Mavisbank House
Encyclopedia
Mavisbank is a country house outside Loanhead
, south of Edinburgh
in Midlothian
, Scotland
. It was designed by the architect William Adam, in collaboration with his client, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, and was constructed between 1723 and 1727. It is described by Historic Scotland
as "one of Scotland's most important country houses". The house was altered in the 19th century, but suffered decades of neglect in the 20th century. The interiors were gutted by fire in 1973, and the house remains a ruin. , plans exist to restore the building, and turn the estate into a country park.
, and, after the union of 1707, of the Parliament of Great Britain
. He was also an artistic patron, a composer of music, and an amateur architect. In 1722, he inherited his father's estates, and began planning the new house. Around this time, William Adam was engaged on his first major commission, the remodelling of Hopetoun House
for the Earl of Hopetoun
. Clerk and Adam collaborated on the design of Mavisbank, which was based on the 1698 proposal. Each claimed the greater part of the credit for the design. Clerk wrote in a letter that he designed the house "under the correction of Mr Adams, a talented architect", while Adam credited the design to himself in his book, Vitruvius Scoticus. It is clear that Adam enjoyed an unusually close relationship with his client, despite their differences of opinion. Clerk certainly criticized some of Adam's suggestions, although surviving correspondence suggests Adam got his way on a number of points. The foundations were laid in 1723, with construction entrusted to the mason and contractor John Baxter Senior, with stone carved by William Sylverstyne. However, William Adam himself was later appointed to complete the works.
, the symmetrical additions including a ballroom. The building became an asylum in 1876. Additions were made to the front of the pavilions in the 1880s. Further extensions were made in the 1920s, but in 1946, Dr W. M. Harrowes, Medical Superintendent for Edinburgh purchased the property, and demolished all the additions made since the 18th century. His intended restoration of the house went unrealised, however. In the 1950s, the forecourt was used as a car park for cars both used and scrap by local man Archie Stevenson, and neglect set in. The building was gutted by fire in 1973, destroying the roof and interiors. In 1986, Mr Stevenson was evicted from Mavisbank along with several other people who stayed in caravans on the property. Ownership of the house remained uncertain, however, as Stevenson had sold portions the property to three possibly fictitious persons in the USA. In July 2008, Historic Scotland was still pursuing compulsory purchase of the building.
, in which the public were invited to vote for restoration proposals. Mavisbank reached the final round, but lost out to Manchester's Victoria Baths
. In 2008, Historic Scotland were examining two options: stabilisation of the building as a ruin; or creation of a "developer's shell", which could be sold and completed by a third party. A local campaign group, Friends of Mavisbank, has been formed with the aim of promoting more limited architectural intervention, while improving public access to the estate.
Loanhead
Loanhead is a small town in Midlothian, Scotland, to the south of Edinburgh, and close to Roslin, Bonnyrigg and Dalkeith. The town was built on coal and shale mining, and the paper industry.-History:...
, south of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. It was designed by the architect William Adam, in collaboration with his client, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, and was constructed between 1723 and 1727. It is described by Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for historic monuments in Scotland.-Role:As its website states:...
as "one of Scotland's most important country houses". The house was altered in the 19th century, but suffered decades of neglect in the 20th century. The interiors were gutted by fire in 1973, and the house remains a ruin. , plans exist to restore the building, and turn the estate into a country park.
Design and construction
Sir John Clerk's father, the first Baronet of Penicuik, planned a house on the Mavisbank estate in the late 17th century, for which a drawing of 1698 survives. Sir John Clerk, 2nd Baronet (1676–1755) was a Member of the Parliament of ScotlandParliament of Scotland
The Parliament of Scotland, officially the Estates of Parliament, was the legislature of the Kingdom of Scotland. The unicameral parliament of Scotland is first found on record during the early 13th century, with the first meeting for which a primary source survives at...
, and, after the union of 1707, of the Parliament of Great Britain
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and Parliament of Scotland...
