Tower, Purves Hall

This is a tower, originally a peel tower, dating from possibly the 16th century, with substantial additions and alterations made in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is a 3-storey, 3-by-2-bay rectangular tower with a 3-storey gabled addition at the rear; later additions have been removed. The building is constructed of harl-pointed sandstone and whinstone rubble with sandstone ashlar dressings. It features predominantly red and cream sandstone rubble quoins, with strip quoins to the east elevation. Raised margins are present, with architraved detailing at the first floor on the entrance elevation.

The south, or front, elevation features a part-glazed timber panelled door centred at ground level, with single windows above on both floors. Flanking bays contain single windows at all floors. The north elevation showcases the original block with steps leading to a part-glazed timber panelled door at first floor, set to the left of centre, above which is a small window. A square-headed opening, now an infilled doorway, is positioned to the right, with another window at ground level. A 2-bay wing is slightly advanced to the outer right, featuring single windows on both first and second floors. The northwest elevation displays a gabled wing with a timber panelled door at ground level, its lintel inscribed "S AP 1790". A small window is positioned in the bay to the outer left, with single windows on the first and second floors. Blocked windows are present on both floors of the bay to the outer right.

The southwest elevation shows the original 2-bay block, with a partially blocked opening at ground level in the left bay. Single windows are present in both bays at the first and second floors, and a small blocked opening is within the gablehead. A 3-bay wing is adjoined to the left, with a deep-recessed, part-glazed timber panelled door in the right bay, set between buttresses at ground level. A Venetian window is centred on the first floor (with some sidelights blocked), and single windows are present in all bays at the second floor.

The windows are predominantly 12-pane sashes in timber frames. The roofs are covered with grey slate, featuring crowstepped skews to the original block and stone-coped skews to the later wing. Iron rainwater goods are present. Corniced red brick apex stacks are topped with various circular cans.

The interior comprises predominantly exposed rubble walls at ground level, along with various fireplaces, including large square-headed and segmental-arched openings. A dog-leg stair replaces the original spiral staircase, although portions of the bowed walls of the latter remain. The first floor features a reception room with predominantly exposed timber panelling, a dentilled cornice, panelled shutters, and a timber fireplace featuring egg-and-dart banding on the inner section, barley twist columns, and a corniced frieze with triglyphs and metopes. The upper floors are simpler with boarded timber doors.