Mavisbank is widely recognised by leading architects and historians to be, in many ways, the key building of the early Georgian period in Scotland. The leading architectural figures at this time were William Adam (1689-1748) and Sir John Clerk himself, who designed Mavisbank together over the winter of 1722-23. The house was conceived as a villa, a small country house dependent on the town – from which Baron Clerk could ride daily to his work as a Baron of the Exchequer Court – making him one of Edinburgh’s very earliest commuters! The wings which define Mavisbank’s highly recognisable footprint today, were added shortly afterwards and the finishing and furnishing of the interiors and laying out of the grounds continued well into the 1730s and beyond.

Clerk and Adam continued their close working relationship during this period and undertook three exactly contemporary projects – Adam’s book of designs ‘Vitruvius Scoticus’, Clerk’s poem ‘The Country Seat’ and the design and construction of Mavisbank itself. It is the working relationship between these two leading lights of the age and the evolution of their interconnected projects, that is seen as on of the foundation stones in the modern Scottish Architecture.

Through the years

After Baron Clerk’s death in 1755, Sir James Clerk, the 3rd Baronet took less of an interest in Mavisbank and the house eventually passed out of the Clerk family in 1815 and was renamed New Saughton Hall. It became a lunatic asylum in 1876 and was progressively extended until, in 1946, it no longer being required by the National Health Service, it was bought by its last Medical Superintendent, Dr Harrowes, who aspired to restore the house to its former glory. Although the extensions were demolished and the family did live in the house for some time, Dr Harrowes’ dreams remained unrealised and in the mid 1950s, the house passed to its last private owner, Archie Stevenson. Over the next 20 years, the house and its environs slowly decayed, its forecourt acting as a dumping ground for used cars, until in 1974, the house was gutted by fire.

Attempts to save Mavisbank began in the 1980s, when the grounds were designated as a Conservation Area and the house and prehistoric fort immediately behind the house were scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act. Demolition of the house as a dangerous structure was averted after an 11th hour court order was obtained by local campaigners. On Archie Stevenson’s death, it was discovered that he had left the house in three parts to nominees in the United States, apparently named after ‘60s pop stars, but whose probable non-existence could only be proved at considerable cost – thus his ingenious defiance of authority continued beyond the grave! Eventually Historic Scotland used emergency powers to stabilise the shell of the house and purchase the grounds from Archie's daughter, leaving Mavisbank much as it is today.

Sir John Clerk

Mavisbank’s co-designer and first resident, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik (1676 – 1755) was a major figure in Scottish cultural history. His career as a virtuoso is of central importance in the development of archaeology, architecture, the landscape arts, painting, music and poetry in the first half of the eighteenth century and he also made a significant contribution in a number of scientific fields. His role both as leader of taste and friend and patron of professional architects and artists is best shown in his commissioning from William Adam the exquisite small villa of Mavisbank in the 1720s, and his own not inconsiderable part in its design.