Herbert Anstoe Barrs of Reading - Clockmaker

Herbert Anstoe Barrs of Reading was born in Berkshire in1858 in the Tockington / Alveston area, north of Bristol, Gloucestershire, Barrs (having passed his apprenticeship) commenced his watch and clockmaking profession in Bath, Somerset, when in his early 20’s. He resided with his widowed mother Eliza, in the affluent Queen Square, Bath. However, by 1889, Barrs had left Bath and relocated to Reading, trading from 12 Cross Street (from where this clock would have been made), whilst residing at West Street, Reading. He carried on trading from Cross Street, until at least 1911 when he was recorded on the Census records for that year, aged 53, (by which time, Barrs was mainly concentrating on the production of pocket watches).