Historic Environment Scotland Mavisbank Policies Designed Landscape Conservation Management Plan Peter McGowan Associates, Landscape Architects Historic Environment Scotland Mavisbank Policies Designed Landscape Conservation Management Plan V3, December 2020 Peter McGowan Associates Landscape Architects and Heritage Management Consultants Craigieburn House, Moffat, DG10 9LF 07718 339567 • [email protected] Cover image: Mavisbank house and policies seen in drone aerial view from above Roman hill © Historic Environment Scotland 2020 Mavisbank Policies 1 Conservation Management Plan V3, December 2020 Contents 0 Executive summary 3 1 Introduction 11 1.1 Background 11 1.2 Location and general description 11 1.3 Historical outline 11 1.4 Brief and purpose of Conservation Management Plan 12 1.5 Approach and presentation 13 1.6 Physical scope of the plan 14 1.7 Statutory and other designations 14 2 Understanding Mavisbank designed landscape 15 2.1 General description and context 15 2.2 Zones of distinct landscape character 15 2.3 Main development phases of the Mavisbank landscape 23 2.4 Chronology of the development of Mavisbank designed landscape 23 2.4.1 Phase 1, 1692 to 1722, Mavisbank farm 23 2.4.2 Phase 2, 1722 to 1775, Mavisbank – the formal landscape 25 2.4.4 Phase 4 1840 to 1877, the Victorian landscape 34 2.4.5 Phase 5 1877 to 1954, the institutional landscape 36 2.4.6 Phase 6, 1954 to present, decline, fragmentation & revival 41 2.5 Survey of designed landscape features (Gazetteer) 45 2.5.1 General 45 2.5.2 Archaeological features 45 2.5.3 Built features 45 2.5.4 Circulation features 60 2.5.5 Water and drainage features 69 2.5.6 Landform features 74 2.5.7 Landscape and planted features and woodland 80 2.5.8 Planned and other significant views 95 2.6 Nature conservation and biodiversity 97 2.6.1 Desk study 97 2.6.2 Site overview 98 2.6.3 Survey constraints 99 2.6.4 Phase 1 habitats 99 2.6.5 Protected species 105 3 Analysis and significance 108 3.1 General analysis & the designed landscape in its cultural context 108 3.2 The concept and assessment of significance 113 3.3 Existing designations as background to significance 113 3.4 Statement of significance 114 3.4.1 Inventory of Gardens & Designed Landscapes evaluation 114 3.4.2 Particular significance of Mavisbank 116 3.4.3 Intrusions or negative significance 117 3.4.4 Significance by Zone 118 4 Management issues 119 5 Management policies and proposals 124 5.1 Overall vision 124 5.2 Conservation management objectives 124 5.3 Conservation management policies by zone 125 5.4 Management policies and proposals 127 2 Mavisbank Policies Conservation Management Plan V3, December 2020 Survey and proposals plans (as separate PDF file in digital version; at back of report in printed version) Plan 1 Site and Inventory boundaries Plan 2 Site designations: Inventory, Conservation Area, listed buildings Plan 3 Zones of distinct landscape character Plan 4 Visual landscape survey, incl views Plan 5 Buildings and built features Plan 6 Access and circulation Plan 7 Water features and drainage Plan 8 Landform features Plan 9 Landscape spaces, planted features and woodland Plan 10 Veteran and mature trees, with lost trees Plan 11.1 Ecology, Sites designated for nature conservation Plan 11.2 Ecology, Phase 1 Habitats Plan 11.3 Ecology, Non-confidential protected species survey results Plan 12 Analysis, policies by zone Plan 13 Management proposals Appendix 1 Sources and references 133 Published and other written sources 133 Maps and historic plans 134 Mavisbank Policies 3 Conservation Management Plan V3, December 2020 0 Executive summary This Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is a stand-alone document that develops a practical plan for the future development and management of the Mavisbank designed landscape, independently from plans from the house. It has been finalised concurrently with a new initiative to achieve a viable future for the house and the plan’s policies can be used to support that bid. The broad aim of the CMP is to provide an informed basis for the future management of the designed landscape within the context of the wider Inventory designated site balanced with the architectural, archaeological, historical and ecological significance of the place. Mavisbank house and policies are sited in the valley of the river North Esk between Loanhead on the west and Lasswade to the east, on the north bank of the river, approximately 10km south-south-east of Edinburgh, in the Midlothian Council area. The A768 Lasswade-Loanhead road runs to the north of the site, but with no direct link to the policies which have limited access. Mavisbank is compact country estate landscape, rated as outstanding in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, focused