High House, Purfleet

High House is a site in Purfleet with several buildings spread across fourteen acres, containing workshops, studios, and performance spaces for theatrical and artistic work. The Backstage Centre provides training facilities for theater production skills, while Acme Studios offers residential spaces and workrooms for professional artists.

The property emerged between 1552 and 1559 when Cecily Long divided the Manor of West Thurrock, with the current brick structure replacing earlier timber buildings in 1684. The site gradually transformed into a center for artistic and craft activities over subsequent centuries.

The Royal Opera House produces stage sets and costumes here, with skilled craftspeople creating pieces that later appear in performances at Covent Garden.

The site sits in a rural location, so it is helpful to plan your route before visiting. The different areas are spread across the grounds, so allow time to explore the various spaces.

The property houses a hexagonal dovecote with 517 nest boxes accessible via an original wooden ladder. This rare structure stands as one of the finest examples of its kind in Southern England.