Steading, Mains Of Auchintoul

The Steading at Mains of Auchintoul, built between 1790 and 1800, is a large quadrangular-plan agricultural building. It features squared and coursed granite ashlar with pinnings, ashlar dressings, and a band course. The structure includes stables, byres, and a threshing floor, with cattle courts in the center that are now partly demolished.

On the east elevation, there is a two-stage, pedimented entrance tower at the center, which has a depressed arched pend at the ground level and a band course above. A pointed arched window is located on the first stage, with two oval vents above for a dovecot. The pediment features a blue and gold enamelled clock, and there is a gabled ashlar bellcote with a bell at the gablehead. Flanking the tower are five-bay piended ranges, with former stables to the left and byres to the right, where the openings have been enlarged. The tower is piended to the courtyard, with a pointed arched window on the first stage and small openings above that are blocked.

The interior includes timber trevises and hayhecks, as well as a drainage griep. The west elevation mirrors the central tower with a pend but lacks the clock, having a stack that replaces the bellcote. It features four-bay ranges with doors between the windows and a window in the outer bay, along with four windows on the first floor.

The south elevation was formerly domestic and incorporates two two-storey cottages, presenting three irregular bays with adjoining outbuildings to the right.

The north elevation features a two-storey threshing barn, with ashlar coping and a rubble vehicular ramp at ground level that rises to double doors on the first floor, breaking the eaves in a piended dormer. It has large sliding doors at ground level and windows on the first floor, with a wooden slatted floor inside.

In the courtyard, the ashlar coped walls of the remaining cattle courts are visible, with doors at ground level flanked by windows and smaller windows on the first floor. The doors have letterbox fanlights, some windows are boarded, while others feature a lying-pane glazing pattern. The roof is covered with grey slates, and there are corniced ashlar stacks.