Farmsteading, Allanbank

Farmsteading at Allanbank

Built circa 1780 with dated alterations of 1820 and further modern changes. Originally planned as a U-shape, now quadrangular in layout. This is a 2-storey steading with classically detailed design, recently converted for commercial and domestic use. It is constructed in sandstone rubble with droved ashlar dressings.

North Range

The north elevation displays five bays with a round-arched pend-entrance at the centre leading to the courtyard, formerly fitted with two-leaf gates. Above this entrance sits a Venetian window at first floor, featuring a keystoned round-arched central light with blinded flanking lights, which breaks the eaves line with a pediment and ashlar urn finial. Windows occupy the first floor of the inner flanking bays. The outer left bay has a window on each floor, with a further possibly later window at ground level. The outer right bay has a two-leaf boarded door with timber lintel at ground and a window at first floor above.

The south (courtyard) elevation contains five bays. At ground level is a round-arched opening with impost-stones and keystone, with an ashlar dormerhead featuring a broken segmental pediment above (partly obscured by vegetation as of 1996). Segmental-arched openings with two-leaf boarded doors occupy the flanking bays. The outer right bay has a modern glazed door, whilst the outer left bay has a blinded door at ground level.

East Range

The east elevation is irregular with five bays. The central bay and inner left bay each have windows at both floors. The inner right bay has a modern glazed door with a three-pane rectangular fanlight at ground and a window at first floor above, with a flanking window to the right at ground. The outer right bay has windows at each floor with a modern glazed door flanking to the left at ground. The outer left bay features a modern timber conservatory at ground level with a window at first floor above.

The west (courtyard) elevation is irregular with four bays. The inner and outer left bays feature partly-blinded elliptical-arched openings at ground with windows. Windows occur between each bay at first floor level. The inner right bay has a modern glazed door at ground with a non-aligned window at first floor above. The outer right bay contains a rubble forestair (running north-south) with concrete treads, a window at first floor, and at the top of the stairs a modern glazed door.

South Range

The south elevation spans seven bays. At its centre is an elliptical-arched pend-opening with impost-stones and keystone serving as the entrance to the courtyard, with a window above at first floor matching that of the north range without the finial. All flanking bays have windows at each floor, except the outer left bay which has a modern glazed door at ground with a small flanking window at ground level.

The north (courtyard) elevation contains five bays. The centre features an elliptical-arched opening at ground with impost-stones and keystone, and a window at first floor above, flanked by windows positioned nearer the eaves. The inner left bay has a first floor window. The inner right bay has a modern round-arched opening at ground with impost-stones and keystone, fitted with a modern glazed door to the east return, and a window at first floor above. The outer left bay has a modern glazed door at first floor (at the top of the forestair). The outer right bay has a modern split boarded and glazed door at first floor (at the top of the forestair).

West Range

The west elevation is irregular with seven bays and has been much altered in recent years as of 1996. A recently-constructed elliptical-arched opening at ground to the centre is fitted with a two-leaf modern glazed door with radial fanlight, with a window at first floor above. Windows occur at each floor in the inner bays and in the outer left bay. The penultimate bay to the left has a first floor window, whilst the penultimate bay to the right has a ground floor window. The outer right bay has a ground floor window with a timber-mullioned bipartite window (in an enlarged opening) at first floor above.

The east (courtyard) elevation is an irregular four bays. The inner left bay has a partly-blinded window at ground with a window at first floor above. The inner right bay has a modern elliptical-arched opening at ground (as on the west elevation). A forestair running north-south (as found on the east range) is present, with a partly-blinded door opening at first floor to the outer left and a window. The outer right bay has windows at each floor.

General Features

The steading is fitted throughout with 12-pane timber sash and case windows. The roof is slate with rendered coped stacks.

Interior

The interior has been altered. An ashlar datestone dated 1820 is positioned on an internal wall at first floor in the centre of the north range. The south room of the north range retains ashlar nesting boxes of a doocot, with a flight reaching to the dormerhead.