The Ancillary Buildings associated With High House, Purfleet, Essex

During June to August 2008, OA East conducted a Historic Building Survey of the ancillary buildings associated with the building known as High House, Purfleet in Essex. A previous survey was conducted of the house itself (Gane and Corrigan 2008), a Grade II listed manor house that gradually fell in status to that of a working farm. There are ten surviving buildings that are associated with High House, all of which have played their part in the estates history. Adjacent to the north of the house there is a courtyard enclosed by a service wing and a row of buildings consisting of a brew/bake house that was later transformed into a habitable cottage, a coach house and a stable. These latter three buildings are amongst the most interesting on the site and allow an insight into life on a manorial farm. The cottage contains structural elements that pre-date the existing manor house and also evidence of an interesting history of use. Whereas in the stable there are many fixtures and fittings that survive intact, allowing a clear glimpse into the past of the building. A second courtyard immediately to the north of these buildings is enclosed by a Grade II listed threshing barn and a structure that comprises both cow sheds and a granary building. There is a further farm building to the east of these and finally the other greatly interesting building which is a scheduled monument and Grade II listed dovecote that retains all of its original features.