Inventory of Robert Lowndes esquire, 1727

National Archives, PROB 3/26/181

Robert Lowndes of Winslow Hall died unexpectedly on 4 Sep 1727, leaving no will. He had spent several years trying to negotiate with his creditors, and bailiffs were sent into the Hall more than once, but seem to have left it reasonably well furnished. The creditors' agents probably took the inventory, which starts on the second floor and works downwards, giving a clear impression of how the different rooms were used. The Kitchen was a separate building to the west (now incorporated in Westside) and the Brewhouse and Laundry were to the east (now much altered). The Coach House, Stable and Dairy were the building now divided into The Close and The Coach House.

The original document uses Roman numerals. Click on the words in blue for explanations.

A true and perfect Inventary of all and singular the Goods Chattles and Credits of Robert Lowndes Esq late of the Parish of Winslow in the County of Bucks dec(eas)ed Taken valued and appraised the Sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord God One thousand seaven hundred and Twenty seaven by John Knibb and Samuel Brasbridge follows vizt.
In the Yellow Room.	£	s	d
Imprimis One Camlett Furniture compleat one pair of Window Curtains one Feather Bed Boulster and Pillow one Holland Quilt Four Blanketts one Callico Quilt and one Buroe	10	9	0
In the Gallery.
Item One Cained Couch one Safe a Wainscott Cupboard one Hair Trunke one wooden Chair one Rubbing Brush Nine Deale Boxes one Scrutore one Squirrel House one Stove Grate two matted Chairs	5	0	0
In the Green Roome.
Item One Feather Bed Boulster and Pillow one chequer’d Mattress one Holland Quilt two Blanketts one Callico Quilt one Green Camlett Furniture compleat Two pair of Window Curtains one Looking Glass one Chest of Drawers one Table Frame	9	13	0
In the Fore Stair Head.
Item One Chest of Drawers one wooden Stool	0	11	0
In the Back Stair Head.
Item one Wainscott press	0	10	0
In the Nursery Closet.
Item One Camlett Feild Bed compleat with Hangings one small Feild Bed with Chequer’d Linnen Curtains three Quilts Four Blanketts one Holland Quilt two Feather Beds three Boulsters three Pillows one Quilting Frame one Squab one Pillow	9	1	0
In the Nursery.
Item two Embossed Serge Furnitures Compleat two feather Beds two Boulsters three Pillows two Quilts two Mattresses Six Blanketts Four Peices of Tapestry two Screens one Writeing Deske one Chest one Table three Chairs two Stools one Looking Glass three India Prints one Iron Back a pair of Doggs Fire Shovel and Tongs one Trunk	19	11	4
In Mrs Lowndes Roome.
Item One lined Wrought Bed compleat one Feather Bed A Boulster and two Pillows one Holland Mattress two Callico Quilts Five Blanketts one Buroe one Writeing Deske one Walnutt Tree Table two Square Stools seaven matted Chairs one Chest of Drawers one Dutch Table one Tea Table one Dressing Glass one Tea Board three peices of Tapestry Hangings one Iron Back a pair of Doggs Shovell Tongs and Bellows one Gun one Sword one India Picture one repeating Clocke	28	6	6
In Mrs Lowndes Closett.
Item One Corner Cupboard two Close Stools two Dressing Chairs one Stepp Ladder and one Dressing Glass	2	11	0
In the Blew Cloath Roome.
Item a Blew Cloath Bed compleat three pair of Window Curtains three peices of Hangings Six stufft Chairs one Easy Chair one Feather Bed Boulster and two Pillows one Holland Quilt one Callico Quilt three Blanketts two large Looking Glasses one Chimney Glass one Family Picture one pair of Doggs Fire Shovel Tongs and two Brushes one pair of Bellows two Writeing Desks	66	12	0
In the Dressing Roome.
Item two pair of Damaske Window Curtains two peices of Damaske Hangings Four Square Stools Ditto one Walnutt Tree Chest of Drawers one Dressing Table one Card Table Six painted Pictures one White Sattin Quilt one Holland Quilt	18	19	0
In the Plad Roome.
