Steading, Inchyre House

Earlier 19th century. Single and 2-storey, U-plan steading (largely roofless) with vaulted, castellated dovecot and flanking castellated polygonal turrets. Coursed snecked whinstone rubble with evidence of cherry caulking and harl; contrasting sandstone ashlar quoins. Eaves course. Hoodmoulds, stone mullions.

COURTYARD ELEVATIONS:

SE ELEVATION: 3-stage dovecot to centre with door to vaulted 1st stage, bipartite opening with flight ports to 2nd stage; hoodmoulded, pointed-arch bipartite openings to each elevation of 3rd stage, those to SW and NE (blocked) but retaining stone mullion, those to SE and NW blocked with brick, latter with circular detail. Cornice above giving way to battlemented parapet. Single storey flanking ranges with variety of part-blocked openings.

SW ELEVATION: stepped elevation with bay to left adjoining SE elevation, door (to dairy) on return to right. Stepped back bay immediately to right with 4 narrow doorways (to animal pens) and wider opening to left, 2 hayloft(?) openings above. Slightly advanced, range to right with 2 blocked openings to ground and 3 openings abutting eaves above. Outer right angle with 3-stage, narrow polygonal turret projecting above eaves line, and moulded buttress-like remains to inner face.

NE ELEVATION: irregularly fenestrated 2-storey elevation with turret (as above) to outer left.

OUTER ELEVATIONS:

NW ELEVATION: dovecot to centre with variety of openings to flanking bays, those to right behind stock wall and rubble remains to left. Outer left gable with semicircular window (to dairy) off-centre left at ground within evidence of adjoining gabled building.

NE ELEVATION: largely obscured by undergrowth, turret (as above) to outer left.

SW ELEVATION: largely blank range to right, and 3-bay house to left with centre door flanking windows and regular fenestration to 1st floor. Lower bay adjoining to outer left, and turret (as above) to outer right.

Grey slates (where roofing in place). Coped ashlar stacks.

INTERIOR: dairy with moulded cornices, 3 semicircular windows (blocked) and remains of ceramic-tiled walls, with decorative oak leaf-and-acorn margins and dado-band.