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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Duff House
Banffshire
Scotland
In 1913 Duff House became a sanatorium, and later prison of war camp; George Bennett Mitchell\'s alterations have now been reversed.

William Adam, 1735-40; George Jamieson, mason; John Burn, specialised in carving. \'Buildings of Scotland\' states that John Burt was clerk of works.

Golf course laid out by the leading golf course specialists, A & C J MacKenzie.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
New Duff House SanatoriumNo

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
Country HouseNot Known

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
Build/construction17351741Also temple on the Hill of Doune and a triumphal arch on an island in the River Deveron. Landscape design - perhaps not executed.
Build/construction1761cFirst floor entrance vestibule and family apartment and part of the attic floor fitted out as bedrooms. Overdoor friezes and fireplace in private dining room. Book cases in library.
Proposed1764Alternative scheme
Build/construction1767cGarden landscaped.
Alterations and additions178Landscape restyled.
Build/construction179Decorative ceiling in Great Drawing Room
Build/construction1791c1792cMarble floor and stair itself fitted in hall
Decoration carried out1811Furnishing and decoration under guidance of James Gillespie Graham.
1870Corridor block and service pavilion
1913Alterations
1920cMinor interior alterations and nurses' home; scullery and gate lodge; engine house; laundry; alterations to pavilion
Restoration1956
Restoration1994Restoration of Fife Gates

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
William AdamAArchitect17351741Also designed temple on the Hill of Doune and a triumphal arch on an island in the River Deveron and provided a design for the garden.
William BoutcherKGarden designer1735Provided scheme for the garden. Probably not executed.
Thomas DottGCraftsman176First floor entrance vestibule and family apartment and part of the attic floor fitted out as bedrooms. Overdoor friezes and fireplace in private dining room. Book cases in library.
James AdamEArchitect1761CFireplace in private dining room
John AdamEArchitect1761CFireplace in private dining room
John WoolfeSArchitect1764Alternative scheme
William BowieJGarden designer1767CDesign of landscape executed by the 2nd Earl\'s gardener, Thomas Reid.
Thomas WhiteLGarden designer178Garden by Bowie restyled
John PatersonJArchitect179Decorative ceiling in Great Drawing Room
James RobertsonKMason1791C1792CMarble floor and stair itself fitted in hall
James Gillespie GrahamHArchitect1811Guided 4th Earl in furnishing and re-decoratin of hhouse.
David Bryce (junior)1870Corridor block and service pavilion
George Bennett MitchellB1913Alterations
George Angus MitchellC1920cMinor interior alterations and nurses' home; scullery and gate lodge; engine house; laundry; alterations to pavilion
George Bennett MitchellC1920cMinor interior alterations and nurses' home; scullery and gate lodge; engine house; laundry; alterations to pavilion

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Scott & Gilchrist1913 alterations
New Duff House Sanatorium Ltd1913 alterations
Duff, John, 2nd Earl of FifeClient for John Woolfe scheme
Fife, 1st Earl ofClient for William Adam building

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):

Child classic

NotesName
In November 1907, the Duke of Fife presented Duff House to the townships of Banff and Macduff. The two town councils initially decided to convert the house and some 140 acres of the surrounding land into a hydropathic establishment. Sutherland and George prepared sketch plans, but the scheme was abandoned. Instead, in August 1908, the councils offered Dewynter Limited the option to turn the house into a hotel. Sutherland and George were retained by Dewynter Limited and continued working on the scheme between 1 October 1908 and 14 January 1909. About this time Dewynter Limited seem to have determined not to proceed, nor to pay their architects\' fees for the abortive work. In December 1910 the matter was ultimately settled in court where the full claim of £810-2-11 fees and expenses was awarded to the plaintiffs.<br><br>The estimated cost of hotel conversion in January 1909 was £200,000.<br><br>(Colonel George, the town clerk of Macduff, was a brother of Clement George.)Duff House (proposed hotel scheme)

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Adam, William1820Vitruvius ScoticusPlates 146-8.
Anon1743Braco Case Petitions and DepositionsFrom this he appears to have also designed a temple on the Hill of Doune and a triumphal arch on an island in the Deveron.
Donaldson, Peter R1995Conservation case study: the Duff House projectVIArchitectural Heritage, VI (published 1996), pp32-48Illustration
NMRSNMRS Jubilee: A Guide to the Collectionspp22-23
Vitruvius Britannicus1767Vitruvius BritannicusVoluem v, 1771, plates 58-60.
Walker, David W and Woodworth, Matthew2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire North and MorayYale University Presspp45, 76, 94-96, 98, 101-104

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Aberdeen Press and Journal1964/12/08*Obituary of George Angus Mitchell

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Aberdeen City ArchivesGeorge Bennett Mitchell and Son CollectionGBM/1920/50/1-2, GBM/1920/51/1, GBM1920/52/1, GBM/1920/53/1. GBM/1920/54/1, GBM/1920/55/1
National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Gifts and depositsGD 248 'The Buildings of Duff House' by James Simpson
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register21985
Courtesy of Harry MantellInformation sent via\'Contact Us\' on DSA websiteSent October 2009
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings CollectionOriginal drawings by Bryce