Montgomery Tartans & Clan

Explore the history of Clan Montgomery

How it all started

Territories

Clan Montgomery have some infamous ancestors. It is thought that the first Montgomery to gain land in the UK was Roger de Mundegumbrie, whose mother was descended from William the Conqueror. He fought at Hastings in 1066 and was rewarded with holdings in Chichester, Arundel, and Shrewsbury.

His grandson, Robert, is the first Montgomery who appears on record in Scotland, serving as a witness in a charter to the Monastery of Paisley in around 1165. He gained the lands of Eaglesham in Renfrewshire, which the family held for 8 centuries.

Sir John, the 7th Baron of Eaglesham, secured further territory for the clan in the late 1300s when he married the heiress of Sir Hugh Eglinton, consequently acquiring the Barony of Eglinton and Ardrossan.

Clan Chief

The current chief of Clan Montgomery is Hugh Archibald William Montgomerie, 19th Earl of Eglinton. He was born in Hammersmith and studied at Eton College before serving as an officer in the Royal Navy from 1988 to 1993. He was then commissioned to be a Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps of the Territorial Army. 

In the late 1990s, he returned to his studies, earning a degree from the University of Edinburgh. He gained the chiefdom of Clan Montgomery on the 14th of June 2018, and has taken pride in leading the clan since then, performing as a dedicated member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

Clan Montgomery’s Ancestral Home: Eglinton Castle

Eglinton Castle is the historic seat of Clan Montgomery. The Montgomery family were granted the lands of Eglinton in the 14th Century after a member of Clan Montgomery married an Eglinton. The original Eglinton Castle was burnt down by the Cunninghams in 1488 after a feud developed over land. The current castle was built in the early 19th century and still stands today.

Do Clan Montgomery have a Tartan?

Owning your clan’s tartan is the perfect way to connect with your heritage and your clan peers. By sporting Montgomery tartan, you are joining a long and hallowed tradition followed by your ancestors for centuries. Here at ScotlandShop, we have 5 variations for you to choose from, Montgomery Modern, Montgomery Ancient, Montgomery Blue/Green Modern, Montgomery Blue/Green Ancient and Montgomery Blue Modern. Whether you are looking for a stylish kilt or dress, home furnishings, a bag, or even a flat cap, we’d be happy to help!

Is Clan Montgomery connected to a River?

The River Garnock flows about 20 miles through the heart of Clan Montgomery territory. Its source is high up on the Hill of Stake in the Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park, where it forms the Spout of Garnock, the highest waterfall in Ayrshire, before meandering down through towns like Kilbirnie, Glengarnock, Dalry, and Kilwinning. The Garnock then meets the River Irvine at Irvine Harbour, where the 2 form a large estuary and mix with the sea.

The River Garnock is an extremely significant spot for wildlife, with numerous rare species of birds nesting by the water, including eider ducks, red-breasted mergansers, goldeneye ducks, water rails and sand martins. A whole host of other animals also make their homes in the area, such as otters and water voles.

One type of animal that has a particularly interesting relationship with the Garnock, however, is the humble fish!

One legend claims that Saint Winning sent his monks to fish in the River Garnock but was enraged when they didn’t have any success. The story goes that the saint then put a curse on the river, declaring that it would forever be barren. The river supposedly avoided this fate by changing its course to evade the malicious curse, allowing fish to continue to thrive in its waters.

It seems that at least this part was true, as in the 1770s, official documents show that Alexander Montgomery, 10th Earl of Eglinton, was highly protective of his fishing rights on the River Garnock, banning all others from fishing in the river completely!