James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1836) - inspiration for Dickens

James "Jemmy" Wood (1756-1836) - inspiration for Dickens

Banker 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.

He is said to have been the model for Scrooge and the Bleak House court case. (The dates fit).

* www.measuringworth.com/ukcompare/ taking GDP as we want to measure his status as a powerful man, not the price of bread.