High House, Purfleet

High House was originally built between 1552 and 1559 by Cecily Long to divide the Manor of West Thurrock, in Essex, equally between her two daughters. First built in timber and later replaced in brick in 1684, evidence remains of the Elizabethan timbers that are part of this early house in the fabric of the surviving 17th-century building. In fact, parts of the original panelling from the Queen Anne house were re-used in the later construction. The house was a high-status farm, as an inventory of 1615 describes a gallery with armoury and a dining room with paintings, and the garden having a sun dial, garden benches and a statue. Architectural detail seen in the stable indicates the degree…

The Royal Opera House opened the Bob and Tamar Manoukian Production Workshop, a scene-making facility for its opera and ballet productions on the High House site in December 2010. The facility was designed by Nicholas Hare Architects and has won several design awards. The specially designed production workshop has a paint-spray room, welding bays, and large scenery-painting workshops. All the productions for the Royal Opera, the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet are now made at High House Production Park. The Royal Opera House Education Department has a team of staff at the Park who run community outreach and education projects focusing on the backstage and technical crafts. Before…