Francis Ruddle

Francis Ruddle (23 November 1798 – 9 February 1882) was a 19th-century master builder and carpenter, born and based in Peterborough.

It replaced an earlier one by Schrider but met with immediate problems with the dean, John Ireland, describing Ruddle's work as having "an entire unattention to the principles on which woodwork is applied to the propagation of sound".

The work was completed by Ruddle and his team in 1848 at a total cost recorded in abbey accounts of £5,909.13s.11d.

In 1858 Ruddle & Thompson were entrusted with the role of general contractors for the restoration of Hereford Cathedral under the designs of George Gilbert Scott.

Other work by Ruddle during his career includes Thorpe Hall (Peterborough), Thicket Priory, Ripon Cathedral, the Queen's private chapel at Windsor Castle, All Saints' Church, Oakham, the chapel at Balliol College, Oxford and the former British Embassy in Constantinople (Istanbul).