Herbert John Leslie Barefoot was born in Dulwich, Surrey [now London], England on 15 May 1887. He studied at the Architectural Association Schools in London from 1905 to 1907 and was articled to William Douglas Caröe (1857-1938) in London from 1907 to 1909. He then worked as an assistant to William Emerson (1843-1924) in 1909; to Algernon Winter Rose (1885-1918) in 1910: to Frank Peck (1863-1931) in 1911; and to Stanford Morton Brooks (1877-1939) of Howell & Brooks from 1911.
Barefoot qualified as an architect in 1911 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1912. He commenced independent practice as an architect in London in 1912.
After serving in the armed forces during World War One, he settled in Suffolk and resumed his architectural practice. In the 1920s he formed a partnership with Henry Munro Cautley (1876-1959). As Cautley & Barefoot, they had an office at 22 The Thoroughfare, Ipswich. The practice designed numerous buildings throughout East Anglia. Barefoot also lectured at the Ipswich School of Engineering, and was a founder member of the Suffolk Association of Architects and later President from 1936-1938. He was also President of the East Anglian Society of Architects in 1938.
Following the outbreak of World War Two in 1939, Barefoot rejoined the Army and served in a bomb disposal unit of the Royal Engineers. For his bravery, he was awarded the George Cross in 1940. After the war he resumed his architectural practice in Ipswich.
In addition to his work as an architect, Barefoot was a painter and from 1928 to 1933 was a member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club with whom he exhibited. He died at his home in Ipswich, Suffolk on 23 December 1958
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001