Annie Henrietta Yule, Lady Yule (b. 1874, d. 25 July 1950) was the eldest daughter of Andrew Yule of Calcutta, India.
She married Sir David Yule (1858-1928) a British businessman and nephew of Andrew Yule of Calcutta. Together they had one child, a daughter called Gladys Yule (1903-1957).
In 1925, Sir David constructed Hanstead House in Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire, where Lady Yule and her daughter Gladys lived for the rest of their lives. Sir David did not spend much time in the UK as his business interests were in India.
Lady Yule and her daughter Gladys were world travellers who reportedly shared an interest in big game hunting and a love of animals. Hanstead House was said to have been adorned by a large stuffed bear which they had killed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. On the grounds they kept a seal, penguins, wallabies and beginning in 1925 they expanded their interests to Arabian horse breeding. To that end the Hanstead stud stables which later gained fame in their own right, were built on the expansive grounds.
In 1934 the British National Films Company was formed in England by J. Arthur Rank, Lady Yule and producer John Corfield, who were also the original owner-operators of Pinewood Film Studios. Later Lady Yule sold her shares to J. Arthur Rank. [1]
It was Lady Yule's yacht Nahlin in which the Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson cruised the Greek Islands before Edward abdicated the throne. [2] she had been known as the richest woman in the UK, but on her death left only $1.6 million. [3] [4]