James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1836) - inspiration for Dickens
Submitted by Admin on Fri, 19/06/2009 - 8:47am
TimeLine:
1756 born
1836 died
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He is said to have been the model for Scrooge and the Bleak House court case. (The dates fit).
Banker, founded The Gloucester Old Bank (eventually part of Lloyds). Sheriff of Gloucester in 1811 and 1813. Buried at St Mary de Crypt.
Famous for his meanness, wealth and eccentricity, and, when he died, said to be the richest commoner in the land, worth over £1,000,000, which would today be worth around THREE BILLION POUNDS* (Enough even for a flat in Cheltenham).
He left a Will that was unclear and provided a feeding trough for lawyers.
* www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/ taking GDP as we want to measure his status as a powerful man, not the price of bread.
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