Mavisbank House in Midlothian has been shortlisted for the unenviable title of one of the seven most endangered historic sites in Europe.

The mansion, near Loanhead, is a neoclassical masterpiece but it was partially destroyed and left in ruin by a fire in 1973.

Roofless and exposed to the elements, the shell of the building, listed as category A by Historic Scotland, is in an advanced state of deterioration, with the remaining exterior walls compromised by water ingress and vegetation.

It is one of 14 shortlisted monuments and sites which were selected by taking into account their outstanding heritage and cultural value as well as the grave danger that they are facing by heritage body Europa Nostra.

In 2008 Mavisbank House became one of two Scottish buildings to be added to a list of the world's 100 most endangered places.

The Herald:

The 18th-century mansion and St Peter's post-war seminary near Dumbarton were listed at that time alongside buildings ruined by the conflict in Iraq, the Peruvian Inca city of Machu Picchu, and New Orleans by the World Monuments Fund.

Nominations for "The Seven Most Endangered" programme 2016 were submitted by civil society or public bodies which form part of Europa Nostra’s network of member and associate organisations from all over Europe.

Designed by the Scottish architect William Adam and Sir John Clerk of Penicuik, owner of the house, Mavisbank (1726) is one of the most significant works of architecture of its kind.

It is essentially a Palladian villa adapted to northern European conditions, with a centre block and two pavilions creating an extraordinarily picturesque composition.

Despite its historical and architectural significance, the house is in an advanced state of disrepair.

It is hoped that the nomination, submitted by the Mavisbank Trust, will raise awareness of the building’s plight to an unprecedented level, helping to draw further support for its restoration within Scotland and potentially from much further afield.

The sites were shortlisted by a panel of experts in history, archaeology, architecture, conservation, project analysis and finance.

They included the archaeological site of Ererouyk and village of Ani Pemza, Armenia; Palace of Justice in Brussels, Belgium; and Patarei Sea Fortress in Tallinn, Estonia.

The final list of seven sites will be selected by the board of Europa Nostra.

Europa Nostra is a pan-European federation of heritage non governmental organisations which is also supported by a wide network of public bodies, private companies and individuals.

Covering 40 countries in Europe, the organisation is said to be "the voice of civil society committed to safeguarding and promoting Europe’s cultural and natural heritage".

The commitment of various public and private firms and the engagement of the local communities to rescuing those sites were also considered essential.

Another important criterion was the potential of the sites to serve as a "resource and a driver of sustainable development for the wider region in which they are located".