Webb, Miller and Beckwith (1899) document much of the earlier history of Chislehurst. The Ellis family were large landowners since the 1350s. The so-called “Manor House” on Manor Park Road, was previously known as “Ellis House”, and the Ellis family lived there in the 1500s.

This was a “Principal Mansion” (but there was no Lord of the Manor for Chislehurst). In 1790, Mr John Stevens, the last descendent of the Ellis family (his great-great uncle was Mr. John Ellis) sold the “Manor house” to Mr James Taggart.

In 1760 “Pheasant Lodge/Grove” on the west-east road from St Paul’s Cray Common to St Mary Cray (Leesons Hill today) was occupied by Mr. Jordon, a London brewer. Likely to be so named because of the number of Pheasant birds in the area, reared by gamekeepers on Scadbury Estate for regular shoots (Battle, 1988).

After several different lessees, in 1800 Lord Wynford (aka William Draper Best, First Baron of Wynford Dorset) leased it from the same Mr Taggart mentioned above. Hence the property was likely a part of Ellis Estates.

Lord Wynford later bought the property in 1824 and renamed “Pheasant Lodge/Grove” as “Leesons”. Comprising a mansion house, coach house, stables, entrance lodge, gardeners lodge, three labourers’ cottages and land 59 acres (= 30 football pitches).