The Royal Stewart Tartan

                              The Story of Tartan     

The Story of Tartan includes many myths that surround it which are many and varied. The main one is that each tartan has always represented a distinct Scottish clan. This is incorrect in that different tartans for distinct clans were only produced from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. Mainly because of the new chemical technologies emerging at this time. Together with the enhanced and cheaper modes of transport which became available at this time.

                               The Royal Stewart Tartan

Amongst the most attractive and most popular is the Royal Stewart tartan (see illustration above). Tartans before the nineteenth century were most commonly associated with the regions of Scotland in which they were manufactured.

                                             The Oldest Tartan

The oldest Tartan from Scotland was found in near Falkirk . This tartan known as the “Falkirk Tartan” has been dated to the 3rd century AD. This tartan is a simple check design made up of light and dark wool. Thought to have been popular amongst the tribes at this time.

                                         The Beginning of Modern Tartans

The modern, familiar tartans are thought to have begun to be developed at the end of the sixteenth century. Writers of the time make frequent references to the existence of striped or checkered plaids. Despite these developments tartans were not associated with specific areas for at least another century. It was only in the first half of the eighteenth century that it was possible to tell what area someone came from by the tartan they wore.