Item a Scotch Plad furniture lined with Silke compleat two pair of Silke Window Curtains Four peices of plad Hangings one Crimson Velvett Easy Chair with a False Case Six Stufft Chairs two round Stools one Holland Mattress one Callico Quilt Four Blanketts one Feather Bed one Boulster one Pillow one Card Table one Peer Glass one Chimney Glass a pair of Doggs Fire Shovel Tongs Bellows and Brush	54	10	0
In the Dressing Roome.
Item the Mohair Hangings two Mohair dressing Chairs one Corner Cupboard one Dressing Glass and Boxes one Wallnutt Tree Table one Fire Screen two pair of Sprigg’d Muslin Window Curtains two Toiletts one Chest of Drawers two Child Bed Basketts	10	13	0
In the Wardrobe.
Item Fourteen Pillows one Field Bed with Checqur’d Linnen Furniture one Feather Bed one Boulster two Pillows one Holland Quilt two Blanketts one Couch Five stufft Stools two Dressing Chairs one India Cabinet two Carved Frames with painted Stone Slabbs Six Pictures Five peices of Hangings Five Plad Curtains one Turkey Carpett one pair of Sprigd fine Callico Window Curtains and Valens one Callico Quilt Seven Callico Window Curtains two Curtains and Vallens Sussie [sic] Four matted Chairs one Portugal Matt two Great Boxes one Stove Grate two pair of Doggs one Fendar one Fire Shovel two pair of Tongs and Brush one Fire Shovel two pair of Tongs Brush one Poker two peices of embossed Serge one Iron for the Children Four yards of Green Stuffe an oiled Umbrella one Hair Brush and one Glass Sconce	39	10	2
In the Pearle Colour Roome.
Item one Harrateen furniture compleate two pair of Window Curtains Four peices of Hangings Six Stufft Chairs one Feather Bed one Boulster two Pillows one Holland Quilt Four Blanketts one Callico Quilt one Chimney Glass a pair of Sconces one Chimney Back a pair of Doggs Fendar Shovel and Tongs one large Sconce	18	2	0
In the Dressing Roome.
Item three Umbrellas and Frames Parte of two Bedsteads Five old broken Sconces one old Floor Matt some Wainscotting two old Sashes two Hair Trunks a pair of Silke Window Curtains and Rodd	3	10	0
In the Fore Stair Case.
Item Eighteen India Pictures	2	2	0
In the Little Parlour.
Item One Large Peer Glass seven Fine Pictures one Mohoggony Oval Table two Oval Tables ten Cane Chairs two pair of Window Curtains two Bird Cages one Dutch Table one Stove Grate Tongs Fendar and Bellows one Brush one Oyled Cloath and one Weather Glass	41	14	6
In the Great Hall.
Item One Clocke and Case one Chimney Picture three Branch Sconces two Brass Sconces eight Caned Chairs one Phaneer’d Table one Cedar Table and Carpett one Wallnutt Tree Frame to a large Marble Slab one Back Gammon Table compleat one Stove Grate one large pair of Doggs Shovell and Tongs and one Marble Blocke	22	0	0
In the Study.
Item One Writeing Deske one Table one Hand Vice three pair of Dog Couples one Pruning Knife one Powder Flaske one Burning Glass one Powder Horne	2	13	0
In the Passage.
Item One Folding Leafe one Sconce one Table some Curtain Rodds one large Step Ladder	1	4	6
In the other Study.
Item One Square Table one Step Ladder one Card Table	0	12	6
In the Great Parlour.
Item One Stufft Leather Sattee with eight Back Stools two Peer Glasses a pair of Sconces and Branches two pictures three pair of Window Curtains with two Squabbs one Large Tea Table and Stand one Screen two Card Tables one small Tea Table one Iron Hearth Fire Shovel Tongs and Bellows one pair of Doggs	40	9	6
In the Back Parlour.
Item Four Family Pictures one Fruit Peice two Flower Peices one large Peer Glass one large Chimney Glass with Brass guilt Branches one India Screen one japand round Table one Tea Table eight Matted Chairs and Cushions one Iron Backe Grate Shovel Tongs Poker Brush and a Bell	34	12	0
In the Buffet Room and Passage.
Item Four Tea Boards a parcel of Earthen Ware one Coffee Mill two japand Cesterns a Kitchen and Stand one Copper Fountain Six matted Chairs a pair of Sconces one Dutch Table Vallens and Cornish one Oval Table and Leafe	5	1	6
