Robert Leslie Townsend [commonly known as Robert Townsend] was born in Bath, Somerset, England on 16 June 1911. Nothing is known about his training as an architect. During the post-Second World War years he had an office in Bath. A house in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England designed by Townsend for a professor at the University of Birmingham is discussed in 'Decorative Art' vol.47, 1957-58 (p.18). Other projects by Townsend included a country house at Great Somerford, Wiltshire (c.1952); a country house at Durrington, Near Salisbury, Wiltshire (c.1952); a carpet factory in Wilton, Wiltshire (c.1956); a factory for Corsets Silhouette Ltd in Market Drayton, Shropshire (c.1961).
Townsend was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1939. His address was given as 19 Mecklenburgh Street, St. Pancras, London in 1939. He died on 28 November 1997