Steadings And Slaughterhouse, Kirkdale

Built around 1787, the steading and slaughterhouse are likely to have been designed by Robert Adam. The complex comprises single and two-storey buildings arranged around an octagonal central courtyard. The main blocks are oriented to the compass points and are linked by single-storey monopitch blocks; the easternmost section of the southeastern range was demolished in the 20th century. The buildings are constructed of rubble, partly rendered, with polished granite margins and dressings. The two-storey blocks, with piend roofs, are five-bay structures, featuring a central tall round-arched detail in finely dressed granite, framing a door and flanked by windows or ventilation slits. The single-storey linking blocks have three-bay cart-arches or columned open bays. The roofs are generally well-graded slate, with asbestos on the southern block.

The southern block is two-storeyed, with a pend providing formal access to the courtyard. It was later used as a dwelling, although it's unclear if this was its original purpose; some fireplaces appear to be later additions. The interior was destroyed by fire in the late 1960s.

The eastern block was a byre, with a loft above, accessed via a door in the east wall, with traces of a forestair. It was lit by slit ventilators, most of which are now blocked. The northeastern range is a cartshed with open bays supported by granite columns facing the courtyard.

The northern block is a two-storey threshing barn, originally with large opposing doors, one on the north wall now blocked, and one on the south now with a reduced-height door. Slit ventilators provide additional lighting, and the interior is almost entirely gutted. A modern range of farm buildings is attached to the rear.

The northwestern range is a single-storey implement and cart shed, featuring three round-arched vehicle entrances, two of which are partially blocked. The western block formerly housed stables and a hayloft. It retains one stall with cast-iron fittings and a fire-clay floor tiled with cast-iron drainage grids. A door to the loft has traces of a forestair in the west wall.

The southwestern range is a three-bay cartshed with double doors in the arches. The courtyard wall has been heightened, indicating the original roof slope angled inwards towards the courtyard.

The detached slaughterhouse is located to the north of the steading. It is a ruin of a tall rectangular building, identified as 'ruin' on early Ordnance Survey maps. Constructed of rubble masonry with dressed granite quoins, the slaughterhouse also features a finely dressed granite band course at two-thirds height. It is likely also designed by Robert Adam, circa 1787, given its stylistic similarities to Kirkdale Steading and Kirkdale Bridge. Originally featuring a pitched roof with gables to the north and south, it is now roofless, with the north gablehead fallen. A square-headed door with a rubble voussoired oculus above, set within a recessed arched panel, is situated to the south. To the north, a near-full-height rubble voussoired round arched opening is visible. Remnants of a finely cut cornice remain at the eaves.