In the Side Board Roome.
Item Sixteen Glass Salvers three Decanters Nine Water Glasses Fifteen small and great Tumblers two Rummers five Water Glasses One hundred Sixty Four odd Peices One Decanting Mugg two Sconces one Wainscott Buroe one Weather Glass one Plate Heater one China Baskett one Hoane two Rasors one Reel and Lines one Dog Collar	4	10	0
In the Fore Passage.
Item One old Coffee Mill Sixty Dozen of Bottles	5	0	0
In the Dairy.
Item twenty Cheese Fatts two Milk Leads two Hand Churns one Barrel Churn two Kivers Scales and Weights two Bowls one Peel one Cheese Press one Cheese Tub one Hanging Shelfe two Hand Milk Bucketts one Seive	2	7	0
In the Lower Kitchen.
Item One Kettle Pott and Cover one Boiler and Cover one Kettle one Gridiron one Sink one Forme one Board one Bowl one Tub one Baskett	3	5	6
In the Lower Servants Hall.
Item One Cloaths Press two Folding Leafes a large Chest three Deale Cases Saddle Cloth and Holsters two pair of Pistolls one Box one Block one old Iron Grate and Hearth	3	15	0
On the Back Stair Case and Passage.
Item three Pictures one Glass Sconce and a small parcell of Pitt Coals	2	0	0
In the Larder.
Item One powdering Trough two Powdering Tubs three Earthen Jarrs one hanging Shelfe two Dogs	1	6	6
In the Brewhouse.
Item two Coppers with Iron Worke and Lead two Coolers one Marsh Vatt one Working Vessell two large Kivers seven Tubs one Tun Bowl one Ladder one Syder Press one Poker one Shute and one Stand	18	0	0
In the Old Landery and the Room over the Landery
Item One Bedstead and Curtains one Scrutore one Square Table one Easy Chair one white Quilt two old Blanketts one Cloaths Press Nineteen Iron Barrs for boreing and other Lumber two wooden Horses one Brasss Kettle one Forme one Link	8	10	6
In the Landery Chamber.
Item two long Tables one Leafe one Trevett two Hair Lines one Poker one wooden Horse	1	2	0
In the Wash House.
Item One Copper Furnace and Iron Work Five Tubs two Shovels one pair of Tongs one Table one Copper old Skuttle one Hair Lyne	3	1	0
In the Coachmans Roome and the Lumber Roome.
Item One Bedstead and Sacking one Feather Bed one Boulster two Flocke Beds two Boulsters one Bedstead one Quilt one Rugg two Blanketts one Malt Mill one Screen one Dressing Board and a parcel of Lumber	6	15	0
In the Cheese Chamber.
Item two Boards and Trussels one Cheese racke one large Chest twenty small Cheeses twenty Six pounds of Candles Sixteen pewter dishes nine dozen of plates Six Mazareens one Cheese Plate one Box	9	18	0
In the Maids Roome.
Item two Bedsteads with Curtains two Feather Beds two Boulsters one Pillow three Ruggs two Blanketts one Table one Glass one chair	6	0	0
In the Store Roome.
Item One Copper Japan’d Cestern Four Kettle Potts seaven Stew Pans and Lead one Fish Kettle one preserving Pan one Brass Pott and Cover one Brass Pudding pan brass Ladle one brass bakeing pan two Sauce Pans one Tea Kettle two Chocolate Potts one Coffee Pott one Limbeck one Chaffing Dish one Gridiron one Skillett one Fryeing Pan two Wire Cages one Window Frame a parcel of Feathers one Candle Box one pair of Brass Scales three dozen of Pickling Glasses Four Brass Candlesticks three dozen of Copper Patty Pans one Marking Hatchett a pair of Tankards a pair of Doggs a large Bell a Marble Mortar Iron Barr one dozen of Moulds for Candles	18	8	6
Servants Hall.
Item two Quaile Cages one Long Table three Formes	0	12	0
In the Kitchen.
