Jonathan Catton (Thurrock's
Heritage Officer) watches as Ingrid Pitt talks about her
experience as the "Hammer Queen of Horror" at
the unveiling of the latest heritage plaque. The plaque
will be on the wall of St Stephen's church in Purfleet
which was built in the grounds of Purfleet House, which
appears to have been the model for Carfax House in Dracula
by Bram Stoker.
| "At Purfleet, on a by-road,
I came across just such a place as seemed to be
required, and where was displayed a dilapidated
notice that the place was for sale. It was
surrounded by a high wall, of ancient structure,
built of heavy stones, and has not been repaired
for a large number of years. The closed gates are
of heavy old oak and iron, all eaten with rust. "The estate is called Carfax, no doubt a corruption of the old Quatre Face, as the house is four sided, agreeing with the cardinal points of the compass." |
Confusingly, there was a house called Carfax House in Purfleet, but this was built after the publication of the novel, and presumably took its name from the book rather than vice versa.