Orchard Farm Steading, Crossford

U-plan farm arrangement with 2-storey 3-bay near symmetrical farmhouse with crowstepped gables and armorial shield to crowstepped dormers, with barn range to right (N); stables range to left (S); cartshed projection to E end, forming courtyard. Stugged and snecked cream sandstone with droved dressings to house; squared sandstone rubble farm buildings with stugged long and short surrounds to openings. Eaves course; hood mould over date panel above door; block cills. Timber sash and case windows with some lying-pane windows remaining; hopper window to ranges; lower half of some stable window louvered; flush roof lights to ranges. Grey slate roof with ridge vents; slate to doocot; slate to piended ranges; ashlar skews; ashlar coped stacks to gabled ends; wide brick coped ridge stack to barn range; cast-iron rainwater goods.

Orchard Farm retains some good interior details, especially the relatively intact original state of the stable. The doocot above displays an unusual 'prow' shaped roof form. (Historic Scotland)

March 1998: External inspection reveals the steading to be empty and deteriorating. Local planners report that it is now in the ownership of The Auchlochan Trust, which is reportedly commited to restoring the buildings. They express confidence that the new owners will undertake remedial repairs to make the buildings wind and watertight. 9 July 1998: The Carluke Gazette reports that the Auchlochan Trust has lodged a planning application for a care centre for elderly residents at the site, along with 40 individual apartments. There is opposition from some Councillors, who note that the development would be contrary to the Local Plan and would infringe on the green belt. They are questioning the scale of the development. Local residents against the plans form the Orchard Farm Action Group. October 1998: SCT expresses concern at the extent of the proposed alterations to the listed buildings, the effect on the local landscape, and the social implications of establishing a home in an area lacking in public transport and community bases. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland expresses concern at the scale of the development in a rural area. February 2001: SCT understands that the planning application is still not resolved and in fact has been withdrawn.

March 2010: External inspection finds the farm building in use for agricultural purposes. Condition of the farming range buildings does not appear to have improved since the last SCT visit, notably the doocot has continued to collapse. Planning permission and LBC was sought, but withdrawn in Mar 2006 for Refurbishment of farmhouse and alterations to ancillary buildings to form two dwellinghouses with the erection of 3 detached houses. ref: CL/05/0068 & CL/05/0106.

31 July 2013: External inspection finds no signficant change from the previous site visit. Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for Change of use of farm steading to form two dwellings; restoration of farmhouse to form one dwelling; erection of three dwelling houses; and associated access improvements were lodged May 2012 with South Lanarkshire Council ref: CL/12/0180 & CL/12/0180.

27 November 2013: Full Planning Permission and Listed Building Consent for Change of use of farm steading to form two dwellings; restoration of farmhouse to form one dwelling; erection of three dwelling houses; and associated access improvements were lodged May 2012 with South Lanarkshire Council ref: CL/12/0180 & CL/12/0180. Listed Building Consent was conditionally approved Aug 2013.