Black Watch Tartan 1750's

[figheadair]

Would some one be able to help me identify which tartan was worn by the 42nd Regt of foot, Black Watch, from 1754 - 1763. Or the closest matching tartan manufactured today?

i've spent most of the evening trying to locate some information online and discovered about 20 tartans under the Black Watch name including 11 modern, 4 ancient and others identified as dress and weathered.

Any helpful push in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.


Jacques

Are you asking about the setting or that shades? If the former then it's the same as today. The shades are a bit trickier as there are no known surviving specimens. The only known 18th century specimen of the Black Watch tartan dates to c1795 and cannot be used as an example,. There are however some portraits which are a guide and all show a pattern where the individual lines and colours are recognisable i.e. not dark. The truth is that there was probably greater variation than we would think of compared with today. None of the mills produces 42nd tartan to stock that is correct for the period, it can be done as a special though. PM me if you're interested.