origins of the black watch tartan

[figheadair]

Sorry Blaidd but I have to take issue with some of your reply.

The Black Watch tartan, associated with the British infantry regiment of the same name, has a long history. Alternatively known as Grant Hunting or Government tartan, Black Watch tartan was worn first by the six “watch” companies that once patrolled the Highlands.

This is one of the stories about its origins. Unfortunately, hard facts don't exist to support this. May have been worn, yes; but was worn, there is no evidence.

The tartan itself was produced by over 60 weavers in the Strathspey area which was home to Clan Grant.

It is not certain that the Strathspey weavers wove the material for all the HICs. It's entirely possible that they only wove for the northern companies and that the companies raised by the Campbells had their material woven elsewhere.

The dark blue, black and green plaid that we know today as Black Watch is believed to have been a tartan of Clan Grant originally, hence the alternative name Grant Hunting.

Believed by whom? There is no evidence to support the Grants having worn this prior to its adoption by the regiment. The name Grant, Hunting comes from a collection formed in 1810.

Given that half of the six original companies were Campbells though, the origin of the plaid may belong to this Clan.

The Campbells have claimed it as such for many years but again, there is no proof.

In 2006 all six army regiments that existed in Scotland were merged to form the Royal Regiment of Scotland. This new regiment was given the Government tartan as their own.

At risk of being pedantic, it was the six Scottish regular army infantry regiments, plus the two Territorial ones.