The History
The Vinery boasts a storied and extensive history, spanning three centuries. Throughout this illustrious past, it has witnessed eras of opulence and splendour, as well as endured a prolonged period of neglect, only to be reinvigorated by a collective determination to restore its beauty. This revitalisation effort involved a period of lobbying and meticulous planning, ultimately culminating in the grand reopening of The Vinery in June 2022.
1740
Duff House one of Scotland’s finest classical houses was designed in 1740 by William Adam.
1873
The vinery glasshouse was constructed within the walled gardens in 1873 for growing grapes on the Duff House estate.
2010
An attempt was made by the North East Scotland Preservation Trust in partnership with the Banff and Macduff Community Trust to secure funding to restore the vinery site and its derelict buildings
2019
A Community Reference group was established in 2019, which included Aberdeenshire council officers and representatives from a range of local groups. Scotland’s Association for Mental Health (SAMH) responded to an open call to operate the site.
March 2021
On 9 March 2021 the Banff and Buchan Area Committee selected Aberdeen Foyer as the preferred operator of the Vinery site and consequently a further statutory consultation period was instigated. In view of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions, this consultation was undertaken online including use of social media sites to gather community reactions. It ran from March to May 2021.
June 2021
As a result of the favourable responses to the Common Good Consultation, on 15 June 2021 the Banff and Buchan Area Committee approved a 25-year lease agreement with Aberdeen Foyer for the establishment of a community project.
January, February & March 2022
In January 2022 Aberdeen Foyer appointed a Team Lead for the Grow @ The Vinery project and following that appointment recruitment of team members commenced.
Recruitment began in February 2022 in conjunction with the job subsidy scheme, part of the No One Left Behind initiative which aims to boost employment opportunities and enhance skill levels for people. The first five team members started employment in March.
April 2022
Supported by pupils from Banff Academy, the Vinery team facilitated a promotion event in April 2022. Over 50 community members attended and were encouraged to feedback on the plans to date.
On 27 April 2022, Karen Adam MSP (Scottish National Party) for Banffshire and Buchan Coast tabled the motion “The Rebirth of Duff House Vinery” in the Scottish Parliament.
May 2022
From May 2022 Foyer began to offer a variety of health and wellbeing activities including guided walks in the gardens, cookery sessions, mindfulness sessions, art, yoga and tai chi. In addition training sessions were run at Banff Castle including CV building workshops.
On 27 May 2022 the Foyer team were given the keys to the renovated Bothy on the Vinery site and began to prepare it for use.
June 2022
On 17 June 2022, the Foyer team were handed the keys for the restored glasshouse building at the Vinery. And later that month, 29 June 2022, a post on the Vinery Facebook page announced the Vinery opening.
We are grateful to be able to provide help, services and a place for people of Banff and the surrounding areas to come together. We hope to evolve and take everyone’s suggestions and needs onboard to best serve our community in this historically significant location.