Steading (East Range), Carstairs Mains

This is a farm steading complex, designed by William Burn in 1825. It originally comprised four ranges arranged around a square courtyard, with an adjoining farmhouse to the south. The westernmost range has been demolished, but the remaining buildings 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 to the tympanum. A birdcage bellcote sits at the apex. Stabling occupies the outer bays, with four cart arches in the centre. The stables incorporate cast-iron columns to the stalls. A loft above has regular rectangular windows retaining the original three-pane glazing arrangement within sash windows, and a timber sliding ventilator grille to the lower part.

The east range is also two storeys high, with seven bays, and features wide, opposing doors at the north end, suggesting a possible threshing barn. Most internal divisions were removed in 1989, and the openings remain mostly unaltered.

The south range is single-storey, consisting of eight bays, with a stack to the west. It likely served as a dairy, calf houses, and feed stores. A doorway has been widened to the east, and the east half of the roof has been replaced with corrugated sheet metal.

The adjoining farmhouse is L-plan, two storeys high, and gabled. It has a narrow, lean-to porch to the southwest re-entrant angle, supported by a single Doric column. Gabled ends feature canted bay windows to the ground level, and the windows are single-light with a hood mould to the ground. All windows are now fitted with modern plate glass. A flat-roofed dormer sits above the porch. The roof retains end coped skews with skew blocks, but only tall diamond stacks remain on the north side. Slate roofs are present throughout.

William Burn’s plans for the steadings are held in the National Monuments Record of Scotland. Although the demolition of the west range has altered the complex, the steading retains considerable historical and architectural interest. The farmhouse has been impacted by the removal of stacks and replacement of windows, but it remains an integral part of the overall composition.