Dufftown Clock Tower facts for kids

Dufftown Clock Tower in 2011

The Dufftown Clock Tower is a cool stone tower with a clock. It stands right in the middle of Dufftown, a town in Banffshire, Scotland. This tower is a special historic building, protected since 1972. It's a famous landmark in the town square.

Exploring the Dufftown Clock Tower

A Town Built with a Plan

Dufftown was a specially planned town. It was started in 1817 by James Duff, 4th Earl Fife. The town was built near important places like Balvenie Castle. Today, Dufftown is well-known for its many whisky distilleries nearby. These include Dufftown, Mortlach, Glendullan, Balvenie, Kininvie, and Glenfiddich.

The Tower's History and Design

The Dufftown Clock Tower was built in 1839. It has three floors and is made from grey granite with pink granite details. When it was first built, it was used as the town's jail! After being a prison, it became the place where town meetings were held. Today, it's a helpful Tourist Information Centre. This means visitors can go there to find out more about Dufftown and the surrounding area.

What the Tower Looks Like

The ground floor of the tower has doors on its south and west sides. Each floor above has spaces for windows, though some are just blank. You might even spot some fake circular openings that look like gun loops! The top of the tower has a cool, castle-like edge with a clock face on each side. There are also decorative corners. The tower used to have a pointy lead roof, but now it has a small bell tower with a fancy roof and a weathervane.

The Clock's Special Story

The clock in the Dufftown Clock Tower has an interesting past. It was brought to Dufftown from a town called Banff. In Banff, this clock was known for a dramatic event involving a man named MacPherson. The story goes that the local leader, Lord Braco, moved the clock forward by 15 minutes. This was to make sure MacPherson's punishment happened quickly.

Remembering Important People

Around the bottom of the tower, you can find special plaques. One plaque remembers Alexander Duff, 1st Duke of Fife (1849-1912). Another plaque honors Lord Mount Stephen (1829-1921). There's also a plaque that tells us the clock was lit up in 1897. This was to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, a big celebration of her 60 years as queen.

Later Additions

In 1925, a small, single-story extension was added to the north side of the tower. This part is also made of pink granite.

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