Dufftown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dufftown
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 Approaching the Dufftown Clock Tower in the middle of Dufftown |
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 Dufftown
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| Population | 1,590 (2020) |
| OS grid reference | NJ323399 |
| • Edinburgh | 108 mi (174 km) SSW |
| • London | 430 mi (692 km) SSE |
| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KEITH |
| Postcode district | AB55 |
| Dialling code | 01340 |
| Police | Grampian |
| Fire | Grampian |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament |
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| Scottish Parliament |
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Dufftown (Scottish Gaelic: Baile Bhainidh) is a burgh in Moray, Scotland. While the town is part of the historic Mortlach parish, the town was established and laid out in the early 19th century as part of a planned new town settlement. The town has several listed 19th century buildings and serves as a regional centre for agriculture, tourism and services. The town is well known for its whisky based economy, as it produces more whisky than any other town in Scotland and is home to several existing and former distilleries.
Contents
Episcopal see
The Diocese of Mortlach was one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics. The names of four bishops of the see are known:
- Beóán of Mortlach (fl. 1012)
- "Donercius"
- "Cormauch"
- Nechtan, who transferred the see to Aberdeen in April 1132, during the reign of King David I of Scotland.
Today, the Diocese of Mortlach, under its Latin name of Murthlacum, is a titular see of the Catholic Church.
Climate
Dufftown has an oceanic climate typical of Northern Scotland, characterised by relatively mild, damp winters and cool cloudy summers. The area averages 76 air frosts a year. Like much of Europe, Dufftown's climate is insulated somewhat by the Gulf Stream, a warm ocean current originating near the gulf of Mexico. This warm ocean current makes Dufftown's climate significantly milder during the winter than expected for its latitude.
| Climate data for Keith (Nearest climate station to Dufftown)1981 - 2010 | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 5.9 (42.6) |
6.4 (43.5) |
8.4 (47.1) |
11.0 (51.8) |
13.8 (56.8) |
16.0 (60.8) |
18.5 (65.3) |
18.1 (64.6) |
15.6 (60.1) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.3 (46.9) |
5.7 (42.3) |
11.6 (53.0) |
| Average low °C (°F) | −0.6 (30.9) |
−0.6 (30.9) |
0.8 (33.4) |
2.6 (36.7) |
4.9 (40.8) |
7.8 (46.0) |
9.8 (49.6) |
9.4 (48.9) |
7.2 (45.0) |
4.5 (40.1) |
1.8 (35.2) |
−1.0 (30.2) |
3.9 (39.0) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 65.7 (2.59) |
57.8 (2.28) |
63.2 (2.49) |
59.6 (2.35) |
60.8 (2.39) |
77.8 (3.06) |
70.6 (2.78) |
75.6 (2.98) |
89.2 (3.51) |
100.9 (3.97) |
91.9 (3.62) |
64.7 (2.55) |
877.8 (34.57) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 45.9 | 77.3 | 108.2 | 142.2 | 190.0 | 152.7 | 156.8 | 145.6 | 117.5 | 89.6 | 53.2 | 35.0 | 1,314 |
| Source: metoffice | |||||||||||||
Popular culture
According to the third film in the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Hogwarts, the main setting of the series, is said to be close to Dufftown in an article of the Daily Prophet.
Education
Mortlach Primary School provides education to primary school age children in the town. The school was built in 1902 and was originally the parish school serving Mortlach.
Dufftown does not have its own secondary school, the nearest is Speyside High School in Aberlour.
Transport
The railway reached Dufftown in 1862 when the Keith and Dufftown Railway opened a station in the settlement. The station closed to passengers in 1968 with goods traffic coming to an end around 1991. In 2003, the Keith and Dufftown Association reopened the station and the line as a preserved railway and set up their headquarters at the station. The nearest station with mainline services is Keith railway station.
The primary road through the town is the A941 (the north/south portion is locally named Balvenie St and the east portion is named Fife Street). The A941 bisects the town and meets the B9009 at the clock tower junction, where another road, Church St heads to Mortlach Parish Church.
Notable people
- Leslie Benzies the former president of Rockstar North, which produces the famous Grand Theft Auto game series amongst other games, was born in Aberdeen and grew up in Dufftown.
- Dame Helen Carruthers Mackenzie, health campaigner, was born here in 1859.
- George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen, one of the founders of the Canadian Pacific Railway was born in Dufftown.
- William Grant, Lord Grant (1909–1972), Unionist Members of Parliament (MPs), Lord Advocate and Lord Justice Clerk, born in Dufftown
- William Robertson Nicoll, writer and Free Church Minister in Dufftown
Images for kids
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Glenfiddich, one of the whisky brands of Dufftown, established in 1886.
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The Whisky and Heritage Centre in Dufftown, a free local history museum focusing on whisky.
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Dufftown flower display, adjacent to the clock tower in 2021.
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Dufftown Library on Balvenie Street in the town centre.
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Dufftown Clock Tower, looking east along Fife Street.
See also
In Spanish: Dufftown para niños
