Posted by Maris on 7th Jul 2023

Clan Campbell Tartans – Everything To Know

Campbell Tartan is one of Scotland’s most famous and popular tartans. Join us to learn more about this tartan.

History of Campbell Tartan

The Campbell tartan also known as the ancient Black Watch was supposedly appointed for the Highland Companies in 1725 and later for the Black Watch in 1739 may in fact have been worn by the Campbells at an earlier date. However, when the original Highland companies were formed soldiers were to wear the same colors not necessarily the same sett. This would have been standardized later. There was a great debate back in the Victorian times as to which came first, the Black Watch or the Campbell, actually, it has never been resolved.

The term ‘ancient’ refers to the dye shades, normally lighter, whereas ‘modern’ refers to darker dyes having been used. The term ‘weathered’ refers to dye that try to replicate a fragment of tartan dug up supposedly from a historic battle site in the 1950s.

Thread count B/24 K4 B4 K4 B4 K20 G24 K6 G24 K20 B24 K4 B/4

The dress Campbell tartan first appeared in the Clans Originaux of 1880 – a tartan pattern book produced by a Parisian company called J Claude Freres et Cie. Although the 12th Duke refused to accept it as an official Campbell tartan. It is said that the dress tartans came about because Queen Victoria thought tartans were too drab for women and so added a white background. It’s a nice story, but who knows.

The term ‘ancient’ refers to the dye shades, normally lighter, whereas ‘modern’ refers to darker dyes having been used.

The Campbell of Argyll tartan was first recorded in the Cockburn collection in 1815. However, the chief of Clan Campbell was not impressed by this tartan and said “Let me get rid, once and for all, of the thought that there is a ‘Campbell of Argyll’ [tartan]. While it is true that the Sixth Duke [of Argyll] introduced a white line to his plain Campbell tartan to differentiate himself from the rest of the Campbells, (he being the chief and entitled to do so), he was the only member of the family so to do and the rest of the family thought he was rather pompous to do it. ”

It is an asymmetric tartan.

The Campbell of Breadalbane tartan first appears as ‘Breadalbane’ in the Cockburn collection 1810-1820. This was one of the earliest collections of tartan, they were collected by Sir William Cockburn. It could in fact be older, as its said to be copied from a plaid that was in the possession of the Captain of Dunstaffnage at Dunstfanage around 1750.

The term ‘ancient’ refers to the dye shades, normally lighter, whereas ‘modern’ refers to darker dyes having been used.

Threadcound K/6 B18 K18 G18 Y4 G18 K/18

Campbell Tartans & Clan

Although there are a number of Campbell Tartans, only four of these tartans are recognised by the Clan Chief as official tartans that can worn by Clan members. These are the Campbell Clan (Black Watch), Campbell of Breadalbane, Campbell of Cawdor and Campbell of Loudoun.

Clan Campbell’s Chief is Torquhil Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll who is well known for playing Elephant Polo.

Who Wears Campbell Tartan? – Associated Names

First of all to explain why there are so many tartans, way over 2000 in fact. There are an awful lot of Scottish clans to start with and on top of this each clan can have many different tartans and names associated with it.

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