Pole Farmhouse

Pole Farmhouse is a traditional T-plan, 2-storey farmhouse with attic storey, located on flat land beside the River Goil. It forms part of a late 18th century farm complex that includes a courtyard steading to its immediate rear. The buildings retain several unusual and significant features, including a threshing barn and a smearing shed, and represent a little-altered example of a later 18th century agricultural holding with some 19th century modifications.

The farmhouse front elevation faces south and comprises 3 bays on the ground and first floors with an attic storey above. A single-storey lean-to section extends to the left. The ground floor has a central flat-roofed entrance porch flanked by canted bay windows, both likely 19th century additions. Two piend-roofed dormers also appear to date from this period. The rear wing is 2-storey, stepping down to single storey on the west elevation. The windows in the rear wing lack raised margins, distinguishing them stylistically from the front section and suggesting the rear wing is a later addition to the original building.

The steading ranges form a courtyard layout. The north and south ranges are single storey; the east and west ranges are taller, with sufficient height to accommodate an upper floor, which exists at the south end of the west range. The west range features large segmental-arched doorways set opposite each other, and the height of its roof suggests this section functioned as a threshing barn. Courtyard access is gained at the south east corner, where the south range is shorter than the other ranges.

The gable end of the south range displays an unusual plaque bearing a painted relief carving of a black-headed sheep's head and the Gaelic inscription 'Tigh na smiorach' (house of smearing). Above the plaque is a stone ledge and a blocked flight opening. This prominent positioning reflects the importance of sheep farming to the holding; during the later 18th century, sheep farming expanded rapidly in the area, and the steading and farmhouse are likely to have been substantially or completely rebuilt to accommodate this agricultural change.

The south wall of the north range contains several triangular ventilation holes and a small rectangular aperture, possibly a flight hole, with a ledge below. The aperture is framed by a crude classical-style incised margin of 18th century appearance with faint lettering on the lintel, possibly reading 'HBN IB'.

South west of the courtyard stands a small roofless rectangular building built into an incline, allowing entrances on both ground and upper storey levels.

The farmhouse and steading are predominantly constructed from random rubble with whitewash or thin lime render. The front section of the farmhouse has harl and raised dressed margins; the remainder has mostly rough rubble quoins and margins. The roof coverings are pitched with graded slates. Three coped rubble gable-head stacks with circular cans serve the house. Windows include a mix of timber 2-pane sash and case windows and plastic replacements in the farmhouse; the steading retains predominantly timber doors and windows. Rainwater goods are a mix of cast iron and plastic.

The interior was not inspected at the time of survey in 2004.