Moyns Park

Moyns Park
Engraving of Moyns Park, Essex, by Thomas Wright, in his History of Essex, published 1831.

Moyns Park is a Grade I listed Elizabethan country house located in Birdbrook, Essex, CO9 4BP. The home of the Gent family until the late 19th century, it was once owned by Ivar Bryce, a friend of Ian Fleming, who stayed at the house in the summer of 1956. Ivar's wife, the A&P Heiress Josephine Hartford sister of Huntington Hartford, bought it for her husband when they got married. When Josephine died in 1992, she left the estate to Lord Ivar Mountbatten and George Mountbatten, 4th Marquess of Milford Haven. Ivar lived in the house for a while then sold it. Ivar Bryce's niece Janet Mercedes Bryce had been married to David Mountbatten and was Janet Mountbatten the mother of Ivar and George. They were Jo Hartford Bryce's relatives by marriage so that is why she left them the estate. It is said that Fleming made final changes to his novel From Russia, with Love in the house. The house was also the location for several Hammer Horror films. The house was also used as a residential Riding School in and around 1949, with courses in dressage, show jumping and short B.H.S courses. The chief instructor was C. Coombs M.B.E

The name Moyns is believed to have its origins in the name of the Le Moyne family who under Gilbert Le Moyne remained in England after the Norman invasion of 1066. The family ran through several major and minor lines of nobles and gentry such as the De Warrens, Gents, Darbys, Dalstons (of Cumberland), and many others. The family is now linked to many others by marriage, e.g. Speakmans, Boutflowers, Glasses, Chenevix-Trenchs, and more.

The area in which the park is located has long been linked to these families, the Le Moynes once had lands that encompassed Hedingham Castle and other villages over a swathe of Essex. The Gents held their first court at Moyns in the early 16th century and the estate grew and continued to do so under Sir Thomas Gent (Queen Elizabeth's Baron of the Exchequer, Sargeant-at-Law and later judge).

Coordinates: 52°02′17″N 0°28′09″E / 52.03793°N 0.46911°E / 52.03793; 0.46911


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