Tower, Purves Hall

Former peel tower (possibly 16th century) with substantial 17th and 18th century additions and alterations. 3-storey, 3- by 2-bay, rectangular-plan tower with 3-storey, gabled addition at rear; later additions removed. Harl-pointed sandstone and whinstone rubble; sandstone ashlar dressings. Predominantly red and cream sandstone rubble quoins; strip quoins to E; raised margins in part (architraved at 1st floor to entrance elevation); projecting cills.

SE (FRONT) ELEVATION: part-glazed timber panelled door centred at ground; single windows at both floors above; single windows at all floors in flanking bays.

NE (SIDE) ELEVATION: original block with steps to part-glazed timber panelled door at 1st floor off-set to left of centre; small window aligned above. Square-headed opening (infilled doorway) at ground off-set to right of centre; single window at ground in subsequent bay to right. Full-height, 2-bay wing slightly advanced to outer right with single windows in both bays at 1st and 2nd floors.

NW (REAR) ELEVATION: gabled wing with timber panelled door at ground off-set to left of centre; lintel inscribed "S AP 1790"; small single window in bay to outer left. Single windows at 1st and 2nd floors in bay to outer left; blocked windows at both floors in bay to outer right.

SW (SIDE) ELEVATION: original 2-bay block with part-blocked opening at ground in bay to left; single windows in both bays at 1st and 2nd floors; small, blocked opening in gablehead. 3-bay wing adjoined to left with deep-recessed, part-glazed timber panelled door in bay to right; single window set between buttresses centred at ground. Venetian window centred at 1st floor (sidelights partly blocked); single windows in all bays at 2nd floor.

Predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. Grey slate roofs; crowstepped skews to original block; stone coped skews to later wing. Iron rainwater goods. Corniced red brick apex stacks; various circular cans.

INTERIOR: predominantly exposed rubble walls at ground; various fireplaces including large square-headed and segmental-arched openings. Dog-leg stair replaces spiral (the bowed walls of which remain in part). Part painted timber panelled 1st floor reception room with dentilled cornice; panelled shutters; timber fireplace with egg-and-dart inner banding, barley twist outer columns, corniced frieze with triglyphs and metopes. Simpler upper floor with boarded timber doors.