Drummuir Castle: Built in 1848 by Admiral Duff

KEITH ban Drummuir Castle
Duff 1550?
Acquired by the Duffs in 1621 from Robert Innes of Invermarkie. H. Montgomery-Massingberd, The Field Book of Country Houses, 1988.

A former home of the Duff family, Drummuir Castle lies between Newmill and Dufftown in Moray Council area. The present castellated Gothic-style building was designed by Thomas Mackenzie for Admiral Duff in 1847. It replaced the earlier and more modest Kirkton House.

Drummuir Castle
The Castle of Drummuir was erected about 1848, by the late Rear-Admiral Archibald Duff from designs
furnished by the late Mackenzie of Elgin. The style is of the Tudor Gothic; and its vast proportions and
compact form and castellated, embrasured Roof with Banner Tower rising high above give it the
appearance of being possessed of massive strength and carry the mind to the period when " above the
gloomy Portal Arch, timing his footsteps to the march,the Warder kept his guard"
The grand Entrance is towards the North, and is protected by a spacious port-cochere which is lighted
by a magnificent plate glass window set in open freestone work. This Porch is also surmounted by an
embrasured parapet. Above the centre of the Porch, looking to the East and West, there are two
Armorial Shields, with the Motto -
Kind Heart Be true and ye Shall Never Rue
Passing through the vestibule, which though small is most elegant, the roof being arched and highly
ornamented, the Grand Entrance Hall is entered, which is unrivalled in the North. It is the whole height
of the building, and is lighted by a Cupola more than 60 feet from the floor.
Entering from the hall on the East are the library, looking toward the North, The Breakfast Parlour
toward the East which is hung with rich specimens of Tapestry.
The grand Drawing Room looking towards the East and South and occupying the South East angle of
the castle. Its walls are panelled and the panels are hung with French paper; the ornamental work of
the Cornice and the Ceiling is very elaborate and is executed in the French Style. The Small Drawing
Room is on a line with the vestibule and the Entrance Hall, and looks towards the South.
The Dining Room communicating with it, and occupying the South-west corner of the edifice. The
Ceiling of this superb Room is panelled and painted in oak. The Chimney-pieces are of Peterhead
granite, the colour of which harmonises well 'with the Ceiling and Walls.
On the West side of the Entrance Hall is a Corridor, leading to the Business Room, on the right of the
Vestibule, and also to the Grand Staircase, which is lighted by a Stained glass Window, looking
towards the West. The Ceiling is nearly in the same style as that of the Dining Room, each of the
Panels containing an emblazoned Shield. The Castle was erected at a cost of some £10,000'.
LOCH PARK
is about a mile in length, and has a mean breadth of 100 yards-along the border of which runs the
Railway. The former Proprietor disannulled and dried it, but it is once more
famous for Trout, Wild Ducks, and Swans. A Boat is kept for fishing by Major Gordon-Duff of
Drummuir. Isia Well runs into this Loch, from whence the Isia has its source. This fine Sheet
of water, occupies the base of a mountain-gorge, the sides of which are clothed in wood, rising to a
great height. This is the highest part of the Dufftown line of Railway, and is a most
picturesque Highland Loch.

273. Family name : GORDON-DUFF OF DRUMMUIR & PARK Incumbent : LACHLAN ALEXANDER GORDON-DUFF OF DRUMMUIR & OF PARK

Lineage : Lineage-ADAM DUFF, of Clunybeg; b 1590; m Beatrix Gordon, of Birkenburn, and d 1674, leaving issue,