Item Thirty five dishes seven dozen of pewter Plates eight Covers one Ring one Porringer one jelly Pan one pudding pan one brass Dish Four brass Kettles Potts one Sauce Pan two Skillets one Dish Kettle one Fryeing Pan two pair of brass Scales one brass Candle Box two Spoons two Ladles one Slice one Flower Box one Pepper Box one brass Saucepan twelve Candlesticks eight brass Patty Pans one Dripping pan two Stew Pans Five Chaving Dishes two Sauce Pans one Fish Kettle and Cover one Chocolate Pott three Coffee Potts one Tea Boiler one Fryeing Pan one Copper Grater one Posnett one Mortar one hand Bell three Guns one Clocke one Hanger one Jack Chain and Weights with Compass Wheel some Tin Ware one large Grate one Crane and Hookes two Dogg Racks Four Spitts one Trevett one Smoothing Iron five Box Irons and Padds one Fendar Fire shovel Tongs and Poker two Skillett Frames one Potthanger one Grate Shovell one Trevett two Cleavers one Plate Iron one Gridiron one Chaffing Dish Nine Sceivers one pair of Bellows one coal Baskett one Trencher Racke one Chopping Block one Toasting Iron one Fire Screen one pair of Stilliards Tongs two Chairs one Baskett some Knifes and Forks	34	6	1
In the Bakeing House.
Item One Dough Kiver and Lid one Meal Tub one Bowl one Lawn Seive one Hair Seive two Iron Peels one wooden Ditto one Fire Forke one rubbing Brush with Lead one Pye board three roleing Pins and Lumber	0	19	0
In the Pantry.
Item One pewter Still and one Hanging Shelfe	0	11	0
In the Strong Beer Cellar.
Item Five Pipes seven Hogsheads Four small Casks one Barrell eight Stands one Tap Tub three brass Cocks three Hogsheads and one Pipe of Beer	21	16	9
In the Wine Cellar.
Item Fifteen dozen of old Beer one Hanging Shelfe one large Bottle	3	3	0
In the Small Beer Cellar.
Item seven Hogsheads four small Vessells one brass Cocke three Stands one Tap Tub	2	16	6
In the Cellar next adjoining.
Item two Vessells one Stand and some Verjuice	1	0	0
In the Garden.
Item two painted Seats two Benches thirteen Chairs two Machines Four Stone Roles and Iron Worke one wooden Role leaded Four Cucumber Frames and Glasses Six Bell Glasses three Lantern D(itt)o one Water Tub two Water Potts three Bee Hives three Scyths one Spade Four Hoes two Dutch D(itt)o two Edging Knifes one Turfing Iron two Rakes two reels two pair of Sheers one Water Scoop two hundred and Sixteen Flower Potts two dozen and halfe of small Flower Pans and Pedestalls	21	0	0
In the Yard Barne Stable and Coach House.
Item three Cocks of Hay and parte of another Six Coach Mares some Beans one Horse two Oat Hovels a parcel of Wheat and Barley one Chest one Winnowing Fan one Knee Fan Six Seives three Forkes one Rake one Barne Shovel three Sows one Boar thirteen Piggs three Cows one Cart one Body of A Cart three pair of Traces two Collars Five Sacks two Ladders one Chariott one Chase and Harness one Water Engine	201	3	0
China.
Item One hundred and eighteen Plates Fifty three Dishes Ninety Six Cups eighty seven Saucers Twenty Four Basons three Jarrs Five Bottles Six Potts two Salvers Four Stands two Sconces	30	0	0
Linnen.
Item Fifty two pair of Sheets Twenty Five Table Cloaths One hundred eighty two Napkins Forty three Pillowbeers Sixty two Towels three Side Board Cloaths	35	8	0
Plate in the Side Board Roome.
Item One Silver Tea Cannister two Salts one Lamp and Stand and Ring one Tea Kettle one small Cup one two handled Cup two Salvers Six Salts three Casters one Chaffing Dish one Coffee Pott one Tea Pott Four Candlesticks Snuffers and Dish one Porringer one Soup Spoon Nineteen large Spoons two small Candlesticks one Crane one Bubble Bottle one peice of Plate for the Stand thirteen Tea Spoons Six Salt Spoons Six Forks three Strainers Tongs and Shovell twelve Spoons two Handles twelve Knifes one Soup Dish one Cup	142	0	0
Plate in Mrs Lowndes Closet.
Item Four Silver Boxes one Standish two Salvers two Candlesticks one Frame to a Glass Six Sconces Heads of the Chimney Furniture three cover’d Brasses one small Saucepan one Ferrell for a Tea Kettle one hanging Candlestick	99	13	3
Item the Library amounts to the sum(m)e of	110	0	0
Item Wearing Apparel and ready money	20	0	0
Item Arrears of Rent received	55	3	6
Sum(m)a Totalis Hujus Inv(entar)ii	1332	3	6
Arrears of Rent due from Henry Lyne beleiv’d to be desperate	57	14	5
Exhibited 14 [Nov/Dec] 1727 by Mr William Chapman

