Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

Probably circa 1780, altered. Fine quadrangular steading comprising rectangular-plan, single storey and single storey with loft, piend-roofed and gabled ranges, situated to N of slightly later Neo-Classical Cairness House. Coursed and squared, pinned rubble with squared quoins and voussoired segmental cart arch.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: principal elevations to SW comprising stand-alone piended range to centre with asymmetrical openings, those to right of centre enlarged with altered piended dormer windows: gable end with segmental cart arch fronting long W range and further gable end at E range. Courtyard elevations retain much original detailing including forestair at W range. NE range and N end of SE range now fronted by later lean-to structures.

SE range largely with 4-pane glazing pattern in timber sash and case windows. Non-traditional replacement windows (2008) elsewhere. Grey slates with coped stacks. Ashlar-coped skews with some moulded skew putts.

Statement of Special Interest

The Home Farm at Cairness is a fine example of early, high quality construction methods used in Aberdeenshire farm building. Its striking stonework is of large squared rubble blocks with distinctive pinning and the quadrangular plan is less common than U-plan steadings. Formerly known as Barnyards, the Home Farm is situated a short distance to the north of the contemporary Cairness House, itself with an outstanding semicircular office range, which was built for Charles Gordon of Buthlaw. Although the Statistical Account does not mention Mr Gordon in the agriculture section, the visual evidence suggests an active interest in Improvement farming, and Sprott notes that "by the European standards of the time, a significant number of Scottish nobility and gentry worked to earn their privileged position", and "From 1784 the Highland Society [of Improvers] acted rather as a development agency, prodding, advising and stimulating an exchange of ideas".

Issued in 1982, the previous listing referred to a map held at Crimongate which shows Cairness only partly built, implying the Home Farm pre-dates the House by at least a decade. However, it is now (2008) thought that Cairness House dates from at least 1781, not 1791 as previously recorded.

Formerly listed as Barnyards of Cairness, address updated and list description revised 2008.

References

Bibliography

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.