Sir Peter's son, Sir Richard, was an altogether steadier character, paying off the family debts, cultivating his thirteen voters with aplomb, becoming the well-paid Commissioner of the Customs and marrying the heiress Mary Knapp. His endeavours enabled him to build a new mansion, still the main heart of Stowe House, in 1676 for £2,600

Sir Richard also worked to improve the estate, planting a vineyard, a walled kitchen garden and a formal parlour garden laid out with three levels of parterres, cherry and apple trees and two fountains. He also planted an avenue of poplars, the Abele Walk, and a semi-circular wilderness. Unlike his ever-restless descendents who were always making large-scale changes, Sir Richard sat back to enjoy his work for the last fifteen years of his life.