Barlow Tyrie was founded in 1920 by Frederick Barlow and Victor Tyrie in London, England. They quickly gained a reputation for their outdoor furniture, made almost entirely by hand and to the highest standards.

In 1967 Peter, son of the founder Victor Tyrie, joined the company and in order to increase production levels relocated to a new factory at Braintree, outside of London. Growing demand for the company's products has resulted in the steady expansion of this factory, which now occupies 90,000 ft2 / 8,000 m2.

In 1986 the company formed its subsidiary Barlow Tyrie Inc. in New Jersey, USA, to service the large casual furniture market in North America. This subsidiary has permanent showrooms in Chicago and at High Point, North Carolina.

In 1992 the company formed its subsidiary P.T. Barlow Tyrie Indonesia to ensure a continuing source of teak from the environmentally sound plantations on the island of Java. This action was in response to a ban, at that time, on the export of sawn timber by the Indonesian government. The factory of 200,000 ft2 / 18,000m2 processes teak logs, kilns sawn timber and manufactures components and products which are distributed to retail outlets and trade customers worldwide.

The company remains a family business and is now in its 3rd generation with Peter's sons, James and Mark, working in sales and design.