I am not an expert on Scottish tartans, nor is this Web page meant to express any opinion other than my own in regard to what I call the traditional Drummond tartan; a tartan pattern I have now studied extensively. This page was born of an early search for the Drummond clan tartan during one of my trips to Scotland. I searched high and low for the tartan pattern I saw most often depicted in books and Web sites, as well as the Victorian illustrations by Robert McIan and Kenneth MacLeay, as the tartan of Clan Drummond. It was also the pattern worn by the Drummonds when they met King George IV in Edinburgh in 1822.1 I was often directed to the Drummond of Perth sett, until I was told by an experienced weaver that the Drummond and Grant tartans are the same. Several clans share a common tartan with one or more other clans. The Campbells, for example, have the same tartan as the Black Watch. The Austin, Keith, and Marshall tartans are the same as well. Buchan and Cumming share an identical tartan, as does Drummond of Strathallan and Ogilvie of Airlie. The same is true for Drummond and Grant. This fact has been confirmed for me by Peter MacDonald, one of the leading tartan authorities in Scotland. "Basically," wrote Peter MacDonald, "it [the Drummond] and the Grant are the same thing."2 Maria Costantino, author of The Handbook of Clans & Tartans of Scotland, notes that, "Most Drummonds now wear the tartan also known as Grant."3 Another beautiful example of the official use of this pattern by Drummonds is seen in the photograph below. This silk dress was made in 1842 and worn by Lady Clementina Drummond, daughter of James Drummond, 11th Earl of Perth, and wife of the Baron Willoughby d'Eresby, for the visit of Queen Victoria to Drummond Castle in 1842. It was later worn by Lady Muriel Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby when she attended the Empire Ball. It was gifted to the Highland Folk Museum in Kingussie in the 1940s.
The basic pattern appears to be from one called New Bruce. In 1819, Patrick Grant of Redcastle ordered 200 yards of this pattern, which was subsequently adopted by Clan Grant as one of their many tartans. Then, according to Peter MacDonald, Clan Drummond adopted the pattern for themselves. There is no such thing as a standardized pattern; therefore, historically there are variations of the tartan under both the Grant and Drummond names.4 Incidentally, the thread count for Drummond tartan 457 is sometimes shown with an extra B4 in the count, creating three blue stripes between the green stripes; however, this is incorrect, as there should only be two blue stripes between the green stripes. It is helpful to understand that variations in tartan designs can occur over time. For example, Maria Costantino notes in her article on the Baird tartan that, "In this, and in an early 20th century sample from the Highland Society in London, the triple stripes are woven in red. Today, however, they are generally woven in purple."5 In commenting on the Davidson tartan, she points out that, "The clan tartan used today omits the white stripe of an earlier sett from 1822."6 The image below is a cloth sample of the tartan usually shown as representing Clan Drummond. As you can see, this is the sett that was used for the dress of Lady Clementina Drummond. It is also the sett illustrated in most sources as the tartan of Clan Drummond, including the Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, and was the inspiration in designing the Clan Drummond graphics for this site.7 This is also the sett sold as the tartan of Clan Grant.
Concerning the actual design of the tartan; I understand the present chief of Clan Grant's preference is for the pair of two dark stripes, of unequal widths to be modified to render all four stripes the same width. This, however, is not a new departure: The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans, a book published in 1890 by W. & A.K. Johnston, has an illustration of the Drummond tartan with all four stripes the same, as does the new book on tartans by Maria Costantino.8 The MacLeay illustration shows Duncan Drummond wearing a plaid with the stripes of unequal widths; however, the kilt he is wearing clearly shows four stripes of equal width. This is also the variation in the design that is made for Drummonds by Lochcarron of Scotland.9 Therefore, anyway you look at it, the Drummonds and Grants therefore share a common tartan. Finally, those who claim the use of this pattern by Drummonds is erroneous should consider that members of the clan have now been wearing this pattern for over 185 years. It is also the tartan Drummonds most wear today. The pattern may have first been adopted by a Grant, but the Drummonds have a very proud history with this tartan. Even if you have to ask for it under the name Grant, rest assured that it is also a Drummond tartan. Copyright © 2004-2008 Fr. Scott Archer 1
"Drummond." Scottish Tartans Society.
April 22,
2004.<http://www.scottish-tartans-society.co/uk/search-for-tartans/details.asp?tsno=457>. Note: I gratefully acknowledge Rachel Chisholm, assistant curator of the Highland Folk Museum, for permission to use the photograph of the dress of Lady Clementina Drummond for this Web page. She also provided the history of the dress. |
