District
Nithsdale Tartans Page
The Nithsdale Ancient tartan is a predominantly red and green tartan with light blue. Nithsdale is the most heavily-populated section of Dumfries and Galloway Region, with some 50,000 people, mainly in Dumfries. The Valley of the Nith is nevertheless interesting for its historical associations (notably with Robert Burns), its industrial archaeology and the still-unspoilt landscape. In the north is the former coal-mining area of Sanquhar, but wealth of a different kind came from the gold and lead mines at Wanlockhead and Leadhills in the hills to the east. Across the Nith from these areas is the farmland and estate parkland around Drumlanrig, ancestral home of the Dukes of Buccleuch.
NithsdaleTartans
1variationsLes couleurs d'un tartan peuvent être rendues suivant des nuances variées, ce qui conduit à des variations possibles dans le rendu d'un même tartan. qualifiées de ancien, modernes, weathered, hunting et dress.
Pour expliquer les variations de tartan
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- Dress
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Quelques constats
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Quelques constats
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Quelques constats
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Quelques constats
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
Dress Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Quelques constats
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
Nithsdale Tartan Origins & History
Explore the history
How it all started
Territories
Nithsdale is the most heavily-populated section of Dumfries and Galloway Region, with some 50,000 people, mainly in Dumfries.
Clan Chief
The Nithsdale tartan is a district tartan and therefore does not have a Clan Chief.
The Valley of the Nith is nevertheless interesting for its historical associations (notably with Robert Burns), its industrial archaeology and the still-unspoilt landscape. In the north is the former coal-mining area of Sanquhar, but wealth of a different kind came from the gold and lead mines at Wanlockhead and Leadhills in the hills to the east. Across the Nith from these areas is the farmland and estate parkland around Drumlanrig, ancestral home of the Dukes of Buccleuch.
Caerlaverock Castle
In Nithsdale you will find Caerlaverock Castle, a very unique build in that it is triangular in shape. Three lengths of defensive curtain wall are linked at their three angles by high corner towers. On the north side is an impressive twin-towered gatehouse. The Maxwells repaired and upgraded Caerlaverock over the years. Read more about it over on the blog.Let's talk about tartan...
The Nithsdale Ancient tartan is a predominantly red and green tartan with light blue. The tartan was designed by Arthur Galt around 1930. It is unknown whether the tartan was commissioned or designed for Arthur to wear it himself.
Srath Nid is gaelic for Nithsdale.
