Bassetts manor was named after Henry Bassett whose family held the manor in the 14th century. At that time, it was located where Bassetts farm is today and according to Jesse Berridge comprised earthworks, ponds and a moat as well as a wharf on the river. In the 16th century, it was owned by the Blake family who built a new timber-framed and tiled house further up the hill. This latter became known as New Bassetts, while the old house which was also rebuilt at this time, reverted to being a farm.
In 1650, the manor was bought by Moundeford Bramston, the second son of Sir John Bramston of Skreens, Roxwell. Unlike most other landowners in Little Baddow, Moundeford Bramston had royalist sympathies. The Civil War prevented him from practicing his profession of law and so he lived at Bassetts, stocked the land and became a grazier. In 1672, an accusation was brought against Moundeford and his elder brother Sir John that they were crypto-Papists and had attended a secret conclave at Skreens. The accuser was their neighbour, Sir Henry Mildmay of Graces, who had previously been in dispute with Sir John. The case was dismissed when the chief witness was shown to have committed perjury at the instigation of Mildmay. Mildmay himself was found guilty of contrivance and lost the many government post he had previously held.