A little history of Banff

Duff House

Duff House, a Georgian estate house in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, was designed by William Adam and constructed between 1735 and 1740 for William Duff of Braco, later the 1st Earl Fife. The building is a Category A listed structure, reflecting its architectural significance.

The house's design was ambitious, featuring a central block with advanced corner towers and intended flanking pavilions that were never completed. The construction led to a legal dispute between Adam and Duff over costs, culminating in a 1743 court case.

In the 20th century, Duff House underwent various transformations. After the Duff family vacated in 1903, it served as a hotel, sanatorium, and during World War II, as an internment and prisoner-of-war camp. The house suffered damage during a bombing raid in 1940, leading to the demolition of a service wing.

Following extensive restoration, Duff House reopened in 1995 as part of the National Galleries of Scotland, housing a collection of fine art, including works by El Greco, Thomas Gainsborough, and Henry Raeburn. The surrounding grounds, designed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, feature carriage drives, walks, and ornamental buildings, enhancing the property's historical and architectural value.