Estate Tartans

[ThistleDown]

Many estates have/had estate tweeds. Fewer have estate tartans. The first pic following shows a tweed kilt, and the second estate tartan kilts and some remarkable hose. Can anyone identify the tartan? Peter? That will tell us where that pic was taken, but I am told it was in Highland Perthshire.

[Jock Scot]

I cannot help with identifying the kilt cloth, or where it is placed Rex. Searching my imperfect mind and as far as I am aware, these days, the only actual tartan that an estate uses in some form, is the Balmoral. Although the stalkers and ghillies from that estate are clad in tweed jackets, waistcoats, bonnets and plus 2/4/6's in Balmoral Estate tweed these days. I have not heard of anyone in recent times wearing the Balmoral tweed in kilt form.

Here is a stalker from Glen Lyon clad in the kilt made from estate tweed.I can't remember which estate though.
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In fact I have only ever come across two stalkers who wore the kilt full time. One the chap in the above picture and another who wore his Black Watch tartan kilt. Kilts are occasionally worn on the hill by those shooting(me for one) and Estate staff and those would be a Clan tartan not an Estate tartan or Estate tweed.

Looking at the first of your pictures Rex, I cannot help but think that is a posed picture. Why?

No stalker would ever wear black, its the one unnatural colour that anyone stalking would ever wear, it can be seen for miles! Silver buttons glinting in the sun? Never! Fancy hose in those days were far too precious to take out on the hill! And that sporran? Far too fancy for the supposed job in hand.

[ThistleDown]

Thanks, Jock. The Cawdor estate stalkers wore tartan in the twenties, but not today. The Mackintosh and his keepers on Moy wore tweed kilts at the same time, and Tulloch in Ross and his keepers wore tartan in the last years of the 19C, but we've no record of what that was. Tulloch is no more and the keepers on the Moy estate are not employed by Mackintosh. Some time ago somebody posted pics of hose similar to those in both these photos. That might give a clue.

Yes, black with silver buttons. The first photo seems to have been taken near Ruthven in Strathdearn and more recently than the second photo.

[Jock Scot]

Strathdearn? Yes it could be there, but then, I can think of more than a few places all over Scotland like that. Agreed, your first picture is of a more modern era than your second.

[ThistleDown]

That's Milton of Moy in the distance, Jock. Or it could be someplace else

What ties the two pics together despite the apparent disparity in dates, is the hose.

[Jock Scot]

That's Milton of Moy in the distance, Jock. Or it could be someplace else

Of course local knowledge of the landmarks on the horizon does help!

[Techguy]

Its amazing how there are tweeds and tartans, and here in ireland they opt for single colours, I think the tartan is more kilt like if thats possible,

Ken

[figheadair]

Many estates have/had estate tweeds. Fewer have estate tartans. The first pic following shows a tweed kilt, and the second estate tartan kilts and some remarkable hose. Can anyone identify the tartan? Peter? That will tell us where that pic was taken, but I am told it was in Highland Perthshire.

The first outfit looks as though it's one like a Royal Ghillies from the Balmoral Estate.

I've seen the second one before but the tartan appears to be a simple check. It's not a design that is easily identified and it could well be a sett that's no longer in use.

I love this one. Finlay, deerstalker in the employ of Campbell of Islay c1880 by D. O. Hill. I've not looked in detail by the sett looks like a variation of Ogilvie/Drummond of Strathallan.

[piperdbh]

In the second picture Rex posted, what is the purpose of the board that the men have their feet on?

[ThistleDown]

dbh, I think it's the footrest part of the viewing bench.