Fairlaw

Fairlaw is an asymmetrical, near L-plan house comprising an original block dated 1767 with later additions and alterations. The main building is predominantly two storeys with classical details, constructed of harl-pointed rubble with cream sandstone dressings and rendered in part at the rear. It features droved quoins and long and short surrounds to openings.

The principal block forms a two-storey, rectangular-plan element at the centre. To the left is a two-storey, two-bay entrance block set at right angles to the front. To the right is a single-storey, three-bay addition recessed with a lean-to addition further to the outer right. Various single-storey additions extend to the rear.

The east elevation (entrance/former side) displays a two-storey, two-bay block to the left with steps leading to a timber-panelled door at ground level to the right, fitted with a two-pane fanlight and a pilastered and pedimented doorpiece. A single window is positioned at first floor, with single windows at both floors to the left. A full-height gabled wing projects to the right, featuring a blocked window at first floor and a blocked, part-obscured round-arched window centred above, with a small attic light centred in the gablehead. A lower gabled wing adjoins to the front with a full-width single-storey lean-to addition at ground level serving as porch and store, and a single window centred in the gablehead. Various single-storey additions are recessed to the outer right.

The south elevation (side/former entrance) shows the original block at centre with single windows at both floors in both bays and a plaque inscribed 'W.F M.B 1767' centred at first floor. A full-height gabled wing projects to the left with single windows at both floors and a small attic light centred in the gablehead. A single-storey range recessed to the outer right contains steps to a flush-panelled timber door with integral glazing to the left, surmounted by a scroll-bracketed sandstone canopy. Single windows occupy both bays to the right, with a plaque dated '1848' off-set to the right of centre. A single-storey lean-to addition to the outer right displays a square-plan sundial mounted on a sandstone ledge to the front.

The west elevation (rear/former side) features a two-bay gable end to the outer left with single windows at ground in both bays and a single window at first floor to the right; a round-arched attic light is centred in the gablehead. A later range adjoins to the right with a small window at ground to the left and single windows at both floors in the two remaining bays to the right.

The north elevation (side/former rear) shows the original block with various additions off-set to left and right of centre and a lower wing projecting to the outer left.

Windows throughout are twelve-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows. The roof comprises grey slate with stone-coped skews and scrolled skewputts in part. The porch has a pantiled roof with slate easing course. Corniced sandstone ridge and apex stacks are present, along with various circular and octagonal cans.

The interior contains timber-panelled doors throughout and various fireplaces with good decorative plasterwork. The remainder was not seen in 1999.

A separate former cartshed, apparently 18th century in origin, stands to the rear. This is a long, single-storey, rectangular-plan structure of rubble with red brick later repairs and alterations. The west (entrance) elevation features a large square-headed opening to the outer left and four arched openings to the right, the outer left and right of which are blocked. The east (rear) elevation is blind. The roof is corrugated iron.

A store adjoins the steading complex at the rear. This is a much-extended single-storey structure of rubble in part with breeze-blocks to the remainder. The east (entrance) elevation contains a door to the outer left, a single window to the right, and a large garage opening to the outer right. The roof is corrugated iron.

An ancillary range to the south-east comprises a single storey with attic in an irregular plan, consisting of a near L-plan range to the left with a rectangular-plan block adjoined to the right. The structure is predominantly rubble with sandstone dressings and red brick in part. The north (entrance) elevation displays the L-plan block with a gable end to the right; a boarded timber door is positioned at ground to the left with a boarded attic opening centred above. A lean-to addition recessed to the right links a gabled block recessed to the outer right, which has a garage door centred in its gable end and a boarded timber door to the right. The south (rear/garden) elevation shows a near M-gabled range to the left with a boarded timber door centred at ground and single windows in flanking bays. A full-height block recessed to the outer right has a modern addition in the re-entrant angle to the front. Windows are small-pane timber. The roofs are grey slate with scrolled skewputts in part.

The site is partially enclosed by coped walls and includes a rectangular-plan, modern greenhouse to the south-east.