Steading (East Range), Carstairs Mains

The steading, designed by William Burn in 1825, originally comprised four ranges of buildings arranged around a square courtyard, with a farmhouse attached to the south. The westernmost range has since been demolished, but the remaining ranges are largely unaltered externally. The steading is constructed of stugged ashlar with droved and broached dressings, and features piended slate roofs.

The north range is a two-storey, near-symmetrical elevation facing the courtyard, with ten bays and a central pediment containing a clock face. A birdcage bellcote sits at the apex. The outer bays were used for stabling, with four cart arches in the centre. The stables contain cast-iron columns supporting the stalls. A loft above has regular rectangular windows, retaining the original three-pane glazing arrangement in sash windows, and a timber sliding ventilator grille at the lower part.

The east range is also two-storeys high, with seven bays and wide, opposing doors at the north end, which may have served as a threshing barn. Most of the internal partitions were removed in 1989, but the openings remain mostly unaltered.

The south range is single-storey with eight bays and a stack to the west. This range likely housed a dairy, calf houses, and feed stores. A widening has occurred to the east, and the east half of the roof is now covered with corrugated sheet metal.

The farmhouse, adjoining the south range via a passage, is a two-storey, L-plan building with a gabled design. A narrow, lean-to porch is located to the southwest re-entrant angle and is supported by a single Doric column. Gabled ends feature canted bay windows on the ground floor, while other windows are single-light, with a hood mould at ground level. All windows now have modern plate glass glazing. A flat-roofed dormer sits above the porch. End coped skews with skew blocks are present, and tall diamond stacks remain only on the north side. The farmhouse has slate roofs.

Despite the demolition of the west range, the steading remains largely unaltered externally. While the farmhouse has suffered from the removal of stacks and the replacement of windows, it remains an important part of the overall composition. Plans by Burn for the steadings are held within the National Monuments Record of Scotland.