Ruard, Stafford Street, Helmsdale

This is a house dating to around 1838, situated in Stafford Street, Helmsdale. It is a two-storey and attic, three-bay building constructed of coursed rubble with tooled ashlar dressings, while the side elevations are harled. The central bay is slightly recessed, and features a late 19th-century projecting gabled porch with bargeboarding that obscures the original entrance. The windows are hoodmoulded and margined, with margined angles, and include two late 19th-century canted dormers with mainly 12-pane glazing. A single-storey, two-bay wing extends to the rear of the house, and a modern glazed sun parlour has been added to the east gable. The building has corniced end stacks and a slate roof.

Behind the main house is a single-storey, three-bay service cottage constructed of rubble with tooled rubble dressings and 12-pane glazing, featuring a centre entrance, end stacks, and a slate roof. A coped rubble retaining wall is also present.

The listing recognizes the presence of Helmsdale Church (Church of Scotland), originally built opposite the manse in 1838 and subsequently altered in 1896. This church, located on Stafford Street, is no longer in ecclesiastical use.