Entries by Ian Williams

Muckle Spate

In August 1829 the worst floods known around Banff occured; could have been much worse if it wasn’t for the Craigs of Alvah and the Duff House estate wall.

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Duff House garden Vinery

The Vinery – the large glasshouse – that is seen by everyone coming into Banff, used to be part of the Duff House estate. A Diary, by an estate gardener John Donaldson, amongst lots of other interesting references, provides the information that the Vinery was built in 1873.

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Hill of Doune Urn

One of the first tourists that recorded their trip around Scotland was Thomas Pennant; 250 years ago last week, 14th August in 1769, he visited Banff and recorded a bronze age urn found on the Hill of Doune.

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Out of the Blue

It’s Monday morning, 22nd July 1940 – 79 years ago. The day is just getting going, just after nine o’clock in the morning – another great summer morning. A lone Heinkel bomber disturbs the peace….

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Market Street, Macduff

Many towns around the UK have a Market Street, like Macduff; or a Market Place, like Banff. Old Market Place in Banff, between Tesco and The Spotty Bag shop, was indeed just that – a place where markets were held, although other places have also been used. However, in Macduff, it seems Market Street was not used for that purpose and the name has a different background.