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{{Short description|Grade II* listed Georgian villa in southeast London, England}}

'''Woodlands House''' is a [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] villa, next door to [[Mycenae House]], Mycenae Road, in the [[Westcombe Park]] area of [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]], east [[London]], [[England]].

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}

{{coord|51.4796|0.01733|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

{{For|the house designed by Richard Norman Shaw in Holland Park|Woodland House}}

[[File:Woodlands, Mycenae Road (geograph 2176986).jpg|thumb|Woodlands House]]

The building was built on a site leased in 1774 from Sir [[Gregory Page]] by [[John Julius Angerstein]] (a [[Lloyd's of London|Lloyd's]] [[underwriter]] whose art collection was bought in 1824 to form the nucleus of the [[National Gallery, London]]). While Angerstein occupied a house in nearby Crooms Hill, Greenwich, the villa was constructed over the next two years to a design by local [[architect]] George Gibson<ref>Rhind, N. (1983) Blackheath Village & Environs, 1790–1970, Vol 2 (Bookshop Blackheath, London), p.274.</ref> and was completed in the summer of [[1776]].

'''Woodlands House''' is a Grade II* [[Listed building|listed]]<ref>{{NHLE|num=1078946|desc=The Woodlands|accessdate=4 February 2017}}</ref> [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] villa, nextdoor to [[Mycenae House]], Mycenae Road, in the [[Westcombe Park]] area of the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]], in southeast London. Having previously been used as a [[convent]], from 1972 to 2003 the building served as a library and art museum, known as the '''Woodlands Art Gallery'''. Today it houses a [[Waldorf education|Steiner School]].

==History==

It was described in Lyson's ''Environs of London'' (1796) as:

The building was built on a site leased in 1774 from Sir [[Sir Gregory Page, 2nd Baronet|Gregory Page]] by [[John Julius Angerstein]] (a [[Lloyd's of London|Lloyd's]] [[underwriter]]). Angerstein made his fortune in the East Indian trade as well as having West Indian business links, including a third share in a slave plantation in [[Grenada]].<ref>[https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/journeys/virtual_tour_html/london/greenwich.htm A Virtual Tour of the Black and Asian Presence, 1500 – 1850]. Retrieved: 30 December 2019.</ref> whoseHis art collection was bought in 1824 to form the nucleus of the [[National Gallery, London]]). While Angerstein occupied a house in nearby Crooms Hill, Greenwich, while the villa was constructed over the next two years to a design by local [[architect]] George Gibson<ref>[[Neil Rhind|Rhind, N.]] (1983) Blackheath Village & Environs, 1790–1970, Vol 2 (Bookshop Blackheath, London), p.274.</ref> and was completed in the summer of [[1776]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Woodlands, Mycenae Road, Blackheath, c. 1790 {{!}} {{!}} Ideal Homes |url=https://ideal-homes.gre.ac.uk/lewisham/assets/galleries/blackheath/woodlands.html |website=ideal-homes.gre.ac.uk |access-date=29 January 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Woodlands House Charnock 1780s.jpg|thumb|View of Woodlands House by [[John Charnock]] 1780s]]

:"a charming small villa … and commands a pleasing but distant view of the Thames. … The face of the building is a beautiful and apparently very durable stucco; and the front, which has a handsome portico, is enriched by two niches, one on each side, containing elegant statues, representing the young Apollo and the Dancing Faun."

It was described in Lyson[[Daniel Lysons (antiquarian)|Daniel Lysons]]'s ''The Environs of London'' (1796) as:

Angerstein extended Woodlands in the late 18th century, adding a west wing, conservatory, out-buildings and a stable and riding school (most of these were demolished after the sale of the Westcombe estates in 1876). After Angerstein's death in 1823, the property became the family home of his son John Angerstein (who was elected [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|MP]] for Greenwich in 1835 and devoted much of his time to development of the Angerstein estates).

In the late 1890s, the property was purchased by the shipbuilder Sir [[Alfred Yarrow|Alfred Fernandez Yarrow]]. It became the Yarrow family home and later, during the [[First World War]], served as a hostel for Belgian refugees. In the 1920s, it was sold to a [[Catholic]] religious order, the Little Sisters of the Assumption, for use as a [[convent]].

<blockquote>"Woodlands, the seat of John Julius Angerstein, Esq. (between East Combe and [[Westcombe Park|West Combe]]), occupies a situation uncommonly beautiful. The surrounding scenery is very picturesque; and the distant view of the river, and the [[Essex]] shore, is broken with good effect by the plantations near the house. The grounds were laid out, and the house built about the year 1772, by the present proprietor, who has a small but valuable collection of pictures; among which Sir [[Joshua Reynolds]]'s celebrated portrait of [[David Garrick Between Tragedy and Comedy|Garrick between Tragedy and Comedy]], the Venus, a well known picture, by the same artist; a fine portrait of [[Peter Paul Rubens|Rubens]], by [[Anthony van Dyck|Vandyke]]; and a very beautiful landscape, with cattle, by [[Cuyp]], claim particular notice. The greenhouse is to be remarked for its collection of heaths."<ref>

From: 'Greenwich', The Environs of London: volume 4: Counties of Herts, Essex & Kent (1796), pp. 426–93. URL: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=45486&strquery=Woodlands%20Blackheath. Date accessed: 24 September 2007."</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Woodlands House - Cassier's 1897-11.png|thumb|This photo of Woodlands House appeared in the November 1897 edition of ''[[Cassier's Magazine]]'' as part of an article about [[Alfred Yarrow]].]]

