Robert Lowndes of Winslow Hall lived his life very much in the shadow of his father William , Secretary to the Treasury, who was carving out a very successful career in London. He was the eldest son of William by his first wife Elizabeth Harsnett who he married in 1679 when he was 27 years of age, but who tragically died soon after Roberts birth in 1680.
Robert married Margaret Aitcherley St Stephens Shoreditch in 1703 when he was 23 years of age and their first two children were born at the house of her Uncle Richard Hill near St James’s Palace. when the third child was born in 1706 Robert had his own house in Dover Street. Their other 13 children though including 4 pairs of twins were born in Winslow.
We do not know why he moved permanently into Winslow Hall in 1708, it could have been pressure by his father to establish the family in Winslow as Squire of the town but we know that he established friendly relations with the prominent Verney family as they were among the guests at Claydon House at Christmas in 1714.
His father William wrote in his notebook of 1709 that he was allowing Robert £200 a year but this was used to pay off a loan of £710 that his father had lent him to pay off his debts.
Robert had financial difficulties all his life and found it difficult to manage within his marriage settlement which included the income from 600 acres of land, the manor, the market and the tithes of Winslow. Probably caused because of his keeping up with the Verney’s and other families, and his position of Squire.
When his father William made his Will in 1721, he released Robert from the balance of debt due to him. He also left Robert the use of all his books, medals, pieces of ancient coins and mathematical instruments but only for his lifetime as was Winslow Hall.
In 1720 Robert handed to his father and Richard Hill in trust for the benefit of his children to be used for their education, maintenance and marriage portions.
Two of his son’s Richard born in 1706 and Robert born in 1708 were educated at Eton College.
Robert was in serious financial difficulties for the rest of his life and others were left to sort out the mess. Robert fell down dead after dismounting from his horse and was buried at St Lawrence Church Winslow on 3rd September 1727. His wife Margaret was buried only 7 months later on 23rd April 1728.