92 Castelnau), from 1845 to 1856. Percy was born Sidney Richard Percy Williams and was Edward's fifth son. All five of his brothers, and several members of the next generation of the Williams family, also became landscape painters.Henry William Pickersgill 1782–1875 Portrait painter Pickersgill lived at Nassau House, Barnes Green, from about 1854 to 1857. He is buried in Barnes Cemetery.Kurt Schwitters 1887–1948 German-born artist most famous for his collages, called Merz pictures He lived at 39 Westmorland Road, Barnes.§
Military Name DatesDescriptionNotes Refs ImagesVice-Admiral Alfred Carpenter 1881–1955 Royal Navy officerand a recipient of the Victoria CrossCarpenter was born in Barnes.Admiral Martin Dunbar-Nasmith 1883–1965 Royal Navy officer and a recipient of the Victoria CrossDunbar-Nasmith was born at 136 Castelnau.§Lieutenant-General Robert Ballard Long 1771–1825Officer of the Britishand Hanoverian Armies Long retired to his house on The Terrace.Chichester, H. M. "Long, Robert Ballard (1771–1825)", rev. Stearn, Roger T, first published 2004; online edn, May 2008. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Retrieved 27 November 2007.
Musicians Name DatesDescriptionNotes Refs ImagesMarc Bolan1947–1977 Singer, songwriter, musician and poetBolan lived at Lonsdale Road, Barnes.Carl Davis 1936-2023American-born conductor and composerHe lived in BarnesGeorge Frederick Handel 1685–1759 ComposerHandel lived at the house of Mr Mathew Andrews in Barn Elms in the summer of 1713.§Gustav Holst 1874–1934 Composer, arranger and teacher, best known for his orchestral suite The Planets Holst lived at 31 Gretna Road, Richmond from 1903 to 1908, then moved with his family to Barnes. The house at 10 The Terrace where he lived between 1908 and 1913 has a blue plaque in his honour.§Herbert Howells1892–1983Composer, organist and teacher, most famous for his large output of Anglican church musicHowells lived from 1946 to 1983 at 3 Beverley Close, Barnes. Freddie Mercury 1946–1991 Musician, vocalist and lyricist of the rock band QueenMercury shared a house at 40 Ferry Road.
Sportspeople Name DatesDescriptionNotes Refs ImagesEbenezer Cobb Morley 1831–1924 A solicitor and sportsman, Morley is regarded as the father of The Football Association and modern football.He lived at 26 The Terrace at Barnes and is buried in Barnes Cemetery.
Writers