A mother-of-two’s 10-year hobby has led to her becoming a published author today, with her book on the scandalous marriage which led to the demolition of Wanstead House.

Geraldine Roberts has lived near Grade II* listed Wanstead Park all her life and has for the past 15 years lived in Buckingham Road, South Woodford.

The 47-year-old’s Macmillan-published book, The Angel and the Cad, uses letters and court records to tell the story of the marriage of England’s richest heiress Catherine Tylney Long to William Wellesley Polce, who lived in Wanstead House before they were forced to demolish it in 1825 due to huge debts.

Mrs Roberts worked in banking for 20 years before pursuing her love of history in a Masters course at Queen Mary University of London, graduating in 2010.

She said: “I came across the story about 10 years ago and found it fascinating, it was about a wealthy woman marrying for love in 1812 despite numerous proposals which would have been for status.

“Catherine chose to lead an exciting life and I admire her, but William turned out to be a complete rotter.

“He squandered her fortune, which meant Wanstead House had to be demolished, and he was a compulsive womaniser with court records revealing he had veneral diseases.  

“It turns the Jane Austen view of this period on its head and shows the darker side of marriage.”

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Geraldine Roberts has lived near Wanstead Park all her life.

“At first I was just researching into write a small community pamphlet on the story, I had a full-time job so it was only a hobby, she added.

“But it turned into a labour of love and the amount of letters and juicy court material meant the story told itself and I had the idea I could publish a book on the subject.

"I was expecting it to be difficult to find a publisher but Macmillan were the first I got in touch with and they snapped it up in June last year and it has only taken two edits to get it ready."

Mrs Roberts said her passion for the story grew from her personal connection with Wanstead Park, which is the surviving portion of the garden of Palladian mansion Wanstead House.

“The frontage of Wanstead House was the same size of Buckingham Palace and would have looked very similar, it is a shame it hasn't survived.” she said.

“I grew up around Wanstead Park and I love it, every Saturday I go for a walk there and it is a relaxing place to go.”

A book launch event is due to be held at 7pm on July 3 at Wanstead Library, in Spratt Hall Road.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Wanstead House in its heyday

Wanstead House.