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The plan below shows the possible layout of the rooms, based on the plans of the building published by the Wren Society. North is at the top.

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Notes

Camlett - a : a medieval Asian fabric of camel hair or angora wool. b : a European fabric of silk and wool. c : a fine lustrous woollen. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/camlet]

Furniture: Hangings and ornamental drapery; also, the coverlets and linen for a bed. (OED, n.4d)

Hair trunk: a trunk covered with skin retaining the hair (OED).

Rubbing brush: a stiff brush for cleaning (OED).

Scrutore: Noun 1. An escritoire. [www.yourdictionary.com › Dictionary Definitions › scrutore]

Squab - a : couch. b : a cushion for a chair or couch. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/squab]

Plad = Plaid a:a twilled woollen fabric with a tartan pattern. b:a fabric with a pattern of tartan or an imitation of tartan.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plaid

Peer = Pier glass : a large high mirror; especially : one designed to occupy the wall space between windows — called also pier mirror.

Sprigged material or paper has a pattern of small leaves or flowers on it. [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/sprigged]

India Cabinet: A cabinet with Chinese designs imported by the East India Company (OED).

Sconce = a bracket candlestick or group of candlesticks. [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sconce]

Harrateen: an English fabric of linen or wool used chiefly for curtains and bed hangings in the 18th and early 19th centuries.
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harrateen]

Hand vice :a small clamp or vice on a handle designed for holding small objects while they are being worked usually by hand
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20vise]

Burning glass :a positive lens for producing intense heat by converging the sun's rays approximately to the principal focus of the lens the point of convergence being a very small image of the sun [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/burning%20glass]

Hoane = Hone, for sharpening a razor.

Mazareen - now usually mazarin : a deep dish often of metal; especially : one formerly used as a liner for a serving dish and usually pierced.[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mazarine]

Limbeck = alembic: A distilling apparatus, now obsolete, consisting of a gourd-shaped container and a cap with a long beak for conveying the products to a receiver. [https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/alembic]

Stilliards = Steelyards, for weighing.

Verjuice: the sour juice of crab apples or of unripe fruit (such as grapes or apples); also : an acid liquor made fromverjuice.
[https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verjuice]

Winnowing-fan: 1. A fan used while winnowing to blow the chaff off the grain. [http://www.yourdictionary.com/winnowing-fan]