Photos and the City

Tag: UK

Fyvie Castle

Stepping into the impressive gardens all around Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire, an impressive 800 years old fortress, which became larger with each generation.

The earliest parts of Fyvie Castle date back to the 13th century, Fyvie was an open-air court held by Robert the Bruce, and Charles I lived there as a child.

Ghosts, legends and folklore are all woven into the tapestry of Fyvie’s 800-year-old history. But stories aside, we do know William the Lion was at Fyvie around 1214 and later Robert the Bruce and Charles I were among its royal guests. (Visit Scotland)

The walled garden specialises in growing a wide range of Scottish fruits.

Bow Fiddle Rock

On my way home to Hopeman, I made one more stop and walked to Bow Fiddle Rock, a natural sea arch along the Moray coast near Portknockie.

Besides resembling the look of a fiddle, Bow Fiddle rock is also a nesting place for many sea birds like herring gulls, great black-backed and lesser black-backed gulls.

The rock formation has been caused by erosion and movement from the tectonic plates of the earth. Scotland lay on the edge of two ancient continents called Laurentia and Avalonia. Eventually, the two collided resulting in the folding of the strata rock which is why the Bow Fiddle Rock slopes down to the south. (Britainexplorer)

06/02/2020
Duff House

Duff House, a beautiful early Georgian mansion in Banff, houses a collection of fine paintings and furniture from the National Gallery of Scotland. Designed by Scottish architect William Adam in the 18th century and owned by William Duff.

But building the house wasn´t straightforward and it was never finished.

Duff House was a hugely expensive project – and a giant status symbol. But the cost of the build was Duff House’s undoing, as client and architect fell out over money.

Duff House was intended as the chief seat of William Duff, Lord Braco (later 1st Earl Fife). The astute businessman and politician wanted not only to succeed, but also to be seen to succeed. (Historic Enviroment Scotland)

Work began in 1735, most of the delicate stonework was produced in Queensferry, but the work stopped in 1741 and the elaborate plans for a grand curved east and west wings that were never finished.

Six staircases act as vertical corridors. A great salon and drawing room on the second floor were used for formal entertaining. The rooms most often used by the family are those on the first floor.

Many rooms have 18th-century decorative features and some original paint schemes have been restored. As noted art collectors, the 2nd and 4th Earls Fife filled the house with paintings, books and other treasures. (Historic Enviroment Scotland)

Today paintings, books, china and furniture from the National Gallery of Scotland are on display throughout Duff House.

By the turn of the 20th century, the Duff family no longer needed Duff House and gifted it to nearby towns of Banff and Macduff in 1907. In the following years and decades, Duff House became a hotel, a sanatorium and again a hotel. During WWII Duff House was used as an internment camp, a prisoner of war camp and also as headquarters for various Allied regiments.

In 1940, a bombing raid by the German Luftwaffe killed six German prisoners and two guards, injuring others and damaging the house.

In 1942, Duff House became the headquarters for the Norwegian Brigade. After the war, it was a base for Polish soldiers awaiting resettlement in Scotland. Evidence of their time here remains, in stencilled Polish signs and a painted Norwegian flag. (Historic Enviroment Scotland)

By the 1950ies Duff House has fallen into disrepair and was taken into state care, extensive restoration and conversation works had to be done.

Duff House reopened in 1995 as a country house gallery, in partnership with National Galleries of Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council, following extensive conservation and restoration. (Historic Enviroment Scotland)

04/02/2020
Huntly Castle

And on we go to the next castle, Huntly Castle in Aberdeenshire, the former seat of one of medieval and Renaissance Scotland’s most powerful families, Clan Gordon, Earl of Huntly.

Today Huntly Castle is a stunning ruin near Huntly, a pretty market town. This place is actually the location of four different castles over the time period of 600 years.

Around 1180 Duncan, Earl of Fife built the first castle here, a wooden defence construction around a motte. This motte can still be seen as a hill right next to the castle.

Around 1400 Sir Alexander Seton, later Lord Gordon had the old wooden castle removed and built a new stone tower house, from which only the thick foundation walls are visible today. The castle burned down and another one, much grander, was built in 1460 – already on today’s location but only the cellars remained.

By 1550 George, the 4th Earl of Huntly, was also Lord Chancellor of Scotland and one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom. He rebuilt the castle above the basement level into a grand palace, finishing the work just in time for a visit by Mary de Guise, widow of James V and mother of Mary Queen of Scots. (Undiscovered Scotland)

After a few falling out with Mary Queen of the Scots and James VI and some damages on the castle, a remodelling started around 1600 to make an even more impressive palace. Beautiful fireplaces and decorative designs were added.

Huntly Castle last played an active role in Scottish History in 1746, when it was held by Government Troops against the Jacobites. It later became a handy quarry for those building the town of Huntly before its value as an attractive ruin began to be appreciated in the late 1800s. (Undiscovered Scotland)

There is a lot to see at Huntly Castle, the Renaissance palace, the motte, an old brewhouse and bakehouse in the courtyard, a beautiful garden and remains of a cobbled medieval road.

30/01/2020