History of the Kilt

[Robbie]

Rather than repeat everything that was posted before, can I suggest you look in the Traditional Kilt section under the heading Historic Quiz - you may find the answer you're looking for there in the many posts on that topic.

[Graham]

Dan, there was a lot written on the history of the kilt in a very good thread by Robbie, I suggest you look over it, you may find some good answers there.

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=437

[dan]

Re: As to the confusion over my "banning" satements...what I was trying to point out Dan, was how can you ban something that later writers claim didn't exist...please refer to The Act of Proscription 1746...it is quite specific, why would the English ban tartans and kilts if they weren't even "invented" until over 100 years later...it would be like the Pharaohs banning automobiles

..... the point is of course this... was it the eileadh mór (big wrap) which was being banned? If we presume so, then these statements from the Act of Proscription are irrelevant.

[dan]

Re: "remark regarding Scottish "institutionalised transvestism". You obviously had some interest or concern in the matter, yet this issue seems to have been set aside. Who are you quoting?".... it is an (anti-scottish?) quip which is going around England/London at the moment. There is a lot of negativity in England towards Scotland in repsonse to devolution and the resurgance of Scottish Nationalism which is seen as "ungratefulness"/spite by many south of the border.

[dan]

re: "Rather than repeat everything that was posted before, can I suggest you look in the Traditional Kilt section under the heading Historic Quiz - you may find the answer you're looking for there in the many posts on that topic."

...thanks. The point is of course trying to separate out the "facts" from the fiction.. too much of what passes for and is talked of as facts/history is in fact fokelore/propaganda/wishful thinking. Particularly in respect to Scotland whose history seems to have been completely romanticised/disney-fied and other wise mangled.

Dan

[Robbie]

With regard to what was banned by Proscription, tha actual wording is "the clothes commonly called Highland clothes (that is to say) the Plaid, Philabeg, or little Kilt, Trowse, Shoulder-belts, or any part whatever of what peculiarly belongs to the Highland Garb; and that no tartan or party-coloured plaid or stuff shall be used for Great Coats or upper coats" - seems a pretty comprehensive list to me!

With regard to your other comment regarding fact or romanticised fiction, this really comes down to who (whom?) you believe and in these earlier posts I was always careful to only include comments/views from recognised leading world authorities where the source of information was given and could be cross-checked either against the original material or confirming views by other authorities.

[Alaskan Celt]

[macwilkin]

A colleague of mine in the Park Service forwarded me an e-mail concerning the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge (1776), where supposedly the "last" Highland Charge with broadswords was made by Scottish loyalists against Ulster-Scottish Patriot forces (Their battle cry was "King George & Broadswords!
) ... for years it was portrayed as a "mini-Culloden", with great kilts, etc., but now research is showing that highland dress was not as prevelent as once belived...BUT, we know that their were Scottish Loyalist regiments like the Royal Highland Immigrants that wore kilt & tartan, and I remember reading a story about a fellow buried in Texas in the 1850's in full kilt, only to be exhumed by a relative when a graveyard was to be moved -- the fellow opened the coffin and discovered the old boy in a kilt and registered the tartan as the "Laing" tartan.

It's an interesting subject, to be sure. I think the Scots in Canada certainly were aware & displayed their colours, and I believe that some (but not all) did in the lower colonies as well.

Great posts, Alaskan Celt!

T.

[Hamish]

.... it is an (anti-scottish?) quip which is going around England/London at the moment. There is a lot of negativity in England towards Scotland in repsonse to devolution and the resurgance of Scottish Nationalism which is seen as "ungratefulness"/spite by many south of the border.

Dan, I am not clear as to where you get this information, or is it a gut feeling perhaps? I live in the south of England and am frequently in London - I have many friends there - but I have not experienced this at all. I seem to be welcomed wherever I go with friendly smiles and compliments(and I am always kilted). I have not received, nor seen nor heard, any derogatory remarks about us Scots (I am part Scot, part English) coming from "the English" in England!

[phil h]

Personally, I think the Rawlinson story is just the English trying to horn in on the Scots again.

it is supposed to be true as far as the reader of a letter goes,to the best of his knowledge.......
here read this
Part of a 1768 letter from IVAN BAILLIE of Aberiachan on Loch Ness. It isn't known who he was writing to but it was said that he was a man of good position and a reliable witness.

"In answer to your inquiry, I do report, according to the best of my knowledge and the intelligence of persons of credit, and very advanced ages, that the piece of Highland dress, termed in the Gaelic felie-beg, and in our Scots little kilt, is rather of late than ancient usage.

The upper garment of the Highlanders was the tartan or party-coloured plaid, termed in the Gaelic 'breccan,' when buckled round by a belt and the lower part plaited and the upper loose from the, shoulders.

The dress was termed in the Gaelic felie, and in the Scots kilt. It was a cumbersome unwieldy habit to men at work or travelling in a hurry, and the lower class could not afford the expense of the belted trousers or breeches. They wore short coats, waistcoats, and shirts of as great length as they could afford; and such parts as were not covered by these remained naked to the tying of garters on their hose.

About 50 years ago (1718) , one Thomas Rawlinson, an Englishman, conducted an iron work carried on in the countries of Glengarie and Lochaber; he had a throng of Highlanders employed in the service, and became very fond of the Highland dress, and wore it in the neatest form; which I can aver, as I became personally acquainted with him above 40 years ago.

He was a man of genius and quick parts, and thought it no great stretch of invention to abridge the dress, and make it handy and convenient for his workmen: and accordingly directed the using of the lower part plaited of what is called the felie or kilt as above, and the upper part was set aside; and this piece of dress, so modelled as a diminutive of the former, was in the Gaelic termed felie-beg (beg in that tongue signifies little) and in our Scots termed little kilt; and it was found so handy and convenient, that, in the shortest space, the use of it became frequent in all the Highland Countries, and in many of our northern Low Countries also.

like another poster pointed out, it's only from letters like this we get a look at what may have been going on.

also........
The First small kilt.Source : one of the Guides at HOLLYROOD March 1998. "The kilt, as we know it today, was a compromise to the outlawed great kilt. Because Scotts were being jailed for wearing their family plaids, the English designed the modern kilt in London. 1822, George IV wore it for the first time at Holyrood Palace, thus gave permission to wear this small kilt to the Scotts. The great kilt was considered battle dress or a threat to authority. The great kilt had folds to carry and conceal weapons or belongings. Hence the sporran, in which a sword could not be hidden. The weapons carried by the Highlander were more obvious, wearing the small kilt. This compromise allowed the proud Scotts to wear their family tartans and assured the British of peacefull intentions.". The Photo is of a larger than life painting of King Gorge IV hanging in the Palace of HOLYROODHOUSE by Sir David Wilkie.
It may choke in the craw of some Scotts, as it did for our Guide from Spea Bridge, but the modern kilt is really of British design.


The short kilt came into fashion around 1745ish because an English General wanted to supply uniform to a Scottish regiment at the least cost so the old Great Kilt was abandoned. Obviously the General liked it. More recently, due to Walter Scott’s friendship with the monarchy and a letter he wrote to the Times about the only way to receive royalty is wearing a kilt, the current version of the modern short kilt was popularised and came into fashion. The Victorians embellished with all sorts of dress accoutrements such as dirks, daggers, swords, pistols and powder-horns.