Macduff, Aberdeenshire
Encyclopedia
Macduff is a town in the Banff and Buchan
area of Aberdeenshire
, Scotland
. Macduff is situated on Banff Bay
and faces the town of Banff
across the estuary of the River Deveron
. Macduff is a former burgh
and is now the only place in the United Kingdom
where deep-water wooden fishing boats are still built.
, who became the first Earl Fife. In 1760, James Duff
, the second Earl built a harbour there and in 1783 succeeded in promoting Macduff to a Burgh of Barony. The 2nd Earl Fife appointed his factor, William Rose, as the 1st Provost of Macduff in 1783. The town celebrated its bicentenary in 1983, and the signs erected in that year still stand on the main approaches to the town (most visibly, a large sign next to the Banff Bridge on the Macduff side).
Banff and Macduff
are separated by the valley of the River Deveron. This unpredictable river was finally tamed by the seven arched bridge completed in 1799 by John Smeaton
. An earlier bridge had been built in 1765, but was swept away in 1768. The old ferry was brought back into use, until it was lost in a flood in 1773.
Early area prehistory is manifested by the nearby ancient monument at Longman Hill
, a large long barrow
somewhat to the southeast of Macduff
, a maritime heritage centre and a golf course (Royal Tarlair).
COAST Festival of the Visual Arts is an annual festival of weekend-long events and attractions in both Banff and Macduff. It runs over the bank holiday weekend at the end of May each year.
The town once had an outdoor swimming pool Tarlair Swimming Pool
which has fallen into disuse.
Many of the nearby villages also contribute to tourism in the area; in particular Gardenstown
and Pennan
.
(GNSR) which at first ran to Banff & Macduff station, almost a mile from the town. In 1872 the line to Banff & Macduff station benefited from a replacement station closer to the town centre; Macduff railway station
opened, and the original station closed on 1 July 1872. The preceding station before the terminus in Macduff was Banff Bridge railway station
, placed near the bridge between Banff and Macduff. Banff itself was served by a further station, Banff Harbour (later just Banff), and since this was on a separate line (originally belonging to the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway, though later absorbed by the GNSR), it also provided an alternative route that came close to Macduff.
All the lines suffered from mid-20th century railway cuts, with Macduff station closing by the end of 1961.
Banff and Buchan
Banff and Buchan is a committee area of the Aberdeenshire Council, Scotland.It has a population of 35,742 . Fishing and agriculture are important industries, together with associated processing and service activity....
area of Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland and a lieutenancy area.The present day Aberdeenshire council area does not include the City of Aberdeen, now a separate council area, from which its name derives. Together, the modern council area and the city formed historic...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Macduff is situated on Banff Bay
Banff Bay
Banff Bay is a coastal embayment in Scotland situated between the towns of Banff, Aberdeenshire and Macduff, Aberdeenshire. The Burn of Myrehouse is one of the streams draining to Banff Bay...
and faces the town of Banff
Banff, Aberdeenshire
Banff is a town in the Banff and Buchan area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff is situated on Banff Bay and faces the town of Macduff across the estuary of the River Deveron...
across the estuary of the River Deveron
River Deveron
The River Deveron , known anciently as the Dovern, is a river in the north east of Scotland. The river has a length of 60 miles, and has a reputation for its salmon, sea trout and brown trout fishing...
. Macduff is a former burgh
Burgh
A burgh was an autonomous corporate entity in Scotland and Northern England, usually a town. This type of administrative division existed from the 12th century, when King David I created the first royal burghs. Burgh status was broadly analogous to borough status, found in the rest of the United...
and is now the only place in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where deep-water wooden fishing boats are still built.
History
The settlement of Doune (from Scottish Gaelic dùn, "hill fort") on the east bank of the river was purchased in 1733 by William DuffWilliam Duff, 1st Earl Fife
William Duff, 1st Earl Fife was a Scottish peer.The son of William Duff of Dipple, in 1719 he married Janet Ogilvie, daughter of James Ogilvy, 4th Earl of Findlater. She died in 1720 and in 1723 he married Jean Grant, daughter of Sir James Grant, Bt...
, who became the first Earl Fife. In 1760, James Duff
James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife
James Duff, 2nd Earl Fife was a Scottish Earl, Baron and Minister of Parliament.-Heritage:James Duff was second son of William Duff, 1st Earl Fife, and Jean Grant , his fathers second wife. His father, son of William Duff of Dipple, co. Banff, was M.P...
