After the Battle of Culloden on 16th April 1746, Prince Charles Edward Stuart was a fugitive in the West Highlands until rescued by French ships in Arisaig on 20th September. His escape took him into the 'safe' Clanranald territory of Morar, Arisaig and Moidart. He was sheltered by Angus and Catriona MacDonald of Borrodale.
Six days later the Prince, four companions, Donald MacLeod and seven Clanranalds, sailed for the Outer Hebrides in an eight-oared boat of the Borrodales. As soon as they were clear of the sheltered waters of the sea loch at Arisaig, a violent storm arose. Driven by the gale through the night and in constant danger of capsizing, the boat reached Benbecula where the Prince, his companions and crew hid for two days. They then sailed to Scalpay off Harris where they were hospitably received by Donald Campbell a tenant of MacLeod of Dunvegan, and where the Prince was given a change of clothes. On departure, he left the sea-soaked tartan lately given to him by Lady Borrodale, with Donald Campbell and his family.
Two fragments of this tartan cloth are known to have survived. One in the West Highland Museum, Fort William, and the other among a collection of Stuart relics at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire. The pieces were brought together by Peter MacDonald, Handloom Weaver, Crieff, who reconstructed the original tartan, using dyes to match the original colours of indigo blue and cochineal red. The research to authenticate the history of the tartan, was carried out by Mr Tom Massey Lynch on behalf of Stonyhurst College, and the recreated tartan was displayed in the Royal Museum of Scotland by courtesy of the Trustees of the College.
--
http://freespace.virgin.net/john.hug...b/borodale.htm
Bookmarks