THE Scottish Civic Trust has lodged an objection to plans by a Tory peer to demolish his family seat, one of Scotland's finest examples of early nineteenth century Gothic architecture.
Lord Cochrane of Cults, who last year featured in a Westminster row when a parliamentary question framed by him was put down in the name of Sebastian Coe, has applied for permission to knock down Crawford Priory, near Cupar in Fife.
Lord Cochrane lives in a modern home in the grounds of the priory which dates from 1809 and which was abandoned in 1968.
Planning permission has been granted in principle for a golf course to be developed in the grounds of the B-listed building.
Most of the ornate interior fixtures and fittings have been removed from the sandstone shell, but conservationists say that the impressive facade is still worth saving.
The Scottish Civic Trust has written to North-east Fife District Council objecting to an application made by Lord Cochrane's company, Crawford Priory Ltd, to demolish what remains of the house.
Mary Miers, buildings-at-risk officer for the trust, said: ``Before any listed building is demolished, the owners have a duty to prove that there is no way to preserve it. I do not believe that this has been done in this case.
``The priory is one of the country's best examples of an early nineteenth century country house. I do not think I have seen sufficient evidence to support the owner's application for demolition and we have written to the council to inform them of this.''
She added: ``It is disgraceful that the priory has been allowed to deteriorate as it has.''
Professor Charles McKean, head of Dundee University's department of architecture, has added his voice to the campaign to save the building, which was designed by noted Scottish architects David Hamilton and James Gillespie Graham.
He said: ``I would not like to see Crawford Priory demolished. It could become a wonderful setting for a new structure. The demolition of any building is needless. But the demolition of a building by Hamilton and Gillespie Graham is also a needless loss to Scottish culture.''
Eton-educated Lord Cochrane, the fourth baron of Cults, owns the Craigtoun Meadows caravan park near St Andrews and is a farmer, businessman, and Lloyd's name. He was not available for comment yesterday.
The application to demolish the priory, which was badly damaged by fire last year, will be considered by the district council's planning committee next month.
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