Colville House, 45 High Street, Ayton

Colville House, located at 45 High Street in Ayton, was built in 1822 and has undergone later additions and alterations. This symmetrical two-storey, three-bay house is designed in a plain classical style, featuring flanking single-storey pavilions with attics. At the rear, there is a full-height wing that incorporates a former coach house. The exterior is constructed from harl-pointed rubble, predominantly whinstone, with sandstone dressings. Notable features include rusticated quoins, tooled long and short surrounds to openings, slightly raised margins, and projecting cills.

On the southwest (entrance) elevation, there is a step leading to a deep-set timber panelled door, which is centrally located at the ground level and topped with a decorative fanlight. The door is framed by a plain surround with a consoled cornice. There are single windows in the ground floor flanking bays, while the first floor features square windows in all bays. The outer pavilions have single windows on both floors, with a part-glazed timber panelled door on the left and a squat upper window aligned above.

The southeast (side) elevation showcases a two-bay pavilion that projects to the outer left. To the right, a recessed two-storey, two-bay range includes a glazed door at ground level to the left, a single window above, and a sliding boarded timber door at ground level to the right, with a large window aligned above.

The northeast (rear) elevation features the main block with a projecting wing offset to the left of centre, along with various additions recessed to the right. Lower pavilions are located to the outer left and right.

The house predominantly has modern timber casement windows, with some featuring 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows, as well as various rooflights. The roofs are covered with grey slate and have replacement rainwater goods. Corniced sandstone wallhead stacks with octagonal cans are also present.

Inside, there is a stained glass stair window inscribed 'In loving memory of Elezer Colville who built this house 1822, died 1853.' The rest of the interior was not seen in 1998.

The boundary wall and gatepiers consist of a heavily-pointed, coped rubble wall that encloses the site at the front. Flanking the vehicular entrance are octagonal-plan, coursed pink sandstone gatepiers with tapering caps, although the gates are missing.