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Thomas Allnutt Brassey, 2nd Baron Brassey, born in 1863, was a leading figure in the Sardinian mining industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Before becoming a lord, he served as an honorary lieutenant in the Royal Naval Artillery, was a member of the British Parliament, and was mayor of Bexhill-on-Sea.

In 1896, Brassey joined the Sardinian Mining Association, becoming its president in 1914. He purchased the Gennamari-Ingurtosu mines, investing around 400,000 lire at the time, equivalent to around one and a half million euros today, to expand and modernize them.

Among his most significant achievements is the Brassey Washery in Naracauli, inaugurated on 17 October 1900. This structure, used for washing and separating minerals, has an imposing architecture reminiscent of a cathedral, with façades in local stone and neoclassical details. The washery is made up of several levels, connected by ramps and stairs, which facilitated the transport of the material during the various processing phases. Although today in a state of abandonment, its ruins bear witness to the historical and industrial importance of the site.

Brassey also promoted the construction of housing for employees in the valley of Is Animas, Pizzinurri, Pireddu, Naracauli, Gennemari, served by the hospital, schools and common buildings for social purposes, significantly improving the living conditions of the miners and their families. Among these, the church of Santa Barbara in Ingurtosu, dedicated to the patron saint of miners, stands out.

After his death in 1919 in London, caused by a carriage accident, the community of Arbus erected a memorial stele in his honour. The monument, located at the foot of the steps leading to St Barbara's Church, is made of local stone and features inscriptions that commemorate Brassey's contribution to the economic and social development of the region.

The stele is topped with a bas-relief depicting Brassey's profile, a symbol of the community's gratitude for his work.