MacDonald of Borrodale

The MacDonald of Borrodale tartan holds a unique story intertwined with the escape of Charles Edward Stuart after the '45 Jacobite Rising. The tartan is exceptionally rare, with only three known specimens in existence. One of these specimens was discovered at Stonyhurst College, donated by Cardinal Henry Benedict, Stuart's brother.

According to the tale associated with the tartan, after the defeat at Culloden, Stuart sought refuge with the MacDonalds of Borrodale. When he left their care, Borrodale's wife provided him with a new set of Highland clothes to help him blend in with the locals. During his escape, Stuart and his party traveled by boat, enduring harsh weather conditions. To continue their journey, Stuart exchanged his wet clothes with Robert Campbell, a tenant of Scalpay.

The tartan fragment found at Stonyhurst was said to be a part of the kilt worn by Stuart during this pivotal time. It was mounted under glass and accompanied by a handwritten note detailing the story of its origin. Walter Armstrong, an antique dealer, also possessed a similar piece of tartan, possibly from the same collection.

The National Museum of Scotland acquired a third fragment, with an envelope addressed to someone named Isabel. The three specimens, though small and lacking selvedges, share common features, such as a red stripe guarded by yellow.

While it cannot be definitively proven that Stuart wore this specific tartan, historical records confirm his stay with the MacDonalds of Borrodale and the exchange of his wet clothes with Campbell. The cloth's structure and dye analysis align with its claimed antiquity and other 18th-century West Highland specimens. The story behind the MacDonald of Borrodale tartan provides a glimpse into the tumultuous events and desperate escape of Charles Edward Stuart after the failed Jacobite Rising.