Hodden Gray tartan

[Alan H]

All right, I give up. What's it look like?

[macwilkin]

All right, I give up. What's it look like?

Hodden Grey is worn by two regiments, the London Scottish and the Toronto Scottish in Canada:

http://www.londonscottishregt.org/

http://www.regiments.org/tradition/tartans/hodden.htm

http://www.regiments.org/regiments/u...nf/L14scot.htm

http://www.stephen-roberts.com/Tor-Scot-R.htm

Plenty of piccies on these sites, plus a history of the tartan.

Hodden Grey is also mentioned in the song "The Star o' Rabbie Burns" (tho' he was but a ploughman lad, and wore the Hodden grey) in reference to the plain homespun dress of Burns.

I've always wanted a kilt in Hodden grey -- very natty, INMHO.

Hope this helps!

Cheers,

Todd

[sav]

Todd,
Very natty, indeed! I do like that!
*note to self: add Hodden Gray to wishlist*

[Alan H]

Ah, Todd, it's an earthy gray-brown solid color, then? I had thought it a tartan pattern.

Huh, the things you learn. Thanks!

[macwilkin]

Ah, Todd, it's an earthy gray-brown solid color, then? I had thought it a tartan pattern.

Huh, the things you learn. Thanks!

Yes, it is not a tartan. Lord Elcho, who raised the London Scottish, chose it for that very reason so as not to show "favouritism" with any one particular clan.

T.

[Hamish]

Several years ago (before the birth of "X Marks.....") I was given a London Scottish Hodden Grey kilt for my 'Kollection' but, since I do not collect kilts that I cannot wear, I gave it away to a Utilikilt-wearing friend. It was not because of the military connection that I disposed of it, rather it was due to it being a 28" waist when I was more like a 36" at the time!!!

It was a beautiful kilt; superbly tailored and, of course, with the blue fringe to the apron. I have now lost contact with Evan but I never saw him wear it although it fitted him perfectly. I wish I had kept it now.

[GMan]

Hind sight Ham, sigh, it does present a lovely kilt.

[MacConnachie]

Hodden Grey is also mentioned in the song "The Star o' Rabbie Burns" (tho' he was but a ploughman lad, and wore the Hodden grey) in reference to the plain homespun dress of Burns.

Todd, is that the same as Is There For Honest Poverty (A Man's A Man, For A' That)?

Work for our local 2006 Burns' Nicht is proceeding ahead. Decorations this year will include a number of tartan samples, with the clans, districts, personages, etc. of each identified, for a' those wha be sae uninitiate.

Mac

[macwilkin]

Todd, is that the same as Is There For Honest Poverty (A Man's A Man, For A' That)?

Work for our local 2006 Burns' Nicht is proceeding ahead. Decorations this year will include a number of tartan samples, with the clans, districts, personages, etc. of each identified, for a' those wha be sae uninitiate.

Mac

Well, I'll swan...I forgot that RB mentions Hodden Grey in "A Man's a Man"! ;)

No, this is a song written in the 19th century, if memory serves me:

The Star o' Rabbie Burns

There is a star whose beaming ray
Is shed on ev'ry clime.
It shines by night, it shines by day
And ne'er grows dim wi' time.
It rose upon the banks of Ayr,
It shone on Doon's clear stream -
A hundred years are gane and mair,
Yet brighter grows its beam.

Chorus
Let kings and courtiers rise and fa',
This world has mony turns
But brightly beams aboon them a'
The star o' Rabbie Burns.

Though he was but a ploughman lad
And wore the hodden grey,
Auld Scotland's sweetest bard was bred
Aneath a roof o'strae.
To sweep the strings o'Scotia's lyre,
It needs nae classic lore;
It's mither wit an native fire
That warms the bosom's core.

Chorus

On fame's emblazon'd page enshrin'd
His name is foremost now,
And many a costly wreath's been twin'd
To grace his honest brow.
And Scotland's heart expands wi' joy
Whene'er the day returns
That gave the world its peasant boy
Immortal Rabbie Burns.

Chorus

--words by James Thomson and music by James Booth

Cheers,

Todd

[Moosehead]

Hodden was chosen by Lord Elcho so as not to suffer any fights amongst the tartaned Scots. That, and it was the standard homespun of the Highlands.