The Ruddock Almshouses, With South And East Boundary Walls

The Ruddock Almshouses, originally consisting of six but now modified to three, were built in 1718. They are constructed from ham stone ashlar and feature alternating courses of plain and fish-scale clay tiles over three base courses of stone slates, topped with coped gables. The building has brick chimney stacks set diagonally in three pairs. It is two stories high and has twelve bays. Notable architectural details include a plinth, a band course, and an eaves cornice. The windows are semi-circular headed casements with deadlights and non-radial glazing bars, set into raised surrounds with impost blocks and keystones. The door openings match the windows, with three having been converted to windows. A panel under the eaves reads "Gulielous Ruddock Armiger, Fundator MDCCXVIII". At the rear, there is an early outshut with two projecting gables. The east side boundary wall extends in a stepped manner from the gable wall, made of local stone rubble with ashlar quoins and copings. The south front wall, also of local stone rubble, is about one meter high with copings that sweep up slightly in the middle to two central square capped gatepiers. At the east end, there is a curved return. This boundary wall is an important part of the street scene.