on the Category A listed but ruinous house of 1725 designed by Sir John Clerk and William Adam with surviving evidence – documents and vestigial physical remains – of an early 18th century landscape design including radiating formal avenues and vistas, an ornamental canal, a Roman Station and a circular walled garden. Modifications made in the late 18th century and 19th century created a landscape park with parkland and specimen trees and transformed the canal to an informal lochan which is predominantly what survives. Later embellishments included Victorian shrubberies and tree planting and later additions to the house and landscape related to its use as a mental hospital. The mid-20th century brought increasing levels of neglect and misuse, although stabilisation and a halt to further deterioration has been achieved since the landscape was acquired by Historic Scotland (now Historic Environment Scotland, or HES) in 1995. The wider valley setting of Mavisbank house and policies are designated an outstanding Conservation Area. Both the house and its landscape are recognised as outstanding in their design, their integrated concept and as the work of Clerk and Adam. Despite their neglected state, they are a remarkable survival within the scenic Esk valley within an otherwise heavily urbanised and industrialised part of Midlothian. The CMP adopts the methodology of the Conservation Plan process addressing in sequence a full understanding the site, based on research, site surveys and consultation (including a Gazetteer of features), assessment of the significance of the site and its features, identification of conservation and management issues that need to be addressed, and establishment of conservation policies with actions derived from them. A number of studies in support of the CMP have been undertaken concurrently, updating previous work, covering archaeological features, tree survey, ecology and archival research. The CMP builds upon various studies and plans for the landscape and house that have been undertaken since 1992 and refers to findings from them, although it assesses significance differently and concludes with a new approach derived from a different rationale that reflects the changed priorities of stakeholders and funding agencies. Understanding the Mavisbank landscape The Understanding section of the report considers the landscape in detail commencing with a description of thirteen distinct landscape character areas. The history of the place is covered in an illustrated 20-page chronology of the development of Mavisbank designed landscape divided into six phases as follows: 4 Mavisbank Policies Conservation Management Plan V3, December 2020 Phase 1, 1692 to 1722, Mavisbank farm before the house and landscape Phase 2, 1722 to 1775(?), Mavisbank – the formal landscape of Sir John Clerk Phase 3, 1775(?) to 1840, Mavisbank – the natural-style landscape Phase 4, 1840 to 1877, Mavisbank – the Victorian landscape Phase 5, 1877 to 1954, Mavisbank – the institutional landscape Phase 6, 1954 to present, Mavisbank – decline, fragmentation and revival. A comprehensive gazetteer of designed landscape features – existing and lost – includes descriptions of all the archaeological features, buildings and structures, drives and paths, water bodies, channels and drainage, and plantations, woodlands compartments and garden elements that comprise the landscape. Each entry covers its history, current condition and significance, and many incorporate information from previous studies. The findings of the 2019 ecological survey are included as an essential consideration in future management alongside the cultural landscape issues. Key features from the updated archaeological gazetteer are integrated in the landscape features gazetteer, as is information from both a 2014 woodland management plan and 2019 tree survey. Statement of significance The most important section of the CMP is the statement of significance where we assess the importance of the Mavisbank landscape in its cultural context, revisit and add to the Inventory evaluation of significance and draw out the particular aspects of significance in the designed landscape. The Inventory and previous studies have placed the greatest significance in the history of landscape gardens on the early 18th century landscape created by Sir John Clerk, 2nd baronet of Penicuik, particularly when considered with the focal feature of the landscape, Mavisbank House, and its widely acknowledged eminent status in architectural history and design in Scotland. We continue to recognise this significance. However, when assessing the potential of site’s future and developing realistic plans we consider that a more balanced appraisal is now needed that more accurately reflects all the