The home of the Gent family, until the late 19th century, was once owned by Major-General Cecil Robert St John Ives, maternal grandfather of Ivar Bryce, the next owner.

[citation needed] The area in the Le Moynes once had lands that encompassed Hedingham Castle and other villages over a swathe of Essex.

His son Thomas became MP for Maldon in 1571 and a 'trusted assistant' to Sir Francis Walsingham, Elizabeth 1's Secretary of State and spymaster, whence he rose to 2nd Baron of the Exchequer.

[citation needed] Thomas signed a petition to Walsingham requesting he write to the governors of the Dutch congregation in Colchester and demand that 20–30 families return to Halstead to resume the cloth trade there, but to no avail.

The gardens of the 200-acre (81 ha) estate had yew topiary, and the paths were said to be planted to a plan by Lord Bacon, with a bowling green being one of the oldest.[where?]