For all you arch-traditionalists- pictures of a dead guy. Seriously.

[Alan H]

Walter Campbell was a proper, if eccentric Scottish Gentleman in the 1880's. He was the uncle of the Duke of Argyll and something of an architect. He designed, and had built a church in an amazing amalgam of styles, all mashed together into chaos which in fact turns out to be quite beautiful, called Saint Conans Kirk. The Kirk is on the shores of Loch Awe, which is MacNaughton country, and so I visited. I thoroughly enjoyed the Church, though I laughed my way through it until I realized that despite it's eccentricity, it actually "worked" in an unusual way. You can read about the Church on Wikipedia: here-> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Conan%E2%80%99s_Kirk

In the back is Sir Walter Douglas Campbells tomb, with a carved effigy of himself, in formal Highland dress, on the lid. It was the fact that it was FORMAL HIGHLAND DRESS that caught my eye and I knew that there was a contingent of lads here on X Marks who would be keenly interested in "How It Was Done". Mind you, Sir Walter died in 1914, so the effigy was carved about then. Seeing as a number of lads here likely feel that it was "done right back then" and would be interested in seeing some details, here then are some photographs taken close-up of Sir Walters effigy, to show details of the accepted Gentlemans Highland Dress of his time.

Enjoy.

Note the sporran, long plaid, doublet with gauntlet cuffs. He also has a small handlebar moustache.



Note the length of the kilt and how much space there is between the top of the hose and Sir Walters knee. If He has a sgian dubh in his left sock, it's hidden by the plaid, I'm afraid. Note that the plaid is fringed and the fringe is VERY long, at least 4-5 inches. Look closely and you will see that the kilt is knife pleated and the pleats are VERY deep.