Mavisbank House is architecturally renowned as one of Scotland's earliest neo-classic houses as well as the very first Palladian villa to be built in the country. It is considered to be the key building of the Georgian period in Scotland, designed and built by William Adam and Sir John Clerk in 1722-23.
After passing into private ownership, the house eventually fell into disrepair and was gutted by fire. The grounds were designated a Conservation area in the 1980s, and the house and prehistoric fort immediately behind it were scheduled under the Ancient Monuments Act. On the death of the last owner, it was discovered that he had left the house in three parts to nominees in the United States, named after 1960s pop stars. Their probable non-existence could only be proved at considerable cost, and Historic Scotland had to use emergency powers to purchase the ground from the owner's daughter.
In 2003, Mavisbank was one of the finalists on the BBC's first 'Restoration' series. Although the building did not win, the publicity spurred on a restoration project, which awaits funding from various bodies.
http://www.mavisbank.org.uk/