. He was also an artistic patron, a composer of music, and an amateur architect. In 1722, he inherited his father's estates, and began planning the new house. Around this time, William Adam was engaged on his first major commission, the remodelling of Hopetoun House
Hopetoun House
Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun . It was built 1699-1701, designed by William Bruce. It was then hugely extended from 1721 by William Adam until his death in 1748 being one of his most notable projects. The interior was completed by his sons John Adam and Robert...
for the Earl of Hopetoun
Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun
Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun KT was a Scottish nobleman.He was the son of John Hope of Hopetoun, grandson of Sir Thomas Hope, 1st Baronet of Craighall, Fife. John Hope purchased the barony of Niddry Castle from the Earl of Winton around 1680...
. Clerk and Adam collaborated on the design of Mavisbank, which was based on the 1698 proposal. Each claimed the greater part of the credit for the design. Clerk wrote in a letter that he designed the house "under the correction of Mr Adams, a talented architect", while Adam credited the design to himself in his book, Vitruvius Scoticus. It is clear that Adam enjoyed an unusually close relationship with his client, despite their differences of opinion. Clerk certainly criticized some of Adam's suggestions, although surviving correspondence suggests Adam got his way on a number of points. The foundations were laid in 1723, with construction entrusted to the mason and contractor John Baxter Senior, with stone carved by William Sylverstyne. However, William Adam himself was later appointed to complete the works.
Later history and decline
The house passed out of the Clerk family in 1815. In 1840, the house was extended, possibly to designs by Thomas HamiltonThomas Hamilton
Thomas, Tommy or Tom Hamilton may refer to:Aristocracy*Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington , Scottish administrator; Lord Advocate; judge; Lord Lieutenant of Haddingtonshire*Thomas Hamilton, 6th Earl of Haddington Thomas, Tommy or Tom Hamilton may refer to:Aristocracy*Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl...
, the symmetrical additions including a ballroom. The building became an asylum in 1876. Additions were made to the front of the pavilions in the 1880s. Further extensions were made in the 1920s, but in 1946, Dr W. M. Harrowes, Medical Superintendent for Edinburgh purchased the property, and demolished all the additions made since the 18th century. His intended restoration of the house went unrealised, however. In the 1950s, the forecourt was used as a car park for cars both used and scrap by local man Archie Stevenson, and neglect set in. The building was gutted by fire in 1973, destroying the roof and interiors. In 1986, Mr Stevenson was evicted from Mavisbank along with several other people who stayed in caravans on the property. Ownership of the house remained uncertain, however, as Stevenson had sold portions the property to three possibly fictitious persons in the USA. In July 2008, Historic Scotland was still pursuing compulsory purchase of the building.
Restoration proposals
Previous stabilisation work was carried out in the 1980s under emergency powers, following the threatened demolition of the structure. The Mavisbank Trust, a subsidiary of the Edinburgh Green Belt Trust, was formed in 2003 to oversee maintenance of the building and grounds, and to explore longer-term solutions for their restoration. In August 2003, Mavisbank was featured in the BBC Television programme RestorationRestoration (TV series)
Restoration, Restoration, Restoration is a set of BBC television series where viewers decided on which listed building that was in immediate need of remedial works was to win a grant from Heritage Lottery Fund...
, in which the public were invited to vote for restoration proposals. Mavisbank reached the final round, but lost out to Manchester's Victoria Baths
Victoria Baths
Victoria Baths is a Grade II* listed building, situated in the Chorlton-upon-Medlock area of Manchester, in northwest England. The building is currently on English Heritage's Buildings at Risk Register....
. In 2008, Historic Scotland were examining two options: stabilisation of the building as a ruin; or creation of a "developer's shell", which could be sold and completed by a third party. A local campaign group, Friends of Mavisbank, has been formed with the aim of promoting more limited architectural intervention, while improving public access to the estate.
See also
- Mavis Bank, a historic coffee estate (and eponymous small town) in Jamaica named after Mavisbank House.
External links
- Friends of Mavisbank
- Mavisbank Trust web site (archived)
- Mavisbank House, Gazetteer for Scotland
- Mavisbank House, Midlothian, RCAHMS "Treasured Places"
- Mavisbank House Fine Art Photo Project Mike Steven Photography
- Mavisbank House photographs YouTube,
- Mavisbank House video YouTube,