Range Of Buildings Adjacent To West Side Of Low Sinderhope Shield Farmhouse

This range of buildings, located adjacent to the west side of Low Sinderhope Shield Farmhouse, is a late 16th or early 17th century bastle house with a 17th century extension, altered in the 18th century. The buildings are constructed of massive rubble with roughly-shaped quoins, stone dressings, and a slate roof, featuring a stone stack to the right.

The bastle to the left is three storeys high and two bays wide. It includes an external stone stair leading to a 20th century doorway. A blocked overlight and window opening to the left have 18th century wedge lintels. A small 19th century window is found on the second floor. The extension to the right is two storeys high and three bays wide. It includes a round-headed, chamfered through-passage doorway and a small rectangular window, flanked by narrow loops, to the right. To the left of the through-passage is an external stone stair to a doorway with an overlight, both in chamfered surrounds, with two 18th century window openings to the right, each with a wedge lintel. A 19th century farmhouse to the right has been altered, and is not considered of particular interest. The left return of the buildings features a central ground-floor loop.

The rear elevation displays a boulder plinth on the bastle to the right, along with an inserted doorway and a small first-floor window. The extension to the left mirrors the front with a through-passage doorway and a small loop to the left, and a two-light window above, which has lost its mullion.

Inside the bastle, the end wall contains an original byre entrance with a flattened Tudor-arched head and a segmental rear arch. The 17th century extension features original transverse beams and corbels at the east end to support a first-floor hearth. A first-floor room could not be fully inspected due to being filled with hay. The building represents an interesting example of a substantial bastle with an early extension where domestic accommodation was maintained at first-floor level.