(TR07163604) Ruffyn's Hill Farmhouse [NAT] (1)

Ruffyn's Hill Farmhouse and walls projecting. House 16th c or earlier, altered early 17th c. Timber framed and clad with red brick, in part in English bond, with some ragstone walling. Plain tiled roof. Hall house plan in origin. Two storeys on plinth (ragstone to rear) with hipped roof with gablets (half-hipped to left) with stack clusters to left and projecting and offset to end right. (Listed Grade II*) [Full archaeological description] (2)

Description from record TR 03 NE 152:
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 03 NE ALDINGTON ROMAN ROAD (north side) 4/47 Ruffyn's Hill Farmhouse and 13.10.52 walls projecting GV II* House. C16 or earlier, altered early C17. Timber framed and clad with red brick, in part in English bond, with some ragstone walling. Plain tiled roof. Hall house plan in origin. Two storeys on plinth (ragstone to rear) with hipped roof with gablets (half-hipped to left) with stack clusters to left and projecting and offset to end right. Two tripartite wooden casements, with segmental heads on ground floor, and 6 panelled door in gabled porch, with semi-circular fanlight to centre right. Two storeyed C17 gabled porch to left, with diapered brickwork and stone quoins, stone mullioned and transomed window and plank and stud door in four centred arched doorway with label hood. Projecting rear wings, part in ragstone, with four-centred arched doorway and catslide outshot to main range. Interior: Cl7 reeded beamed ceiling, oak panelling (similar to some now located in Aldington parish church), plaster cornices, staircase and carved overmantel reported. Projecting from front elevation to right a ragstone wall, some 8 feet high and about 10 yards long, with brick surround to four centred arched doorway. Red brick and ragstone wall projecting to left, about 10 x 25 yards with blocked up arched opening, terminating in red brick pier. The house was altered and enriched prior to his death in 1639 by Humphrey Blechenden (panelling in Church said to be from Ruffyn's Hill dated 1617). (See Hasted, VIII, 322; Igglesden, 13, 1919, 36).
Listing NGR: TR0716836013 (5)

A history of the farm exists, detailing ownership and the origin of the name, from the 13th century onwards. (3) (4)

Historic England archive material: BF111258 Ruffins Hill Farm, Roman Road, Aldington File contains reports with the following reference numbers: Ruffins Hill Farm KFS-P00051, Cartshed KFS-P00051/1, Barn KFS-P00051/2, Stables KFS-P00051/3, North West Cowshed KFS-P00051/4, Granary KFS-P00051/5, North East Cowshed KFS-P00051/6, Hopkiln KFS-P00051/7, South East Cowshed KFS-P00051/8, Implement shed KFS-P00051/9, North Yard Cowhouse KFS-P00051/10 and also includes 10 photocopied external surveyor's 35mm prints.

<1> OS 1: 2500 (OS Card Reference). SKE48135.

<2> DOE (HHR) District of Ashford, 10 August 1988 (25) (OS Card Reference). SKE40460.

<3> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2005, Ruffin's Hill Farm, Aldington, Kent: An architectural and historical appraisal of the farmyard (Unpublished document). SKE18255.

<4> Kent Farmsteads Survey, 1991, Ashford, Aldington, Ruffins Hill Farm survey (Unpublished document). SKE30025.

<5> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.