Duffus Castle,

Duffus Castle was originally a motte-and-bailey castle, and was in use from 1140 to 1705. During its life it underwent many alterations, the most significant being was the destruction of the original wooden structure and its replacement with one of stone.

The original, wooden castle was burned down by Andrew Moray in 1297 who attacked it because it held a garrison of King Edward’s English troops. This was the impetus for building a more secure castle of stone.

A two-storey rectangular tower was built on the motte and was the main residence. The first floor held the lord’s hall, with a latrine and bed chambers. The ground floor was the main storage space and also accommodated the lord’s household. The tower was built as a defensive structure and it had a small number of narrow windows. There was only one entrance on the ground floor which also housed a portcullis. On the second floor, two doors exited onto the walkway of the curtain wall. This wall completely enclosed the bailey. On the north side a later building was erected that housed a kitchen, a great hall with reception room and the great chamber bedroom. It is not known when the serious subsidence took place but evidence of repairs to the tower are evident to prevent it sliding down the motte. The tower shows no further repairs and may have collapsed early on but the newer hall became the main residence. This building shows continued alterations over time. In 1689, John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee was a guest of Lord Duffus just before the battle of Killiecrankie and would be one of the last important visitors before the castle’s abandonment in 1705.

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Telephone: 01667 460232 .

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