Mayshiel Farmhouse, Mayshiel, Duns

Mayshiel Farmhouse possibly dates to the mid-17th century with late 19th or early 20th century alterations and additions and interior alterations of around 1973. It is a rendered, two-storey, three-bay former L-plan farmhouse with a stair tower forming the southeast corner and with a 20th century wing to the northwest side. The earlier part of the building has thick walls, rounded corners and sits on prominent exposed base rock foundations. It is in a rural location within an early 21st century development of a country house estate and ancillary buildings.

The entrance (south) elevation has a round-arched doorway in the re-entrant angle with a semi-circular glazed fanlight and a sandstone surround. To the right of the door is an advanced and round cornered stair tower with a gunloop. To the left of the door is a later tripartite window. The east elevation has a very small ground floor window which has been built up in stone on the interior.

The pitched roof is slated with a piended detail over the stair tower. There are lead capped skews to the older part of the house which curve at the eaves matching the curved shape of the walls. The east and west gable has square chimney stacks. There are no skews on the later north gable and the roof slates extend over the wallhead.

The early part of the house has red sandstone margins around the single windows. The tripartite and the later windows in the earlier part of the building have concrete margins. The east gable windows are deeply set in the thick walls. The 20th century addition has windows with projecting concrete cills and no margins.

The interior of the building was seen in 2017. The turnpike stair (in the earliest part of the building) has uneven steps and a low ceiling with plain cornicing to the upper part. There is some timber boarding at the bottom of the stairs. The main part of the ground floor is one living space. Elsewhere the remaining detailing is thought to be contemporary with the mid to later 20th century addition to the northwest side.