Ramsden Building at the University of Huddersfield

The Ramsden Building at the University of Huddersfield, formerly known as Ramsden Building at Huddersfield Polytechnic, was constructed between 1881 and 1884 and designed by architect E Hughes. The building is made of hammer-dressed stone with ashlar dressings and features a hipped slate roof. It stands three storeys tall and has a bracketed eaves cornice, an openwork parapet, and string courses.

The façade includes nine ranges of casement windows with moulded surrounds and transoms, with the first, fifth, and ninth ranges also featuring mullions. The third and seventh ranges are full-height bays, which are oblong at the ground floor and canted above, topped with moulded foliage cornices and hipped roofs that have tall iron finials. Sculpted lions holding shields are positioned above the ground floor windows, while the second-floor windows are adorned with two transoms and upper lights filled with cusped reticulated tracery.

At the second floor, four octagonal tourelles project from the building, supported by moulded squinches and topped with gabled roofs and short octagonal spires. Between the two central tourelles is a gable featuring traceried panelling and a pointed arched window with a hoodmould, two transoms, and cusped reticulated tracery. The entrance consists of planked doors set in a shouldered arch, accompanied by a fanlight with four trefoiled lancets in a moulded frame, supported by colonettes and a hoodmould. This entrance is located within a porch that slightly projects forward, featuring diagonal buttresses, colonettes, a bracketed eaves cornice, and an openwork balustrade with finials on the end piers.

The roof is enhanced with four triangular lucarnes, two tall ornamental iron finials, and some simple cresting. An octagonal lantern with an open pointed arcade and gables on each side, topped with a tiled flèche and a tall ornamental iron finial, adds to the building's distinctive profile. A panel above the north canted bay is inscribed with a dedication stating, "This memorial stone was laid by the Master of the Worshipful Company of Clothworkers of the City of London, (Rev Alfred Child, MA) assisted by members of the Court, on Wednesday October 17th, 1881."