Great Rutleigh

Great Rutleigh is a farmhouse, originally probably a small manor house, dating to the first half of the 16th century. It was likely built by William Kelly, possibly the same William Kelly who died in 1534 and contributed to the rebuilding of the nearby church. Later additions were made in the 19th century, with 20th-century alterations.

The building is constructed of partly rendered rubble walls, with a gable ended roof covered in corrugated iron and slate. Stone rubble stacks are located at the left gable end and axially, partially rendered with dripstones and a moulded stringcourse. A smaller rendered, possibly brick, stack sits at the right gable end, and another brick stack serves the wing. The original plan is somewhat unclear due to later alterations, but likely comprised three rooms with a through-passage and a lower room to the right. A blocked doorway on the front wall of the hall presents a puzzle, potentially indicating access to a staircase in an unusual location. The hall stack appears to be a 17th-century insertion, and the presence of other 17th-century features suggests a remodeling took place during that time, including the addition of a porch in 1648. A large 19th-century wing was added to the left of the hall in the 19th century, and in the 20th century, the passage was blocked and the house was divided into two separate dwellings.

The external appearance is asymmetrical, with the projecting wing on the left and an outshut in front of the right-hand side. The wing projects in two stages; the recessed part on the right was likely a gabled two-story porch, featuring a wide 17th-century wooden ovolo-moulded doorframe with a 19th-century plank door. A stone plaque above the door is inscribed with "1648" and faded initials, possibly "A. S. W. G.". A later outshut is attached to the left side of the wing. The rear elevation has a four-window arrangement, mostly with 20th-century casement windows, alongside some mid to later 19th-century sash windows. One first-floor window, situated to the right of the centre, is a 17th-century four-light ovolo-moulded wooden mullion window.

Inside, a large, finely crafted depressed four-centred arched stone doorway with roll moulding and incised scroll stops is located at the front of the passage. Carved spandrels and a hoodmould are present, and the name “William Kelly” is inscribed above the doorway. A 17th-century plank and muntin screen with scratch-moulded muntins and a moulded head beam is found at the lower side of the passage, alongside a 17th-century ovolo-moulded wooden doorframe leading to the hall. The hall fireplace has a moulded wooden lintel with jewel stops, and a recessed pointed stone arch at the front of the hall may have originally been a doorway. The roof trusses appear relatively modern, but due to limited access, earlier timbers may be hidden. The house was evidently a residence of gentry in the 16th and 18th centuries.