Views sought on historic Lasswade site

A community survey is underway online to gather local views and help shape the future of one of Midlothian’s most historic landmarks.

Historic Environment Scotland is working with historic buildings charity the Landmark Trust to develop a fresh approach to the landscape and buildings at Mavisbank.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is working with historic buildings charity the Landmark Trust to develop a fresh approach to the landscape and buildings at Mavisbank, Lasswade, to bring the site back to life.

As part of this, an online community survey is underway to find out how people use the site and what they would like to see happen to it in the future. The survey can be found on the HES and Landmark Trust websites or by going direct to the site via https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/5PGXLJB .

HES and the Landmark Trust are currently working on a first round grant application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund (previously Heritage Lottery Fund) to be submitted in February 2021.

Mavisbank, Lasswade.

If that application is successful, the partners will then have up to two years to develop proposals for the site and submit a second-round application. If that second application is successful, the project will move forward into delivery in the second half of the 2020s.

The survey was launched recently, and residents, local groups and interested parties are encouraged to go online and complete the questionnaire, which should take no more than a few minutes to complete.

Pauline Megson, sustainable place manager at Historic Environment Scotland said: “Mavisbank is one of the UK’s most important but challenging examples of heritage at risk.

“We now have an incredible opportunity to celebrate the building, landscape and its rich heritage and we would encourage as many people as possible to log on and complete the survey and share their views on the site and what they’d like to see happen to it in future.”

Dr Anna Keay OBE, director of the Landmark Trust said: “At Landmark we are passionate about saving significant historic buildings and they do not come much more important than Mavisbank.

“All the information we can collect about how people use the site and what they would like to see in the future will inform our ideas and make sure that any proposals reflect local views and aspirations.”

Mavisbank was designed and built between 1723 and 1727 by Sir John Clerk of Penicuik (1676-1755), and architect William Adam (1689-1748). In the early 20th century, Mavisbank became a mental hospital. When it closed in 1953, the house was eventually left empty and fell into ruin. The main buildings at Mavisbank are Category A Listed.