Farmbuildings To North Of Mitford Steads Farmhouse

The farm buildings to the north of Mitford Steads Farmhouse are a planned group from the late 18th century. Initially designed as a foldyard, the complex includes a watermill and a gingang added in the early 19th century. The buildings were later extended to the east to create a second foldyard, which was subdivided by a byre range in the late 19th century.

Constructed from squared stone, the 18th-century sections likely incorporate large blocks re-used from Mitford Castle, while the byre range features tooled stone. The roofs are covered with pantiles on the west range, galvanised sheets on the barn, asbestos sheets on the east range of the 18th-century group, and Scottish slates on all 19th-century parts.

The original western foldyard includes a barn on the north side, which has been partly rebuilt in brick and features raised gable copings. The east range has three doors, with the central one blocked, and a pair of pigsties at the south end. The west range has a five-bay arcade, which is partly blocked, with square piers and timber lintels, as well as a stable door at the south end.

In the eastern yard, there is a shelter shed or granary on the north side, which is two storeys tall and has eight bays. It features an arcade of segmental arches, three of which are now within the byre range, with boarded windows above. The east range has two boarded doors and five windows, returning east at the south end with a boarded door, a window, and boarded double doors in the south wall. The byre range has a five-bay arcade on the west side with timber lintels on stone corbels, and a cart entrance flanked by slit vents on the south side. All ranges running south have hipped roofs.

The rear elevation of the barn shows an added watermill to the east of the cart entrance, which contains a wheelpit faced with tooled stone. The water wheel was removed around 1952, and the mill was roofless at the time of the survey. To the north of the mill is the gingang, originally supported by five piers, one of which has been replaced by a wooden prop and another is missing. The gingang has a conical roof, with a tie-beam carrying a central post supported by radial struts and collars, and three levels of purlins.

This complex is notable for its extensive layout and the development from a simple foldyard. The combination of the water wheel and gingang, which both operated a common drive shaft to a thresher in the barn, is a rare feature.