Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

The building is an early to mid-19^th century quadrangular steading complex with an adjoining U-plan southwest range. A crenellated, concrete silo dating to 1920 is set into the steading's north range. The steading is built of whitewashed rubble with squared rubble and ashlar dressings and later additions in brick.

The steading features segmental carriage arches, granary/hayloft openings, a roofed dormer breaking eaves and ventilation panels. There are historic extensions adjoining the U-plan range at west and a rectangular plan addition to the north.

The 19^th century buildings feature timber trussed roofs covered with graded, thin, grey slates while the former open cattle courts are now covered with a relatively modern roof. There is a rubble retaining wall at the south of the steading.

The Dictionary of Scottish Architects dates Baltersan Steading to around 1820. The structure is shown on the 1^st Edition Ordnance Survey map (surveyed 1846, published 1847).

The concrete silo was added to the north range in 1920 by Aberdeen architectural practice James Scott and Son and is shown on the National Grid Map NX4261-NX4361 – AA (revised: 1968, published: 1969).

Statement of Special Interest

Baltersan Steading meets the criteria for listing for the following reasons:

• Baltersan Steading dating to the early-mid 19^th century, is a major surviving example of a large and relatively early Improvement period steading complex.
• Although there have been some later alterations, the steading's distinctive courtyard arrangement remains legible and it largely retains its earlier 19th century character, including traditional architectural features, such as depressed arched cartshed entrances, elevated granary openings, piend-roofed dormer breaking eaves and ventilation panels.
• The design and materials of the buildings are characteristic for the Dumfries and Galloway area, including the use of whitewashed coating on stonewalls and the use of thin grey roof slates.
• The largely unaltered concrete silo dating to 1920 is a relatively rare feature and an early example of its type. Concrete silos were first built in Scotland in 1918 by the company James Scott and Son at Armachron farm, Aberdeen, following the pattern of Norfolk's silos.
• The immediate agricultural and wider rural setting of the steading survives, and the steading retains its historic and functional relationship with Baltersan Farmhouse (LB19187, Category B) with which it forms a consistent group.

The listed building record for 'BALTERSAN STEADING WITH SILO' was revised in 2025.

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.