Black Watch Tartan..can you tell me about it?

[Avonlea22]

I've been looking a lot at the black watch tartan for my first kilt, but was curious what, if any, history is behind it. It seems to be a readily accepted "generic" tartan, and I'm curious as to why. I love the color combination in it, and feel it will be the tartan I choose, but I'd certainly love to know something abou it.

thanks

[macwilkin]

From the Scottish Tartans Authority's web site:

Black Watch – also known as the Universal or Government tartan. Whilst being worn by the 42nd Black Watch Regiment (The Royal Highland Regiment), since 1739 this tartan has formed the basis upon which many other Regiment's tartans were designed, most notably Gordon (Gordon Highlanders), MacKenzie (Seaforth Highlanders and the Highland Light Infantry), Sutherland (Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).
The belief that the Black Watch tartan was based on the Campbell Tartan is disputed by several experts. (The Black Watch Pipers wear the Stewart Royal Tartan).
The "Watches" were a system of policing to prevent cattle lifting and the Black Watch tartan was eminently suitable in this role.

Also worn by
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) until 1901 when they adopted the Hunting Stewart.
The Gordon Highlanders (75th & 92nd Foot), wore the Black Watch tartan prior to 1778 after which a yellow line was added.
The 91st Argyllshire Highlanders, raised in 1794.
The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (the tartan was referred to as the Sutherland tartan but was the Black Watch in a slightly lighter shade)
Breadalbane Fencibles 1793 wore the Black Watch at first but later added two yellow lines .It became called the Campbell of Breadalbane
New South Wales Scottish (Australia)
Royal New South Wales Regiment (Australia)
Dunedin Highland Rifle Volunteers (New Zealand)
Wellington Highlanders (New Zealand)
Auckland Highland Rifle Volunteers (New Zealand)
1st Armoured Car Regiment (New Zealand Scottish)
Royal Durban Light Infantry (South Africa)
Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

-- http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...talTartans.asp

Before the´45, six Independent Companies (of soldiery) were raised to police the Highlands of Scotland, so creating a Regiment called the Black Watch.

Before 1740, they used a dark tartan which came to be called the Black Watch. Its origin is still argued but when tartan was proscribed it became the Government tartan and is now a Universal one, that all may wear.

-- http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...regimental.cfm

The Third quote comes from Matthew Newsome's article on pre-Culloden (The 1746 Battle) Tartans:

The Black Watch also has a very complicated story. We know the tartan was implemented for use by the Highland Companies in 1725. Where it was derived from is up for debate. Some say it was an original design, new at the time. Some say it was an older Campbell tartan. Others argue that it was woven as the basis of several diverse tartans already in use at the time.

For the first hypothesis, the tartan is said to have been invented by Lord Crawford, who formed the Regiment. Uniform of dress was desired, and not wanting to pick one clan over another, he designed a new tartan. If this account is true, it upsets the Campbell claim that their clan first used this tartan.

For the second hypothesis, we must consider that several of the original battalion were commanded by Campbells, and since it was customary for regiments to wear the tartan of their leaders, when a uniform tartan was desired for the company, the Campbell was selected because of the prominence of that name among the commanders. However, there is no evidence that the Campbells wore this tartan or anything similar prior to this time.

The third hypothesis is based on the fact that a large number of tartans have as their basis the "Black Watch" pattern. Without going into too much detail, tartans exhibiting this pattern can be shown to date back at least to 1715 (from a MacRae kilt worn at Sherriffmuir). Other tartans with this design, such as Gordon and Forbes, are known to date from later than the Black Watch and were based on it.

So, as for the origin of this tartan, we simply don't have enough proof to say. However, we do know it was adopted for use in 1725, and so meets your friend's criteria for pre-Culloden tartans.

-- http://www.albanach.org


I hope this helps!

Cheers,

T.

[Avonlea22]

Wow! Yes it does. Thank you!

[Jerry]

From the Scottish Tartans Authority's web site:

Black Watch – also known as the Universal or Government tartan. Whilst being worn by the 42nd Black Watch Regiment (The Royal Highland Regiment), since 1739 this tartan has formed the basis upon which many other Regiment's tartans were designed, most notably Gordon (Gordon Highlanders), MacKenzie (Seaforth Highlanders and the Highland Light Infantry), Sutherland (Princess Louise's Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders).
The belief that the Black Watch tartan was based on the Campbell Tartan is disputed by several experts. (The Black Watch Pipers wear the Stewart Royal Tartan).
The "Watches" were a system of policing to prevent cattle lifting and the Black Watch tartan was eminently suitable in this role.

