John Julius Angerstein and Woodlands, 1774 - 1974

John Julius Angerstein (The 'Father of Lloyds') was born in Russia but became a very successfull marine insurance underwriter at Lloyds. He built 'Woodlands' at Blackheath as a country retreat in 1774. After his death his magnificent collection of Old Master paintings and his house in Pall Mall was bought by the Government and opened as the National Gallery. 'Woodlands' stayed in the Angerstein family until the 1870s when it was sold. It passed through several hands including Sir Alfred Yarrow, the Little Sisters of the Assumption before being bought by the Borough of Greenwich for its Local History Library and Art Gallery. In 2003 the library moved to Woolwich and 'Woodlands' is now a Steiner School.