The Duke of Windsor, King Edward VIII & Lincolnshire
The Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, and Lincolnshire
Did the Duke of Windsor and American divorcée Wallis Simpson intend to live in Lincolnshire after he abdicated the throne 
King Edward VIII was King of England until 11 December 1936 when, in unparalleled circumstances, he stepped down from the throne in order to marry Mrs Simpson.
The whole scandalous affair is well documented so needn’t be dwelled upon here but what isn’t so well known is . . .
Did he intend to make a new life for himself here in Lincolnshire ?!
Of course you can’t blame old Eddie, I mean, who wouldn’t throw away a Kingdom in order to settle here in the Golden Shire, probably the only sensible idea he had in his life!
“But what’s all this about Lincolnshire” I hear you cry, and with fair reason cherished reader . . . for ’tis well known I am given to working God’s County into any story whenever truthfully possible.
Well, I’m not turning to the history books for this one but the ever reliable The Leader Post newspaper, a fine Canadian publication if ever there was one.
In an article dated June 24 1937 they claim that an agent acting on behalf of the Duke of Windsor purchased a 100 acre estate in Lincolnshire with the intent to move there once the furore had died down a little.
They go further and claim it to be the hamlet of Harlaxton, near Grantham, and it included Harlaxton Hall which is near the residence of Lord Brownlow, a friend of his and Wallis Simpson.
Now, that’s where I’m going to leave this and go over to comments.
I’ve had a very quick look and there’s no obvious and immediate well known information about this so the questions are . . .
Is it true ?
If it is did they ever spend any time in Harlaxton ?
How’s that for an interesting snippet? Well, I suppose you’ll be the judge of that.
Ideas, thoughts, opinions and information most welcome
Regally yours,
Rod
See also: Lincolnshire’s Royal Champions ~ Where Did Queen Eleanor Die
v said,
February 28, 2013 @ 9:15 am
It was obviously being circulated at this time as only two days earlier than your date, the Tayside Evening Telegraph (Good grief where do I dig these up ) 22//6/1937 reproted the agent buying an estate for the Duke of Windsor between Grantham and Honington. You know the geography better than I do. The estate was less than an hour’s drive from Melton Mowbray and Quorn ( ?) country. The duke was not expected to take up residence soon.
Well he was of course a bit of a plonker.
Rod said,
February 28, 2013 @ 6:17 pm
V,
the location is right, great to get another mention of it, many thanks
Rod
jean said,
February 28, 2013 @ 8:56 pm
Rod,
is the Lord Brownlow the same Brownlow of the Brownlow Arms in Faldingworth;Iknow its not called that now but in the 70,s when we lived in the village I wondered where the name came from Jean
Rod said,
March 1, 2013 @ 7:04 am
Jean,
I wondered the very same myself, having driven past it so many times, if I had to guess I’d go for yes
Best
Rod