Building record MAB14070 - DURN HOUSE, PORTSOY
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Summary
Durn House, built on the site of an earlier house.
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 10590
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NJ 5882 6503 (100m by 158m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NJ56NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Fordyce |
Type and Period (7)
- MANSION HOME (18th Century - 1770 AD to 1770 AD)
- HOUSE (16th Century to 18th Century - 1592 AD? to 1770 AD?)
- DATE STONE (17th Century - 1605 AD to 1605 AD)
- STEPS (18th Century - 1770 AD to 1770 AD)
- GATE PIER (18th Century - 1700 AD to 1799 AD)
- GATE (18th Century - 1770 AD to 1770 AD)
- TOWER HOUSE (16th Century - 1592 AD? to 1592 AD?)
Full Description
Durn House, built on the site of an earlier house. Old Durn House was demolished in circa 1770. Only a 17th Century dovecot (MAB14074) and a datestone, dated 1605, in the stairwell by the doorway of the present house remain of Old Durn House. The house was the seat of the Dunbars of Durn. It may have occupied the site of a fortalice of 'Dorne', recorded in 1592.
The present Durn House was built in 1770. It is a 2-storey, 5-bay classical house over a raised basement. Its entrance porch leads to a large hall with a central plaster ceiling, rose decorated with delicate foliated and floral motifs. No other plasterwork of note survives.
In the mid-18th Century, the gate stones were painted by astronomer and instrument maker James Ferguson, whose memorial stands at Rotheimay, Moray (MAB13352). One was painted as a terrestrial globe, the other as a celestial map.
The B-listed former gig house and stables lie to the north of the main house and are also dated to the late-18th Century (MAB14196).
G 81423 PO (1880), G 81423 PO (1880) (Ground Photograph). SAB20480.
ROBERTSON, J, 1843, HISTORY OF SHIRES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF, 644 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1504.
ROBERTSON, J, 1869, ILLUSTRATED TOPOGRAPHY & ANTIQUITIES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF, VOL II, 95,102-3 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1505.
FERGUSON, J, 1913, T BANFF FC 10,3A(1912-3)207-82, 229 (Bibliographic reference). SAB507.
TAYLER, A, 1928, JACOBITES AB & BANFF IN THE'45, 148-52 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1911.
SDD, n.d., BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST, FORDYCE 5 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1827.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- NMR Card Number: NJ56NE 48.00;
- NMR Card Number: NJ56SE 13.00;
- NRHE Numlink: 173407;
- NRHE Numlink: 76618;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ56NE0022;
External Links (3)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB10590 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/173407 (Portsoy, Durn House - trove.scot link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/76618 ('Old House of Durn' - trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SAB1504 Bibliographic reference: ROBERTSON, J. 1843. HISTORY OF SHIRES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF. Y. 644.
- --- SAB1505 Bibliographic reference: ROBERTSON, J. 1869. ILLUSTRATED TOPOGRAPHY & ANTIQUITIES OF ABERDEEN & BANFF. Y. Y. VOL II, 95,102-3.
- --- SAB1827 Bibliographic reference: SDD. n.d.. BLDS OF ARCH & HIST INTEREST. FORDYCE 5.
- --- SAB1911 Bibliographic reference: TAYLER, A. 1928. JACOBITES AB & BANFF IN THE'45. Y. 148-52.
- --- SAB20480 Ground Photograph: G 81423 PO (1880). Black & White. G 81423 PO (1880).
- --- SAB507 Bibliographic reference: FERGUSON, J. 1913. T BANFF FC 10,3A(1912-3)207-82. 229.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (3)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Oct 3 2026 9:28PM
