West Range And Dairy, Farmsteading, Holestane

The West Range and Dairy at Holestane is a substantial 2-storey, 3-bay farmhouse designed by architect Walter Newall around 1830. The farmhouse features an L-plan layout with a full-height rear wing and is constructed from coursed stugged ashlar with polished dressings. There is a later dairy built against a steep slope to the east and an extensive courtyard steading at a lower level, which has undergone significant alterations.

The south elevation of the farmhouse includes a later corniced square central porch and sash windows throughout, each with 12-pane glazing. The outer bays have square windows on the first floor. The eaves are moulded, and the roof is piended slate with a coped central apex stack set transversely. The west elevation also consists of 3 bays and features a gabled low addition with a door in the re-entrant angle.

The dairy rises one storey above the slope and has two lower levels, built of pink ashlar. It includes a garage built into the south wall, as well as mullioned windows facing east and north with latticed glazing. The dairy has stacks with corniced square flues and a piended slate roof with an axial ventilator. The interior of the dairy room, now a garage, has tiled walls, roof, and floors, with the latter displaying armorial crests, although most marble slabs against the walls have been removed.

The steading was built in 1830/1 but was substantially altered around 1880, likely by Charles Howitt, with further modifications and additions continuing into the 20th century. It consists of four ranges built around a courtyard, including cattle courts both within the courtyard and to the south, beyond the haybarn. A detached cartshed is located to the north, and a small square-plan shed is situated to the southeast. The two-storey ranges are constructed of red and pink ashlar, while the lower masonry ranges are mostly whitewashed rubble. The cattle courts and haybarn feature cast-iron columns.

The long 2-storey north range has lean-tos on the north side, a gabled tall central bay with a pend and clocks, and a west wing with forestairs on either side. The east wing includes a cartshed leading to the courtyard. The east range is mostly two storeys as well, with a narrow pend on the west range that leads to the dairy. The cartshed to the north is built on two levels, featuring a single storey with lofts and a gable-head dovecot, along with forestairs on each gable. All roofs are slated, with some equipped with ventilators.