The house and gardens became local authority property in 1929 and are currently used as the borough register office and a public park.

In 1776 Langtons and considerable property in Essex was owned by John Mayor a brewer who became MP for Abingdon and established HM Stationery Office.

[1] The house was purchased in 1797 by John Massu, whose family, originally Huguenot refugees, had become wealthy silk merchants in the City of London.

[3] He created the serpentine pond with the bathhouse and gazebo and planted horse chestnuts to mask or frame the mid-18th century stables, to which he added an octagonal cupola.

[5] In 2016 the gardens were extensively restored adding many new features such as a Victorian greenhouse, ornamental bridge, entrance pillars, cobbled stable yard and new tea room.