Black Watch tartan to help regiment museum

Nicola Meston models the Red Hackle Tartan at Balhousie Castle

THE SPIRITUAL home of The Black Watch, Perth’s Balhousie Castle, will benefit from a tartan which was launched yesterday.

The castle museum, which houses regimental artefacts, is being secured for the future through a £3.2 million appeal to develop and extend the building.

Some of the money from sales of Red Hackle Tartan—which takes its name from the distinctive red plume worn by the regiment for around 200 years —will go to the appeal.

Fittingly, yesterday was The Black Watch’s Red Hackle Day and the tartan launch took place at Balhousie Castle.

The new design incorporates the dark regimental tartan overlaid with a series of overchecks in two shades of red.

It was designed by Perthshire firm House Of Edgar, part of Macnaughton Holdings, with the final tartan approved by Black Watch officials.

Already 35 Scottish shops have said they will stock it.