Angerstein extended Woodlands in the late 18th century, adding a west wing, conservatory, out-buildings and a stable and riding school (most of these were demolished after the sale of the Westcombe estates in 1876). After Angerstein's death in 1823, the property became the family home of his son [[John Angerstein (MP)|John Angerstein]] (who was elected [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal]] [[Member of Parliament (UK)|MP]] for Greenwich in 1835 and devoted much of his time to development of the Angerstein estates).

In the late 1890s, the property was purchased by the shipbuilder Sir [[Alfred Yarrow|Alfred Fernandez Yarrow]]. It became the Yarrow family home and later, during the [[First World War]], served as a hostel for Belgian refugees. In the 1920s, it was sold to a [[Catholic]] religious order, the [[Little Sisters of the Assumption]], for use as a [[convent]] and [[novitiate]]; during the 1930s, an adjacent building (today [[Mycenae House]]) was constructed to expand the novitiate accommodation.<ref name="MHHistory">{{cite web |title=History |url=https://mycenaehouse.co.uk/about/history/ |website=Mycenae House |access-date=28 July 2022}}</ref> The convent operated as part of the wider [[Assumptionist]] community centred around [[Our_Lady_of_Grace_Church,_London| Our Lady of Grace Church]] and [[Highcombe House]] on Charlton Road, approximately {{convert|0.6|mi|km}} east of Woodlands House.

== Woodlands Art Gallery ==

Acquired by the [[Royal Borough of Greenwich]] in 1967 after the Little Sisters relocated to [[Paddington]], the house opened as a [[local history]] library and [[contemporary art]] gallery — known as Woodlands Art Gallery — in 1972. It held an extensive range of solo and group exhibitions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Waddell |first1=Heather |title=The artists directory |date=1985 |publisher=London : Art Guide Publications |isbn=978-0-946716-00-5 |page=35 |url=https://archive.org/details/artistsdirectory0000wadd/page/34/mode/2up?q=%22woodlands+art+gallery%22 |access-date=1 February 2025}}</ref>

{{main|List of exhibitions at Woodlands Art Gallery}}

Acquired by the [[London Borough of Greenwich]] in 1967, the house opened as a [[local history]] library and [[contemporary art]] gallery — known as '''Woodlands Art Gallery''' — in [[1972]]. It held an extensive range of exhibitions.

In October 2003, the local history library was moved to a new site on the [[Royal Arsenal]] site in [[Woolwich]]<ref>[http://www.thisislocallondon.co.uk/news/398196.Combined_services/ Combined Services], 30 July 2003. ''This is Local London''. Accessed: 23 August 2015</ref> -– nowlater the [[Greenwich Heritage Centre]]<ref>[http://www.greenwich.gov.uk/Greenwich/LeisureCulture/HistoryAndHeritage/HeritageCentre Greenwich]</ref>, – and the gallery subsequently closed.

==Steiner School==
The council sought proposals to redevelop Woodlands House, the adjacent Mycenae House and surrounding grounds, with a proposal incorporating premises for a local [[Waldorf education|Steiner School]] being approved in July 2006.<ref>[http://www.thisislewisham.co.uk/display.var.818117.0.school_secures_150year_lease.php lease]</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist|30em}}

<references/>

== External links ==

* {{Commons category inline|Woodlands House}}

* [http://catalogue.nal.vam.ac.uk/ipac20/ipac.jsp?session=12092A9U40G22.34434&profile=nal&source=~!horizon&view=items&uri=full=3100001~!647958~!7&ri=10&aspect=subtab114&menu=search&ipp=20&spp=20&staffonly=&term=Woodlands+Art+Gallery+%28London%2C+England%29.&index=&uindex=&aspect=subtab114&menu=search&ri=10#focus John Julius Angerstein & Woodlands publication details in the National Art Library]

* [http://www.artslineonline.com/venues/venue0043.shtml Artsline Online — Woodlands Art Gallery]

* Website [https://greenwichwaldorfschool.com Greenwich Waldorf School]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Defunct contemporary art galleries in London]]

[[Category:Libraries in the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]

[[Category:Art1776 museums and galleriesestablishments in LondonEngland]]

[[Category:ContemporaryHouses artin galleriesthe Royal Borough of Greenwich]]

[[Category:HistoricCountry houses in London]]

[[Category:LibrariesDefunct museums in London]]

[[Category:Grade II* listed buildings in the Royal Borough of Greenwich]]

[[Category:1776 establishments]]

[[Category:Grade II* listed houses in London]]

[[Category:Former religious buildings and structures in London]]

[[Category:Defunct art galleries in London]]