A parish school was opened in 1619, and by 1754 William Roy recorded a sizeable farming village on the Lanark road to Carnwath and Edinburgh. Carstairs was made a burgh of barony in 1765. The mansion of Carstairs House was built in 1821–24 for Henry Montheith.
In 1619, a parish school was inaugurated; by 1754, William Roy noted the existence of a sizable farming village along the Lanark road to Carnwath and Edinburgh. Carstairs was designated as a barony burgh in 1765. The mansion of Carstairs House was built between 1821 and 1824 for Henry Montheith.