Manorial House of High House Purfleet Thurrock Essex set in the Royal Opera House Production Park

There is some excellent panelling throughout the house and the ground floor has these wonderful doors in the photograph to the right, from which we can only imagine through period dramas the servant opening the double doors into the reception room beyond. Throughout the house most of the beautiful panelling is still intact and in good condition for its age, minus some questionable wall paper.

The main hall and staircase during restoration

Panelling from the late 1600's to the early 1700's created a great deal of excitement when it was found up on the first floor in the right hand side photograph. But during restoration further panelling was revealed in the room directly below it on the ground floor. This panelling is a rare sight as it has been reused from the earlier house on the site.


			The Historic House

High House has stood for over 450 years and after four and a half centuries of standing over Purfleet, the house, farmstead and indeed Purfleet itself has changed so much.

Originally, the entire area used to be known as the Manor of West Thurrock, and Stone House was the original manor of the West Thurrock area. But after a short number of years High House became the central manor, as shown by the quality and sheer volume of wooden panelling inside the house.


	Two theories have emerged as to the location of the original 1552 house that stood on the site. The first is that the coachman's cottage is the original house with the current house simply built in front, and secondly that the original timber framed structure simply had a brick facade built around it.


	However, during restoration, original timbers from the 1500's house were found through the house itself, as shown by these panels removed in the photograph on the right. Here it can easily been seen the immense timbers that still support the giant wooden structure lying under the surface. It's incredible to think that these timbers date from the 1550's.


	The interior of the house will be restored as and when the funds are available over time which, in fact, gives the house time to evolve and harmonize into its role, meaning that if there is not enough room for one type of exercise or activity then this can be discovered before the layout of the house is cast in stone.

			Before restoration work started on the house and long before the site had so much attention, the house and site was covered in undergrowth. There were many clearance days at the site where members of the community came together to fend back the undergrowth.

Royal Opera House National Skills Academy Purfleet High House Production Park ROH social heritage local cultural history restoration redevelopment

Back of the house showing the 1950's toilet block to aid in the houses division into flats

			Changes in the look and feel of the house have made a change for the better, as shown in these photographs taken during its restoration.

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