The purpose of the 17th–18th-century factories (chiefly in trading seaports) was to provide a meeting place for foreign merchants, known as factors, to conduct their business and to defend their interests.

[2] Those families of British origin with the strongest ties to the Port trade over the last three centuries are closely linked to the history of the Factory House.

The walls on either side of the imposing entrance hall, with its lofty vaulted ceiling supported by impressive granite columns, are decorated with large wooden plaques listing the names of all the treasurers since 1811.

Among these can be found some names still closely associated with the great port houses such as Cockburn, Croft, Delaforce, Fladgate, Forrester, Graham, Guimaraens, Robertson, Roope, Sandeman, Symington, Taylor and Warre.

During the 19th century, the Factory House developed an air of exclusivity, holding formal balls for the British of Porto and excluding most of the Portuguese shippers who worked in the wine industry.

[6] The factory is managed on a rotational basis by its members, whose responsibility is to ensure the proper running of the premises and to organize and carry out the annual plan of activities.

The day-to-day running of the factory is entrusted to a manager who ensures its proper functioning and coordinates the activities which take place year round.

The Factory House hosts a weekly Wednesday luncheon where members meet for lunch to discuss the wine industry and business.

[4] The British Factory House building is located in the old quarter of the city of Porto, situated along the Rua Infante Dom Henrique (which was named for the Portuguese Prince Henry the Navigator).

[3] The Palladian-inspired main façade of the Factory House is austere, due in part to the somber granite used in its construction, at the same time conveying an elegant understatement.

The hall leads on to an open well staircase remarkable for the fact that each step is made from a single piece of granite and the landings are embedded in the wall with no supporting pillars.