Building record MAB41398 - DURRIS HOUSE
Please read our guidance about the use of Aberdeenshire Historic Environment Record data.
Summary
Durris House, a small 3-storey attic tower-house with angle turret and stair tower, within a designed landscape (NO79NE0068).
Protected Status/Designation
- Listed Building (B) 2976
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NO 7980 9684 (43m by 57m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NO79NE |
| Authority | Aberdeenshire |
| Civil Parish | Durris |
Type and Period (6)
- CASTLE (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- BASEMENT (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- TURRET (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- TOWER (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
- Mansion (12th Century to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
Full Description
Durris House, a small 3-storey attic tower-house with angle turret and stair tower, within a designed landscape (NO79NE0068). What survives may be the remains of an earlier large court-yard type of castle, much of the vaulted basement foundations of which survive below present ground level. It was altered in the late 17th century with 19th century additions by Archibald Simpson. It was again altered and converted to flats in 1980s. Cosmo Innes (an advocate, judge and antiquarian) was born here. The Durris estate was held from the 13th century by a branch of the great family of Fraser. It passed by marriage to the Earl of Peterborough towards the end of the 17th century. A Duke of Gordon eventually fell heir to the property. It was sold in 1834 and again in 1871. The house was burned by Montrose at the same time as Castle Fraser. There are B-listed stables to the east (NO79NE0122), a B-listed lodge to the northeast (NO89NW0078), a C-listed cottage to the south (NO79NE0120) and the remains of a sawmill to the southwest (NO79NE0201).
Period Notes
Medieval roots, current house from 16thC;great Hall probably added 1645; NE wing added in1824 and extended in 1835 and 1838; stables built in the 1830s; proposed alterations- not carried out 1939; used as control centre for Aberdeen area civil defence in 1960s; conversion to flats in the 1980s or 90s.
Listed 18/08/1972.
Author unknown, , PRESS & JOURNAL, 02/02/88 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1416.
TRNATER, N, 1962, FORTIFIED HOUSE IN SCOTLAND VOL4-ABERDEENSHIRE, 155-6 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1917.
Author unknown, n.d., LEOPARD MAGAZINE, p.20 (Bibliographic reference). SAB1074.
Other Statuses/References
- Authority: ASH;
- HES Listed Building Number: 2976;
- NMR Card Number: NO79NE19;
- NRHE Numlink: 36633;
- Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NO79NE0019;
External Links (2)
- https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/LB2976 (Historic Environment Scotland Portal Link)
- https://www.trove.scot/place/36633 (trove.scot link)
Sources/Archives (3)
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (0)
Record last edited
Jan 25 2023 2:26PM
