Welcome to Banff Preservation & Heritage Society & the Museum of Banff
Banff is a royal and ancient burgh. Some of the walls remain of a 12C castle of the kings of Scotland. We can show you ancient royal charters, and a medieval Mercat cross. There are many traces of medieval friars. There are some fine 17C buildings, but the town you see is very largely Georgian. There is a wealth of 18th century architecture which makes it unique in the north of Scotland. The gentry for miles around had their town houses in Banff, and many of these houses survive. They entertained a lot, and so needed silverware, and you can see the living tradition of Banff silver in the museum. It is a delightful town to walk round. Our greatest 18C building is Duff House in the outskirts, the finest country house north of the River Forth. And our old kirkyard has a wonderful collection of Georgian gravestones.
Banff Museum was founded in 1828 and is the oldest museum in Scotland north of Perth, though the present building dates from 1902. Banff Preservation and Heritage Society currently run the Museum in partnership with Aberdeenshire Museums Service. We hope to show its treasures on this site, but that is merely to whet your appetite for a real visit.
