Steading (South 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 adjoining the south range. The westernmost range of the steading has been demolished, but the remaining buildings 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-story, near-symmetrical elevation facing the courtyard, with ten bays. It features a central pediment containing a clock face and a birdcage bellcote at the apex. Stabling occupies the outer bays, and there are four cart arches in the centre. The stables have cast-iron columns supporting the stalls. Above the stables is a loft with regular rectangular windows retaining their original three-pane glazing in sash windows, and a timber sliding ventilator grille at the lower part.

The east range is two-story and seven bays wide, with wide, opposing doors at the north end, which may have originally served as a threshing barn. Most internal divisions were removed in 1989, but the openings generally remain unaltered.

The south range is single-story and eight bays wide, with a stack located towards the west end. It likely functioned as a dairy, calf-houses, and feed stores. A widened opening has been made to the east, and the eastern half of the roof has been replaced with corrugated sheet metal.

The farmhouse is adjoined to the south range by a passage. It is an L-plan, two-story gabled building featuring a narrow, lean-to porch to the southwest re-entrant angle, supported by a single Doric column. The gables have canted bay windows on the ground floor, and other windows are single-light with a hood mould over the ground floor. The farmhouse has modern plate glass glazing, and a flat-roofed dormer over 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.

Although the west range has been demolished, the steading retains its original character. The farmhouse has suffered from the removal of stacks and replacement of windows, but remains an important element of the group. Burn's plans for the steadings are held in the National Monuments Record of Scotland.