Rough House, Also Called Ruffehouse, With Flanking Walls

This is a folly, later converted into a house, dating from the late 18th century. It was likely built for William Aislabie of Studley Royal. The structure is built of mortared rubble with a 20th-century pantile roof. The south-west facade features three large Gothic-arched openings that likely imitate an arcade, containing a 20th-century central door and flanking windows. Flanking walls extend to the left and right, with arches set back. A crudely cut bearded face is carved on the keystone of the central arch. The building has raised crow-stepped verges, two 20th-century dormer windows, and end stacks. The rear elevation has a central door and small circular windows. The left and right returns feature projecting stones, blocked arched and circular openings, and stepped gables, creating a ruined appearance when viewed from a distance. Though it appears to face south-west, the building was likely erected as a viewpoint overlooking Studley Royal and Fountains. The architectural style is similar to other structures on the Studley Royal estate, such as Rough Bridge and the Duck House. The name "Rough" may refer to the 18th-century Gothic use of roughly-dressed stone, contrasting with the smooth finish typically found on classical buildings.