Great Ruffins

Great Ruffins is a large house dating to circa 1904, designed by A.H. Mackmurdo. It is constructed of brick with rough rendering, and has slate roofs, hipped over the left and right crosswings. The prominent central tower is balustraded and topped with an octagonal domed lantern, with smaller, unglazed lanterns to the hipped roofs. The symmetrical design features a tall, square tower projecting from the centre bays, with recurved walls to the ground floor. Jettied crosswings flank the tower, each with a central oriel. Elaborate moulded and dentilled cornices run along the eaves, jetties, and the tower balustrade. Ionic angle pilasters decorate the crosswings, oriels, and above the eaves level of the tower, with a moulded band at the tower’s eaves. A semi-circular porch with a flat canopy, supported by four Ionic columns and two pilasters on a plinth, is attached to square pillars with ball finials. The main entrance door is panelled and sits within a moulded surround. The tower has two long, round-headed windows on each face, incorporating imposts and keystones. Interior plaster panelling and heavy balusters (two panels per face, with square pillars between) are present. The lantern features pilasters to the angles and smaller windows with similar detailing to the tower, concluding in a ribbed dome with a heavy finial. The crosswings’ smaller lanterns are similarly detailed on plain octagonal bases. The window arrangement on the front facade is 3:1:0:1:3 across the ground floor, with small circular lights to the left and right of the porch. The outer windows have moulded pilaster and frieze surrounds, while the inner windows have round heads and glazing bars within similar surrounds. The first floor features a 1:3:0:3:1 window arrangement, with plain three-light oriels and two-light casements with round heads and glazing bars. The rear of the crosswings is semi-octagonal, displaying two or three-light casements within recessed arches. Dormers project from the roof. A balcony with balusters sits above a stepped cornice to the central range, which leads to a flat-roofed first floor with access to the tower. A flat-roofed two-storey service wing extends to the left, containing a former corridor, scullery, and living accommodation, with a central door and windows on each floor. While entry was not permitted during the re-survey, the owner reported the interior to be intact.