, the second Earl built a harbour there and in 1783 succeeded in promoting Macduff to a Burgh of Barony. The 2nd Earl Fife appointed his factor, William Rose, as the 1st Provost of Macduff in 1783. The town celebrated its bicentenary in 1983, and the signs erected in that year still stand on the main approaches to the town (most visibly, a large sign next to the Banff Bridge on the Macduff side).
Banff and Macduff
Banff and Macduff
Banff and Macduff are neighbouring towns situated on Banff Bay, both of which are former burghs in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Banff lies on the west bank, and Macduff on the east bank, of the mouth of the River Deveron....
are separated by the valley of the River Deveron. This unpredictable river was finally tamed by the seven arched bridge completed in 1799 by John Smeaton
John Smeaton
John Smeaton, FRS, was an English civil engineer responsible for the design of bridges, canals, harbours and lighthouses. He was also a capable mechanical engineer and an eminent physicist...
. An earlier bridge had been built in 1765, but was swept away in 1768. The old ferry was brought back into use, until it was lost in a flood in 1773.
Early area prehistory is manifested by the nearby ancient monument at Longman Hill
Longman Hill
Longman Hill is a prehistoric monument in northern Aberdeenshire, Scotland near Banff Bay. Due to the low lying coastal plain characteristics, the elevation of Longman Hill affords a long distance view as far as the Moray Firth....
, a large long barrow
Long barrow
A long barrow is a prehistoric monument dating to the early Neolithic period. They are rectangular or trapezoidal tumuli or earth mounds traditionally interpreted as collective tombs...
somewhat to the southeast of Macduff
Attractions
The town has an aquariumAquarium
An aquarium is a vivarium consisting of at least one transparent side in which water-dwelling plants or animals are kept. Fishkeepers use aquaria to keep fish, invertebrates, amphibians, marine mammals, turtles, and aquatic plants...
, a maritime heritage centre and a golf course (Royal Tarlair).
COAST Festival of the Visual Arts is an annual festival of weekend-long events and attractions in both Banff and Macduff. It runs over the bank holiday weekend at the end of May each year.
The town once had an outdoor swimming pool Tarlair Swimming Pool
Tarlair Swimming Pool
Tarlair Swimming Pool opened in 1931 at the base of a sea cliff just outside Macduff in Banffshire in Scotland. This outdoor swimming complex was built in an Art Deco style with a main building backing onto the cliffs and changing rooms to its left hand side...
which has fallen into disuse.
Many of the nearby villages also contribute to tourism in the area; in particular Gardenstown
Gardenstown
Gardenstown is a small village near Banff in Aberdeenshire, Northeast Scotland. It is known locally as 'Gamrie', from the name of the parish in which it stands. Gardenstown was founded in 1720 by Alexander Garden as a coastal fishing village...
and Pennan
Pennan
Pennan is a small village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland consisting of a small harbour and a single row of homes, including a hotel. It is located on the north-facing coast and is approximately one hour's drive from Aberdeen.-Area history:...
.
Railways
Macduff was served from 1860 by the Great North of Scotland RailwayGreat North of Scotland Railway
The Great North of Scotland Railway was one of the smaller Scottish railways before the grouping, operating in the far north-east of the country. It was formed in 1845 and received its Parliamentary approval on June 26, 1846, following over two years of local meetings...
(GNSR) which at first ran to Banff & Macduff station, almost a mile from the town. In 1872 the line to Banff & Macduff station benefited from a replacement station closer to the town centre; Macduff railway station
Macduff railway station
Macduff railway station was a railway station serving the settlements of Banff and Macduff, Aberdeenshire. It was the terminus of a branch line from Pitcaple Inveramsay, run originally by the Great North of Scotland Railway....
opened, and the original station closed on 1 July 1872. The preceding station before the terminus in Macduff was Banff Bridge railway station
Banff Bridge railway station
Banff Bridge railway station was a railway station in Banff Bridge, Banff, Aberdeenshire. It was the penultimate stop on a branch line from Inveramsay to Macduff.Another branch from Tillynaught railway station terminated at a separate station in Banff....
, placed near the bridge between Banff and Macduff. Banff itself was served by a further station, Banff Harbour (later just Banff), and since this was on a separate line (originally belonging to the Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Railway, though later absorbed by the GNSR), it also provided an alternative route that came close to Macduff.
All the lines suffered from mid-20th century railway cuts, with Macduff station closing by the end of 1961.
Sport
Macduff has a golf course known as Royal Tarlair. Built on land which ends on precipitous cliffs, lost balls really are lost.Notable residents
- Colin NewtonColin NewtonColin Newton is the Scottish drummer for the Scottish indie rock band, Idlewild....
(b. 1977), drummer - Sandi ThomSandi ThomAlexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
(b. 1981), singer-songwriter