Duff House Mausoleum, Banff, Aberdeenshire
Visited November 2018
Duff House is historic house on the outskirts of Banff, Aberdeenshire, previously owned by the Earls of Fife. It's now managed by the National Trust for Scotland, as both a historic building and art gallery.
About a mile's walk through woodland from the house, and with free access, lies Duff House Mausoleum, built in 1793 by the second Earl. On one of the exterior walls is a much earlier tomb, that of Alexander Douglas, provost of Banff from 1648-50, which was moved from St Mary's Kirkyard in Banff to the mausoleum by the 2nd Earl, who passed it off as one of his ancestors! He also had another tomb moved, but it was returned to its original site in 1965.
The mausoleum now holds the remains of 21 (genuine) members of the Duff family, including some who were moved here from their original burial places. The mausoleum is kept locked, but you can get up close and peer through the ornate iron gateway. It's opened every autumn as part of the 'Doors Open' scheme in Scotland.
It's a pretty walk through the woods to the mausoleum, where you can also take in the views across the river, the ice house and a gravestone for Bevis, Tip and Barkis, three dogs which belonged to the family in the 19th century!
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