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The Great Britain Guide

Historic houses · Central Scotland

Mavisbank House

In or near Auchendinny.

Free admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.7 · 29 Google reviews

Mavisbank House — house in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.

Mavisbank House, historic houses in Central Scotland

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1 h–2 h
Nearest railway station
Eskbank · 3.5 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

Mavisbank House is located in Midlothian, Scotland, with the postcode EH18 1HY. The nearest railway station is Eskbank, which is 3.5 km away. Entry is free, but please note that wheelchair accessibility is limited.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Mavisbank House is a historic house in the United Kingdom — typically a country seat, manor, or town house with notable architecture or history. Heritage designation: category A listed building. Wikidata describes it as: "house in Midlothian, Scotland, UK". Coordinates: 55.8735°, -3.1373°.

Photo gallery

Official information

Mavisbank House is a significant small country house in Scotland, recognized for its architectural importance as a villa. The Mavisbank Trust works to preserve the house and its landscape for public benefit.

From the Wikipedia article

Mavisbank is a country house outside Loanhead, south of Edinburgh in Midlothian, Scotland. It was designed by architect William Adam in collaboration with his client, Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, and was constructed between 1723 and 1727. The first Palladian villa in Scotland, it is described by Historic Scotland as "one of Scotland's most important country houses." It 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, described by Colin McWilliam in 1978 as a "precarious shell". In 2024, a grant of £5.3 million was given to stabilise the building and to enable up-to-date surveys of its condition to be made.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Architecture

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 Scotland, 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…

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
55.8735, -3.1373
District
Midlothian
Postcode
EH18 1HY
Parliamentary constituency
Midlothian
Phone
0131 445 4025
Nearest railway station
Eskbank3.5 km

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

The Bilston Burn just before it flows into the River North Esk - geograph.org.uk - 2064868📷 5

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Mavisbank House

Mavisbank House — a UK vineyard in scotland central, producing English or Welsh wine from cool-climate grape varieties.

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Maiden Castle

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Villages · Central Scotland

Polton

Polton — a village in scotland central.

Pit Pony Sculpture, High Street, Loanhead - geograph.org.uk - 3962829📷 3

Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Bilston Glen Miners Memorial

Bilston Glen Miners Memorial — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

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Memorials & monuments · Central Scotland

Man, boy and horse at Loanhead

Man, boy and horse at Loanhead — a memorial in scotland-central, United Kingdom.

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Public art & sculpture · Central Scotland

The Coghorn

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Where to eat & stay near Mavisbank House

Places to stay

Drummond Aisle interior, Lasswade Old Kirkyard - geograph.org.uk - 4507195📷 5

Caravan parks · Central Scotland

Kevock Vale Park Retirement Living

Kevock Vale Park Retirement Living — a caravan park in scotland central.

General Monck's Battery - geograph.org.uk - 3975516📷 5

Caravan parks · Central Scotland

Slatebarns Caravan Park

Slatebarns Caravan Park — a caravan park in scotland central.

slatebarnscaravanpark.co.uk
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Hotels · Central Scotland

Melville Castle

Melville Castle — a hotel in scotland central.

Lothian Bridge postbox ref EH22 39 - geograph.org.uk - 3512383📷 5

Campsites · Central Scotland

Lothian Bridge Caravan Park

Lothian Bridge Caravan Park — a campsite in scotland central.

The Stables, Mortonhall - geograph.org.uk - 8226884📷 5

Campsites · Central Scotland

Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park

Mortonhall Caravan and Camping Park — a campsite in scotland central.

meadowhead.co.uk
Beside the South Esk, Dalkeith Park - geograph.org.uk - 7019496📷 5

Campsites · Central Scotland

Dalkeith Country Park Camping

Dalkeith Country Park Camping — a campsite in scotland central.

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Places to eat & drink

James Martin Stagg CB OBE FRSE - geograph.org.uk - 6175405📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Gothenburg Public House, 45 Buccleuch Street, Dalkeith

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Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Coach and Horses Public House, 168 High Street, Dalkeith

Coach and Horses Public House, 168 High Street, Dalkeith in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

Filling station in Ratcliffe Street - geograph.org.uk - 3129742📷 7

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Leslie's Bar, 45, 47, 49 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh

Leslie's Bar, 45, 47, 49 Ratcliffe Terrace, Edinburgh in Scotland Central, United Kingdom.

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Historic pubs · Central Scotland

The Canny Man's, 237, 239 Morningside Road, Edinburgh

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The Salisbury Arms, Edinburgh - geograph.org.uk - 4593498📷 5

Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Physician and Firkin Public House, 58 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh

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Historic pubs · Central Scotland

Craigiebield House Hotel, 50 Bog Road, Penicuik

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Mavisbank House?
Mavisbank House is in central Scotland, United Kingdom (postcode EH18 1HY).
What is Mavisbank House?
Mavisbank House — house in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.
How do I get to Mavisbank House?
The nearest railway station is Eskbank, about 3.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode EH18 1HY.
Is Mavisbank House a listed building?
Mavisbank House is officially recognised as category A listed building listed.
How do I get to Mavisbank House?
The nearest railway station is Eskbank, about 3.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode EH18 1HY.