The MacBraire/McBrayer Family Tartan

(ed note) For years I was lead to believe that our McBrayer Tartan was an ancient tartan that belonged to the McBrayer family in Scotland, but I now know different. I was recently informed that the material was an ancient material discovered by Mrs. May Roberts (now Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse) that HAD belonged to another ancient Scottish family - not to the McBrayers. Now I'm having to revise and update the tartan story. Below is the text of an email I received from Mrs. McKerrell in 2003 that somehow was lost in the myriad of emails I had received and has just recently been uncovered again and from personal contact in August 2010. I sincerely apologize to anyone and everyone who might think I was misleading them about the tartan. I honestly did not know the true story. The earlier version was relayed to me by a deceased relative many years ago.

"I should tell you that the account about the tartan in your book (written by Ethel Koller) is not correct. I found the ancient tartan, no longer used, to adopt, but it is NOW a McBrayer tartan. Also I knew nothing about money being collected and never asked for or received any." Lady May McKerrell.

The McBrayer Family have their own tartan!

In 1980 some members of the McBrayer family visiting Scotland talked with Mrs. May Roberts (now The Lady Hillhouse or Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse), who was living in Lochmaben, near Dumfries and the family lands of Almagill, about having their own tartan. It was decided to 'adopt' an ancient tartan rather than design a new one and she began research in the old tartan books. One was eventually found that was called a 'border tartan' or 'border sett'.  May contacted James Scarlett, a tartan weaver and author of books on tartan and an acknowledged expert in tartans, who was at that time living in London. He wrote back, very excited, that she only had half the story. He had the other half of the pattern.  This first bolt was woven  with both the 'blanket and border setts' together, with the yarn dyed with vegetable dyes to get a near original. This was such a lovely tartan that it was woven on a hand loom width, with the 'border' matching the 'blanket' sett in the ancient colours, dyed with vegetable dyes to get as near to the authentic and original coulors as possible.

The then May Roberts approached the Tartan Society for advise on registration, and was told only a bonafide chief could register a tartan with Lyon Court, but, if approved by a panel of experts, it would be listed with all the other tartans. Finally that approval came, and a sample was sent to the archives of the Society, but only for the 'blanket sett' to conform to present-day styles. The full blanket with border sett was not accepted for registration, but the blanket sett was chosen, and agreed upon by a panel of experts, and named 'a M'Brair tartan'. The blanket sett has warp and weft reading the same. The few lucky people who bought from the original hand loom width bolt of material have a unique piece of tartan history. The tartan that is now being woven is a double width (56 inches wide) and in the finest quality worsted wool in a medium weight of 12-13 ounces per yard.

Later, when some McBrayers thought that they would like a darker (hunting) tratan, as well as the original, James Scartett again came to the assistance, and wove a sample of tartan with the white replaced by moss brown. This is also a very beautiful tartan, and it is now listed as 'M'Brayer hunting' with the Tartan Authority and is illustrated in tartan books.

These tartans are controlled by Lady hilhouse and she will only sell to those entitled by M'Brayer name or connections, and to any retail outfit that she supplies who will agree to the same sales restrictions. If you buy direct from Lady Hillhouse you buy at wholesale prices.

May is now married to a Scottish Chieftain and carries the name of Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse.

The material can be supplied by the yard or made into a sash, kilt, cap, tie, etc.

For further information - send an email to mckerrellofhillhouse@btinternet.com or write to: Madam McKerrell of Hillhouse, Magdalene House, Lochmaben, Dumfries, DG11 1PD, Scotland.

As a family we are sincerely indebted to Lady Hillhouse for her dedication in obtaining a McBrayer tartan and for providing us a source for purchasing the authentic material.

Ordering the Tartan!

There are now two tartan paterns to choose from - the dress tartan in the cross-checkered pattern of three primary colours, muted colours of red, white, and green, and a newer modern hunting tartan of the same basic pattern but with muted colours of red, brown, and green. Shown below are two sample pictures of those tartans. The third picture is of a full Scottish Highland Uniform made of the first bolt of the material woven. If you will look closely along the bottom of the kilt you will notice the 'border sett'. The remainder of the kilt is the 'blanket sett'. All modern tartans contain ONLY the 'blanket sett'.

                                                                      Dress Tartan           Hunting Tartan                                                  

On October 23, 2008, the following information was received from Lady May:

"I have both tartan in stock to send, cash with order. The cost is 30 (English pounds) per yard which is about $60 U.S. I can take a personal dollar cheque, but my bank charges $15 to convert, or a sterling bank cheque. (Therefore add $15 to the total amount if sending a personal check.) It (the tartan material) is the very best quality, worsted, and is 56 inches wide, and cost much less than a commercial firm. Postage, packing and insurance is 9.50 (English Pounds) ($19 for a yard), 16 pounds for 2 yards ($27), and 18.50 pounds ($37) for 3 yards. I also have ties @ 12.50 pounds ($25) + $4 postage, and have kilts made to order. I am now looking at kilt jackets, and will get a form to you when I have worked it out. I think it would be good to be able to offer the complete outfit with different options."

"I also have a copyright on them (the tartan materials) so that no one else could weave them, as I was sure no one else would take the time, or the cost to have the yarns dyed first to the correct shades before being woven."

Lady Hillhouse was recently (Aug 2010) visiting in Oklahoma City, OK with Carl and Pat McBrayer and considerable discussion was made on the availability and purchasing of the tartan material. You can check this web page soon for full information as to cost and shipping. Please check this site often.

For the latest conversion from British pounds to American dollar check this website link.http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/