Steading (East Range), Carstairs Mains

The steading, designed by William Burn in 1825, originally comprised four ranges around a square courtyard, with a farmhouse adjoining to the south. The westernmost range of buildings was demolished, but otherwise the steading remains largely unaltered externally. The buildings are constructed of stugged ashlar with droved and broached dressings, and have piended slate roofs.

The north range is a two-storey, near-symmetrical courtyard elevation, ten bays wide, with a central pediment featuring a clock face within the tympanum and a birdcage bellcote at the apex. Stabling occupies the outer bays, with four cart arches at the centre. The stables contain cast-iron columns supporting the stalls. Above the stables is a loft with regular rectangular windows, retaining the original three-pane glazing arrangement, and a timber sliding ventilator grille at the lower level.

The east range is two-storeys high and seven bays wide, with wide opposing doors at the north end, possibly a threshing barn. Most internal divisions were removed in 1989, and most openings remain largely unaltered.

The south range is single-storey and eight bays wide, 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 is now covered with corrugated sheet metal.

The L-plan, two-storey gabled farmhouse adjoins the south range via a passage and is characterised by a narrow lean-to porch to the southwest re-entrant side, supported by a single Doric column. The gabled ends feature canted bay windows to the ground floor, and the windows are generally single-light, with a hood moulding to the ground. All the windows have modern plate glass glazing. A flat-roofed dormer sits over the porch. End coped skews with skew blocks are present, and tall diamond stacks remain only on the north side. Slate roofs cover the farmhouse.

While the demolition of the west range has altered the original layout, the steading is otherwise well-preserved externally. The farmhouse has been affected by the loss of stacks and the replacement of its windows, but it remains an important element of the overall composition. Plans for the steadings are held within the National Monuments Record of Scotland.