Location
Duff House, Banff
Banff, Banffshire
OS Map Reference
NJ 681 628
Date
1790 with earlier additions
Description
Rectangular Gothic Mausoleum and re-sited late 17th Century tomb. Fine cast and wrought iron gate incorporating complex designs of foliage, anthemion, rosettes, Earl of Fife's coronet and monogram JF. Deep stone frieze below eaves, 2 Coade stone crocketed pinnacles survive. Re-sited against centre of S elevation is a round headed figure tomb, decorated with symbols of mortality and rebirth. The tomb was supposed to be that of Robert the Bruce and was taken to give spurious antiquity to the new Earldom of Fife, however it was actually the tomb of Provost Douglas of Banff, with the inscription covered until in 1990 when it slipped uncovering the true identity. House open to the public. See their website for details.
Related Information
From Aberdeenshire Sites and Monuments Record for St Mary's Well which is close by at NJ 6797 6278
Our Lady Chapel near Banff was bestowed upon the Carmelite Friars in 1321 by Robert I who confirmed it to them in 1324 along with land for the erection of a church and monastery.
In 1574 James VI granted the lands, buildings and revenues formerly belonging to this house to King's College, Aberdeen.
D E Easson 1957.
This is the actual site of the convent of the Carmelites. It is confirmed locally that the foundations of the old church or chapel of St Mary were where the Fife Mausoleum now stands. The churchyard is described as having been of large extent.
A G Smith 1895.
The water of St Marys Well is piped into a small stone basin on the pathway beneath. This basin was probably the holy water font belonging to the chapel for it is said to have been dug out of its ruins.
Chisholm 1884.
No traces of St Mary's Chapel can now be found. The Mausoleum built on the site is probably of early 19th century date.
St Mary's Well consists of a wall of mortared stone c.5.0m long and c.1.4m high built in to the natural slopes at NJ 6797 6278. In the centre of the wall is a small stone lined U-shaped niche at the bottom of which is a pool of water. A narrow stone ledge runs along the face of the wall on either side of the Aisle.
Visited by OS (WDJ) 5 October 1961.
Site as described by Johnston (1961). Against the W wall of the Fife Mausoleum, probably built c.1750 at the same time as Duff House (information from Mr R Cairns, Banff Education Department), there is a medieval tomb or monument with reclining figure, incorporating a modern plaque verifying the information provided by Easson (1957).
Mr Cairns believes that the Carmelite Monastery was probably in the vicinity of Carmelite Street in Banff, possibly at NJ 6898 6397 where a pieta was unearthed during excavations for a new building some years ago. The pieta is in Banff Museum.
Visited by OS (NKB) 1 February 1968.
Era
1700s
Information Source
Aberdeenshire Council Listed building records, record no.114 Banff Burgh
Aberdeenshire Sites and Monuments Record www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/archaeology/smr/
Categories
Iconography
- memento mori
- plant
- recumbent human figure
Creator
- William Adam, Architect
External Links
Photographer
- David Clark
Unavailable Data
- Related Artefacts
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