'Our England is a garden that is full of stately views, Of borders, bed and shrubberies and lawns and avenues, With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by, But the Glory of The Garden lies in more than meets the eye.' Rudyard Kipling     At the heart of the estate is The Grove, which was built in the 1750s by John Yeldham, who owned extensive lands across North Essex. He was a charitable man and heavily involved with the management of Guys Hospital in London. Surrounding The Grove, is the parkland which was landscaped in the 1790s by Humphry Repton. Born in 1752, Repton succeeded Capability Brown to become one of England's pre-eminent landscape designers. He was responsible for re-designing many great English country estates.  He is credited with coining the term 'landscape garden' to describe the natural style of gardening which he felt required 'the united powers of the landscape painter and the practical gardener'. He produced one of his famous red books containing before and after artist impressions of the estate in 1791.   It is due to Repton and his influence, that The Grove Estate enjoys a proud hertiage of trees including Wellingtonias, Lebanon and Blue Cedars, Red and White Chestnuts, Mulberry trees, Ginkos and Catalpa trees.   The estate was subsquently purchased by an Amercian Mr. Barlett Goodrich. The Goodrichs were one of the early Virginian families, having already resided in Virigina for over 150 years at the time of the Declaration of Independence. Barlett Goodrich took the unsual step of  returning to England rather than living under 'rebel' rule. He and his family dominated local life by purchasing Saling Hall, which became the dower house. Meanwhile his colourful younger brother, Bridger Goodrich fled to Bermunda and led a band of privateers who once blockaded Chesapeake Bay, much to the chagrin of the US President - Thomas Jefferson.    The American connection continued with the arrival of the Second World War. The Estate, like the rest of the country was involved in supporting the war effort. On adjacent land to the estate, RAF Andrews Field was established . This was the first Class A airfield built by the American forces in the UK. Constructed by the 819th Engineer Battalion (Aviation) of the US Army and was used as a base by the 96th and 322 Bombardment Group and 1st Pathfinder Squadron. The airfield was named in honour of Lieutenant General Frank M Andrews who lived on the estate. Frank M Andrews was a pioneer exponent of air power and was the first head of an autonomous American Air Force and the first air officer to serve on the Army's General Staff.