Durris House []
History[]
| Durris House | |
|---|---|
| Location Information | |
| Name | Durris House |
| Owner | private |
| NGR | NO 79811 96856 |
| Lon. & Lat. | 57.06216,-2.334668 |
| Council | Aberrdeenshire |
| Parish | Durris |
| Nearby Castles | Midmar |
| Year built | 14th C. |
| Overview map | |
Near the Dee is the mote of a Comyn Castle with what may be traces of masonry on the irregularly shaped summit. The Mansion on the hillside some way to the south incorporates a long series of vaults said to be relics of a 14th or 15th century courtyard castle built by the Frasers to whom were granted the Comyn lands here confiscated by Robert the Bruce. At the south end of the Mansion lies a modest four story tower house of c. 1600 with a tiny bartizan at the SE corner and a staircase wing close to the west end of the north side. Durris was burnt by Montrose in 1645. The house passed by marriage in the late 17th century to Charles Mordaunt, Earl of Peterborough. It later passed to the 4th Duke of Gordon and was sold in 1834 to Anthony Mactier by whom it was enlarged. It was sold again in 1871. In 1972, Durris was a nuclear bunker for Aberdeen County Council hence the bricked-up windows in the above photo. It was top secret and, unusually for Scotland, passers-by were made unwelcome. The house has been converted into four flats now and is in very good shape.