Steading (North Range), Carstairs Mains

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

The north range is a two-storey, near-symmetrical courtyard elevation of ten bays. It features a central pediment containing a clock face within the tympanum, and a birdcage bellcote at the apex. Stabling is located in the outer bays, with four cart arches in the centre. The stables incorporate cast-iron columns for the stalls. A loft above has regularly placed rectangular windows, retaining the original glazing arrangement of three-pane sashes, and a timber sliding ventilator grille at the lower part.

The east range is a two-storey, seven-bay structure with wide, opposing doors at the north end; it may have functioned as a threshing barn. Most internal divisions were removed in 1989. Openings remain mostly unaltered.

The south range is single-storey and eight bays, featuring a stack to the west. This range may have housed a dairy, calf-houses, and feed stores. A doorway has been widened to the east, and the east half of the roof is now clad in corrugated sheet metal.

The farmhouse, an L-plan, two-storey gabled building, adjoins the south range by means of a passage. It features a narrow, lean-to porch to the southwest re-entrant angle, supported by a single Doric column. Gabled ends incorporate canted bay windows to the ground floor, and single-light windows with a hood moulding over the ground floor. All the windows now have modern plate glass glazing. A flat-roofed dormer has been added over the porch. End coped skews with skew blocks are present, along with tall diamond stacks, which remain only on the north side. The roof is slate.

Despite the demolition of the west range, the steading remains largely unaltered externally. While the farmhouse has suffered from the removal of stacks and replacement of glazing, it continues to be an important part of the overall composition. Architectural plans for the steadings are held in the National Monuments Record of Scotland.