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Home Page | Moray Attractions | Ancient Monuments and Castles in Moray | Duffus Castle

Duffus Castle

Address: 5 miles north west of Elgin on the B9012 road to Burghead
Town: Duffus
County: Moray
Telephone: 01667 460232
Opening Times: Any Reasonable Time
Description
Duffus Castle stands on an elevated mound on what was once the north western shore of the Loch of Spynie.   Over the years this loch silted up and was drained to be reclaimed as farmland.   A deep moat surrounded the castle, which can still be seen, with a parapet wall and drawbridge.   From the then low lying marshy state of the ground it was a peninsula, and thus well secured against attack.

Duffus Castle is a typical Norman building and the finest of its type in the north of Scotland.   The castle was built around the middle of the 12th century by Freskyn, in the reign of King David I.  Not much is known about the background of Freskyn, but it is assumed that he was a Flemish merchant adventurer of his time, who already owned an estate in Linlithgow, and was given the land at Duffus by King David I.   His family assumed the title "de Moravia" (of Moray) and became one of the most powerful and influential families in the North of Scotland. 

Freskyn built a great castle of earth and wood around the middle of the 12th century in what is known as the motte and bailey style.   As the castle was nearing completion King David I himself stayed at the castle while supervising the construction of Kinloss Abbey.

Freskyn's direct line ended in 1270 and the castle passed in to the ownership of Sir Reginald Cheyne.   Around 1350 the last Cheyne died, leaving the castle and estate to his daughter who was married to the fourth Earl of Sutherland.   The Sutherlands were descended from Freskyn and the castle remained in their possession until 1705 when the castle was abandoned.
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