Steading (North Range), Carstairs Mains

The steading, designed by William Burn in 1825, originally comprised four ranges forming a square courtyard, with a farmhouse adjoining 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 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 incorporating a clock face within the tympanum, and a birdcage bellcote at the apex. Stabling occupies the outer bays, with four cart arches centrally. The stables contain cast-iron columns supporting the stalls. A loft above has regular rectangular windows, retaining their original three-pane glazing within 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, potentially serving as a threshing barn. Most internal partitions were removed in 1989, but the openings remain largely unaltered.

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

The farmhouse, of L-plan and two stories with gabled ends, adjoins the south range via a passage. It has a narrow, lean-to porch to the southwest re-entrant corner, supported by a single Doric column. Ground floor windows are canted bay windows, with hood mouldings above. Modern plate glass glazing has been installed; a flat-roofed dormer is positioned above the porch. End coped skews with skew blocks are present, and tall diamond stacks remain only on the north side. The roof is slate covered.

While the demolition of the western range has resulted in some loss, the steading otherwise remains largely original externally. The farmhouse has been affected by the removal of stacks and the replacement of windows, but it still forms an important element of the overall composition. Plans by William Burn for the steadings are held in the National Monuments Record of Scotland.