Early Project Achievements
The Trust secured a number of grants and donations which enabled it to produce detailed development plans for Mavisbank in 2005 and 2012, as well as undertake consultations on the proposals with the local community, project partners and potential funders. However, progress has often been frustrated by a number of major problems that have proved difficult to resolve. These have included the unknown ownership of the house, access to the site, partner engagement and a severe reduction in potential partner, and other, project funding sources in recent years. In 2008 the Trust secured a place for Mavisbank on the World Monuments Fund’s 100 most endangered cultural heritage sites in the world.
Following agreement between the Mavisbank Trust, Historic Scotland, Midlothian Council and the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust (ELGT) to take the restoration project forward, a 'Vision for the Future of Mavisbank House and Policies' was launched in May 2012 by the Scottish Minister for Culture and a concordat signed by the chief executives/chairman of the four partners outlining the shared vision, process and programme for the restoration project.
Further information on the Joint Vision.
Consequently, the Mavisbank Trust secured around £100K in grants and donations during 2012-13 that enabled it to contract the necessary professional services to review and update its previous project and business plans and use these as the basis of a Stage 1 grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in February 2013. This application sought funding to carry out detailed development work that would progress the project to implementation stage and, in addition, a £3.2M grant towards the £5M total cost of the restoration.
Whilst the Trust's Stage 1 grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) in June 2013 was unsuccessful, the HLF recognised the national importance and great heritage value of Mavisbank and invited the Trust to re-submit its application once a number of areas of concern had been addressed by the project partners.
Further information on previous proposals.
During 2013-14 the Trust was successful in securing £100K in funding from the Tyne-Esk LEADER programme, Scottish National Heritage, Midlothian Council and Historic Scotland to undertake a range of site surveys and investigations, further community engagement and emergency stabilisation work to the house. In addition, the Trust worked with ELGT to upgrade the existing riverside path, improve drainage and construct two new footpaths within the grounds, creating the first formal public access to Mavisbank for many decades. Work was also completed by the Trust to facilitate the submission of a planning application to Midlothian Council for a new road access to Mavisbank and associated car park.
In December 2015 the Trust was delighted when Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage organisation, and the European Investment Bank Institute announced that Mavisbank House was included in the 14 monuments and sites shortlisted by an international panel of experts for its '7 Most Endangered' programme 2016'. This gave recognition to their outstanding heritage and cultural value as well as the grave danger that they are facing. The only UK site proposed, Mavisbank House did not make the final listing but its initial selection provided a significant boost to the profile of the project.
With the initial support of the Princes Regeneration Trust a Partnership Steering Group was established in 2015 to re-evaluate and update the Trust's development plans, as well as explore potential new opportunities. The Trust and its partners carried out detailed work in an attempt to resolve the access and ownership issues whilst Midlothian Council supported it taking ownership of Mavisbank House, subject to a sustainable project funding package being in place. The intention was that the house would then be transferred to the appropriate Partnership body whilst the grounds would remain for the duration of the project in the hands of the current owners, Historic Environment Scotland (formally Historic Scotland). This would enable restoration work to be carried out and facilitate the long-term management and maintenance of the site and activities.
In 2017 the Partnership was delighted when the Landmark Trust, one of the leading UK organisations in the restoration of historic buildings agreed to become a major partner in the Mavisbank project with a primary interest in the restoration and future use of the house. During 2017-18 Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and the Landmark Trust began preparation for the submission of a Stage 1 project grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Unfortunately, this work was subject to a lengthy delay due to the sudden withdrawal of the relevant grant scheme by the HLF as part of a strategic review.
