CHEF Jamie Oliver and his family are set to move into a multi-million mansion in north Essex.

The Essex-born TV star and cook has completed the deal to buy Spains Hall in Finchingfield.

The historic Elizabethan country house went on the market for £6 million earlier this year.

Set in 70 acres of parkland it had been owned by the same family for 250 years.

Spains Hall was named after Hervey de Ispania, the first family to own the house.

The estate passed to the Kempe family on the marriage of Margery de Ispania to Nicholas Kempe in the early 15th century.

When the Kempe family male line died out in 1726, the house passed to Sir Thomas Dyer, the brother-in-law of Mary Kempe.

The house then moved to most recent owners the Ruggles-Brise family and was the home of Sir Timothy and Lady Rosemary Ruggles-Brise, who served as High Sheriff of Essex.

The six bedroom farmhouse comes with a swimming pool and tennis court.

In 2006 a Grade-two listed coach house, stables and dovecote on site were converted into a wedding and conference venue.

At the same time 19th century graffiti was uncovered by builders.

Its listing, by estate agents Savills, said: “A fragment of the house from medieval times survives in the roof above the dining room, one bay of a king-post hall roof, a rare feature and is tentatively dated to 1410.

“The house we see today is essentially an Elizabethan one, which has been continually altered and embellished over 400 years.

“The main features were built in the 1580s, with the Dutch gables added in 1637 with a final wing in the same style added in the 1890s. It is a fascinating document of the changing use of the same family house.”

Jamie, who was born and grew up in Clavering in the west of the county, is expected to move to the home with his wife Jools and their five children.