Factory House, Historic trading building in Porto, Portugal
The British Factory is a trading building in central Porto that served as a merchant headquarters. It has four stories with classical design, large halls for gatherings, a library, and dining spaces.
British merchants built this trading center between 1785 and 1790 as their headquarters. Consul John Whitehead oversaw the project and made it the seat of the British merchant community in Porto.
The building reflects British presence in Porto shaped by wine and textile trade. The rooms show today how merchants gathered here and organized their daily lives.
The building is near São Bento metro station and served by several bus routes. The entrance is on Rua do Infante Dom Henrique, a central street that is easy to reach from most parts of the city.
The top floor holds a kitchen with original eighteenth-century equipment, including silver tableware and traditional cooking tools. This space reveals how meals were prepared and the importance placed on elegance.
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