Tartan Tales of Clan Scott

Throughout the month of December we have been celebrating all things Clan Scott. We have met some famous faces, visited many a castle, and gained great insight into the history of this ancient clan. Finally, we called upon the valued Clan members to share their stories; the response was very creative and we are so excited to share them.

We were delighted to receive Carol Scott Dunford's photos of her recent tartan project using Scott Green Modern tartan: a foldable quillow with an embroidered Clan badge! She made the quillow - a quilt that folds into a cushion - for her parents last Christmas. It was a big hit! We love seeing the creativity and talent of our customers.

Scott Green Modern Tartan Quillow

We received a lovely email from Davey in the Scottish Borders, sharing more about the Scott war cry. 

He says, "On receiving your email, as a new ‘member’ and being a Borders Born Scott, I like the Scott’s auld war cry “ A Bellendaine”. We tend not to use the term “Clans” down here in the Borders. It’s more about “names / surnames”. I think that the majority of Borderers I know would say the same. Probably with Scott being the most common name in the Borders' phone book we have a strong affinity with this glorious part of this Land of Cakes.

Bellenden Hill was said to be an ancient muster point. “A Bellendaine” would have shaken even the hardest fighting English Borderers who were intent on reviving some of our Kai (or taking back kai we had borrowed from them). A tad northwest of Hawick is where that hill is. Wat o’ Harden is said to be able to have up to, maybe more, 3000 horsemen on the move in an afternoon. 

Times when survival was perhaps harder than it is today. It’s said that the priorities in our Borderland were surname/family, town, the borderlands then Scotland. Formidable force the Borderers when massed having answered “ the muster”. Whilst not just Borderers on the left flank at “Flodden” (or more accurately, Branxton) on 9th September 1513 under the leadership of The Earl o’ Hume (there were the Hume’s of Wedderburn there too - 2 of the Wedderburn Humes didn’t come home), the cry of “ A Bellendaine” may have caused the Scott’s from the Roxburgh (once and later to be named Roxburghshire) to gather in large numbers before meeting up at Ellemford near Duns or alternatively crossing one of the many fords over the “ glorious”  River Tweed and in to Norham and beyond. It’s said that none returned to Hawick and one made it back to Selkirk. 

The Scots Scott’s have played their part in most major conflict involving our countrymen. “Amo” is very much regarded as the Scott motto. “ A Bellendaine” is also very much worthy of remembering."

Thank you, Davey, really interesting to read about the war cry and its connection to the Scottish Borders.

Unfortunately December has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan Scott is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things Ross!