Duffus Castle stone - keep with curtain wall Elgin Morayshire. GPLM 2417-247
Located 5 miles north-west of Elgin in Moray on the east coast of Scotland. This typical Norman castle was built in the 14th century on the site of an earlier wooden construction. Today you can walk across the cobbled causeway and explore the stone ruins. It is in the care of Historic Scotland. The name of DUFFUS derives from the lands of DUFFUS in Morayshire, Scotland. What is presently known as DUFFUS PARISH encompasses the lands of the ancient BARONY OF DUFFUS and comprises 9,565 acres. The DUFFUS name has undergone a variety of spelling changes through the years; in 1290, "DUFHUS", and in 1512, "DUFFOUS". The name is probably a compilation of two Gaelic words, dubh and uisg, meaning "darkwater" or "blackwater". At one time, the region was below sea-level and the Loch of Spynie and stagnant pools of water were a conspicuous feature of the area. In 961 DUFFUS, the son of King Malcolm the First, began his short four and one half year reign as the 78th King of Scots. He was the subject of witches' plots and later slain by "one Donald', with his body being hidden under the bridge which spanned the Kinlosse. The histories state that the sun failed to shine until the King's body was discovered and received a proper burial. Duffus Castle served as a fortress-residence for over six hundred years. During that time the place underwent great changes none more radical than the replacement of the original earth-and-timber castle by one of stone and lime. When the first castle was built about AD 1150, it was among the foremost defensible strongholds in Scotland. By the time of its abandonment in 1705, the once mighty medieval castle was little more than a decaying fragment of history, completely unsuited as a residence of nobility.
Size: 4434px × 5485px
Location: Duffus Castle, Elgin. Morayshire. Grampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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