Also worn by
The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) until 1901 when they adopted the Hunting Stewart.
The Gordon Highlanders (75th & 92nd Foot), wore the Black Watch tartan prior to 1778 after which a yellow line was added.
The 91st Argyllshire Highlanders, raised in 1794.
The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (the tartan was referred to as the Sutherland tartan but was the Black Watch in a slightly lighter shade)
Breadalbane Fencibles 1793 wore the Black Watch at first but later added two yellow lines .It became called the Campbell of Breadalbane
New South Wales Scottish (Australia)
Royal New South Wales Regiment (Australia)
Dunedin Highland Rifle Volunteers (New Zealand)
Wellington Highlanders (New Zealand)
Auckland Highland Rifle Volunteers (New Zealand)
1st Armoured Car Regiment (New Zealand Scottish)
Royal Durban Light Infantry (South Africa)
Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

-- http://www.tartansauthority.com/Web/...talTartans.asp

Before the´45, six Independent Companies (of soldiery) were raised to police the Highlands of Scotland, so creating a Regiment called the Black Watch.

Before 1740, they used a dark tartan which came to be called the Black Watch. Its origin is still argued but when tartan was proscribed it became the Government tartan and is now a Universal one, that all may wear.

-- http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...regimental.cfm

The Third quote comes from Matthew Newsome's article on pre-Culloden (The 1746 Battle) Tartans:

The Black Watch also has a very complicated story. We know the tartan was implemented for use by the Highland Companies in 1725. Where it was derived from is up for debate. Some say it was an original design, new at the time. Some say it was an older Campbell tartan. Others argue that it was woven as the basis of several diverse tartans already in use at the time.

For the first hypothesis, the tartan is said to have been invented by Lord Crawford, who formed the Regiment. Uniform of dress was desired, and not wanting to pick one clan over another, he designed a new tartan. If this account is true, it upsets the Campbell claim that their clan first used this tartan.

For the second hypothesis, we must consider that several of the original battalion were commanded by Campbells, and since it was customary for regiments to wear the tartan of their leaders, when a uniform tartan was desired for the company, the Campbell was selected because of the prominence of that name among the commanders. However, there is no evidence that the Campbells wore this tartan or anything similar prior to this time.

The third hypothesis is based on the fact that a large number of tartans have as their basis the "Black Watch" pattern. Without going into too much detail, tartans exhibiting this pattern can be shown to date back at least to 1715 (from a MacRae kilt worn at Sherriffmuir). Other tartans with this design, such as Gordon and Forbes, are known to date from later than the Black Watch and were based on it.

So, as for the origin of this tartan, we simply don't have enough proof to say. However, we do know it was adopted for use in 1725, and so meets your friend's criteria for pre-Culloden tartans.

-- http://www.albanach.org


I hope this helps!

Cheers,

T.

I hope that this is mis-information, but I saw in another forum that the "Blackwatch" regiment along with some other highland regiments are being disbanded due to cutbacks in the British military budget. Please tell me that this is wrong. The Blackwatch is an important part of English and Scittish history, and should not be lost.

[macwilkin]

JerMac,

Sadly, it is not misinformation. The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) and the following are all facing the politicians axe/pen:

The Royal Scots
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
The Highlanders
The Royal Highland Fusiliers

Many people in Scotland and around the world are fighting for them -- hopefully they will be saved. Ironically, most of the regiments have served or are serving in Iraq -- the Watch has went twice.

Cheers,

T.

[Jerry]

JerMac,

Sadly, it is not misinformation. The Black Watch (The Royal Highland Regiment) and the following are all facing the politicians axe/pen:

The Royal Scots
The King's Own Scottish Borderers
The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders
The Highlanders
The Royal Highland Fusiliers

Many people in Scotland and around the world are fighting for them -- hopefully they will be saved. Ironically, most of the regiments have served or are serving in Iraq -- the Watch has went twice.

Cheers,

T.

This is truely sad. It is akin to the American army disbanding the "Old Guard" (US 3rd Infantry Regiment). It is the oldest active infantry unit in the US army. Is there an email address where I can send an email in support of the highland regiments?

[Miah]

My Old Marine Corps Unit is nomore either :x
I wish that these type of things wouldn't happen.

[bubba]

Y'know, these days traditions don't mean much to Govts or much of the public. Just the times we live in. We have to take on the job Monks did during the Dark Ages and preserve what we can. Eventually people will want to know these things again.