Duff House
| Duff House | |
| Banffshire | |
|---|---|
 Duff House | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | NJ690633 |
| Location: | 57°39’31"N, 2°31’10"W |
| History | |
| country house | |
| Information | |
| Owned by: | Historic Scotland |
| Website: | www.duffhouse.org.uk |
Duff House is a Georgian estate house in Banffshire. It stands in its estate in a curve of the final, tidal reach of the River Deveron, immediately south of the town centre of the shire's little county town, Banff, which sits on the coast.
Built for the Earls of Fife, Duff House is today it is in the care of Historic Scotland; it is part of the National Galleries of Scotland and houses a range of art treasures and superbly furnished rooms.
The house and associated fishing temple and mausoleum are designated as Category A listed buildings.
History
Within the Deveron Valley lies Duff House, designed by William Adam, built between 1735 and 1740, and widely thought to be one of the world's finest Georgian houses. Duff House was built for William Duff of Braco, who became Earl Fife in 1759.
In the twentieth century Duff House was in turn a palm court hotel, a sanatorium and a prisoner of war camp. Since 1995 Duff House has been part of the National Galleries of Scotland and houses a range of art treasures and superbly furnished rooms. It also hosts a programme of artistic events and is used as a base for artists and writers.