Dufftown Clock Tower
Dufftown Clock Tower is a stone tower with a clock at the crossroads in the centre of Dufftown, Banffshire, at the focal point of the town square. It became a Class B listed building in 1972.[1]
The town was a planned settlement, developed from 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl Fife, near Balvenie Castle and . There are six malt whisky distilleries operating nearby: Dufftown, Mortlach, Glendullan, Balvenie, Kininvie, and Glenfiddich.
The three storey tower was constructed of grey granite with pink granite dressings in 1839,[1] as the town gaol. After use as a prison, and then as the Burgh Chambers, it is now a Tourist Information Centre.
The ground floor has doors to the south and west, with band courses between the floors. The first and second floors have a window recess on each elevation; some have a sash window but many are blank. The walls have some mock circular gun loops. The crenellated parapet has a clock face on each elevation, with a dummy bartizan at each corner. The tower was originally topped by a leaded steeple; it now has a bellcote with leaded ogee roof, ball finial and weathervane.[1]
The clock was brought to Dufftown from Banff, where it was known as "the Clock That Hanged MacPherson": was convicted and condemned to death, and the Sheriff of Banff Lord Braco put the clock forward by 15 minutes to ensure that MacPherson would be hanged before a pardon arrive.
Around the base of the tower are plaques commemorating Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1849-1912) and Lord Mount Stephen (1829-1921), and another plaque records that the clock was illuminated to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897.[1]
A single storey pink granite extension was added to the north in 1925.[1]
In 2011
In 2009
In 2007
In 2007
In 2006
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b c d e Historic Environment Scotland. "The Square, Clock Tower (LB24726)". Retrieved 28 October 2021.
- Category B listed buildings in Moray
- Clock towers in the United Kingdom
- Towers completed in the 19th century
- Dufftown