Duff House is a Georgian house in Banff, Scotland. It was designed
by William Adam, and built between 1735 and 1740. It is regarded
as one of Britain's finest Georgian houses. Duff House was built
for William Duff of Braco, who became Earl Fife in 1759.
Disputes over the castle reached such an intensity that Duff never
lived here. It is said that he never even looked at the completed
house, having his carriage blinds drawn whenever he passed by.
In the twentieth century Duff House was in turn a palm court hotel,
a sanatorium and a prisoner of war camp. Since 1995 it 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. |