It is named after Charles Barry and is said to be exactly one mile long. Barry designed Dulwich Park, to which the road leads. Westerfield Road became Barry Road in 1867.
Sir Charles Barry was a prominent British architect of the 19th century, and is best known for his work on the Palace of Westminster. He was born in London in 1795 and trained as an architect under the guidance of his father, who was also an architect.
Barry’s most famous work was the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster, which had been severely damaged by a fire in 1834. Along with his collaborator Augustus Pugin, Barry designed the new Gothic Revival-style palace, which incorporated many of the original features of the building, such as Westminster Hall.
Barry was also responsible for many other notable buildings throughout his career, including the Manchester Art Gallery, the Royal College of Surgeons in London, and the Halifax Town Hall. He was a proponent of the Italianate style of architecture, which drew heavily from Italian Renaissance architecture and was characterized by the use of decorative features such as columns, arches, and pediments.
In addition to his architectural work, Barry was also a prominent horticulturist and garden designer. He designed many gardens in the Italian Renaissance style, which were characterised by their use of terraces, fountains, and geometric patterns.
Barry was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1851 and was knighted in 1852 for his work on the Palace of Westminster. He died in 1860 and was buried in Westminster Abbey.