Collection: Black Watch

In 1725, General George Wade, the commander of British forces in North Britain authorised the formation of six independent companies of troops to police the Highlanders. Col William Grant of Ballindalloch raised one company. The companies were known locally as the ‘Black Watch’ and were eventually consolidated to form the 43rd (later 42nd) Royal Highland Regiment. 

The Independent Companies wore a dark blue, black and green plaid which was woven by over sixty weavers in Strathspey, the country of Clan Grant. A portrait of Robert Grant of Lurg, circa 1769, is in the National War Museum at Edinburgh Castle. The painting depicts the subject in a coat and plaid in the Black Watch tartan. 

An early sample of the Black Watch tartan labelled ‘Grant’ is in the collection of Lt Gen Sir William Cockburn at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. Another swatch of this ‘Grant’ tartan was added to the collection of the Highland Society of London in 1822.