{
  "version": "1.0",
  "last_updated": "2026-06-24",
  "policy_notice": "Tartan names, clan relationships and wearing customs can vary between historical sources, clan societies and commercial suppliers. Kilt-Hire.co.uk prioritises verified tartan records, explains uncertainty, and avoids presenting etiquette or relationship claims as absolute where sources differ.",
  "confidence_levels": {
    "HIGH": "Strong evidence for tartan identity and the main relationship or usage claim, with any etiquette nuance clearly stated.",
    "MEDIUM": "Recognised relationship or usage, but source wording, regional context or modern etiquette needs extra care.",
    "LOW": "Included for discovery only; needs stronger verification before being treated as a firm recommendation.",
    "DISPUTED": "Multiple credible interpretations exist or sources conflict materially."
  },
  "source_hierarchy": [
    "Scottish Register of Tartans",
    "Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs",
    "Official Clan Societies",
    "Historic Tartan References",
    "Academic Sources",
    "Heritage Organisations",
    "Kilt-Hire.co.uk first-hand editorial notes"
  ],
  "records": [
    {
      "name": "Ancient Ferguson Tartan",
      "slug": "ancient-ferguson",
      "also_known_as": [
        "Ferguson Ancient",
        "Fergusson Ancient"
      ],
      "classification": "Clan tartan variant",
      "confidence_level": "HIGH",
      "confidence_score": 88,
      "verification_status": "PASS WITH NOTES",
      "direct_answer": "Ancient Ferguson is a Ferguson-associated tartan suitable for people with Ferguson or Fergusson heritage, especially where the ancient colourway is preferred for weddings, Burns Night and formal Highland dress.",
      "history_summary": "Ancient Ferguson belongs to the Ferguson/Fergusson tartan group rather than being a universal tartan. The ancient palette is a modern colour description, usually indicating softer shades intended to evoke older natural dyes rather than a separate medieval proof of origin.",
      "historical_notes": "Kilt-Hire.co.uk treats Ancient Ferguson as a high-confidence Ferguson-associated tartan, supported by the wider Ferguson/Fergusson tartan tradition and by the founder's long personal use of Ancient Ferguson tartan. Exact sett details, thread counts and commercial availability should be checked against the Scottish Register of Tartans and the supplying kilt maker before purchase or hire.",
      "colour_notes": "Ancient tartan colour names describe palette treatment, not fixed symbolic meanings. The common interpretation is softer greens, blues and lighter overchecks compared with modern or weathered settings.",
      "primary_colours": [
        "green",
        "blue",
        "yellow",
        "black"
      ],
      "occasion_recommendations": [
        "Scottish weddings",
        "Burns Night",
        "Clan gatherings",
        "Formal Scottish events",
        "Family heritage occasions"
      ],
      "related_clans": [
        {
          "name": "Clan Ferguson",
          "url": "../clans/ferguson.html",
          "relationship": "Primary clan association"
        }
      ],
      "related_tartans": [
        {
          "name": "Black Watch Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/black-watch/",
          "relationship": "Universal and military comparison"
        },
        {
          "name": "Royal Stewart Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/royal-stewart/",
          "relationship": "Universal formalwear comparison"
        }
      ],
      "existing_tartan_guide_url": "../tartans/ancient-ferguson.html",
      "evidence_summary": "High confidence is assigned to the Ferguson relationship, not to any claim that ancient colour meanings are formally fixed. The record combines recognised tartan-register verification practice, Ferguson clan context and first-hand Highland dress experience from the site founder.",
      "confidence_reasoning": "The clan relationship is direct and clear, but exact sett verification should still be performed against the Scottish Register of Tartans or supplier records before commissioning garments.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "name": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "url": "https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/",
          "category": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "tier": 1,
          "note": "Primary database for registered tartan names, thread counts and design records."
        },
        {
          "name": "Clan Fergusson reference summary",
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Fergusson",
          "category": "Historic Clan References",
          "tier": 4,
          "note": "Used only for broad clan context; not treated as sole proof of sett details."
        },
        {
          "name": "Kilt-Hire.co.uk Fact Checking Policy",
          "url": "../fact-checking-policy.html",
          "category": "Site Editorial Policy",
          "tier": 6,
          "note": "Defines how Kilt-Hire.co.uk handles uncertainty and corrections."
        }
      ],
      "faq": [
        [
          "Is Ancient Ferguson a Ferguson clan tartan?",
          "Yes. Kilt-Hire.co.uk treats Ancient Ferguson as a Ferguson-associated tartan with high confidence, while still recommending that exact sett details are checked against the Scottish Register of Tartans or the kilt supplier."
        ],
        [
          "Does ancient mean the tartan is medieval?",
          "No. In tartan naming, ancient usually refers to a softer colour palette, not proof that the sett itself is medieval."
        ],
        [
          "Is Ancient Ferguson suitable for a wedding?",
          "Yes. It is a strong choice for Ferguson or Fergusson family heritage at weddings, Burns Night and formal Scottish events."
        ],
        [
          "Can someone without Ferguson heritage wear it?",
          "They can, but a universal tartan such as Black Watch or Royal Stewart may be a safer cultural choice if no Ferguson connection exists."
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Black Watch Tartan",
      "slug": "black-watch",
      "also_known_as": [
        "Government Sett",
        "Government No. 1",
        "Old Campbell"
      ],
      "classification": "Universal and military tartan",
      "confidence_level": "HIGH",
      "confidence_score": 94,
      "verification_status": "PASS",
      "direct_answer": "Black Watch is a high-confidence universal and military-associated tartan, historically connected with the Government sett and often discussed alongside Old Campbell and Campbell tartans.",
      "history_summary": "Black Watch is one of the best-known dark green, blue and black tartans. It is strongly associated with Highland military dress and the Black Watch regiment, and it is widely worn today by people without a specific clan tartan.",
      "historical_notes": "The Black Watch/Government sett is a reference tartan for military and universal wear. Some sources connect the sett with Old Campbell and Campbell tartan history, but Kilt-Hire.co.uk labels the main modern recommendation as universal/military rather than a simple exclusive Clan Campbell tartan.",
      "colour_notes": "The palette is dark and restrained, dominated by green, blue and black. It is often chosen when a formal outfit needs to feel traditional without using a bright clan or royal sett.",
      "primary_colours": [
        "green",
        "blue",
        "black"
      ],
      "occasion_recommendations": [
        "Scottish weddings",
        "Military dinners",
        "Burns Night",
        "Formal evening events",
        "General Highland dress"
      ],
      "related_clans": [
        {
          "name": "Clan Campbell",
          "url": "../clans/campbell.html",
          "relationship": "Historic and tartan-context association, not exclusive modern ownership"
        }
      ],
      "related_tartans": [
        {
          "name": "Ancient Ferguson Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/ancient-ferguson/",
          "relationship": "Clan-specific comparison"
        },
        {
          "name": "Royal Stewart Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/royal-stewart/",
          "relationship": "Universal formalwear comparison"
        },
        {
          "name": "Ancient Campbell Tartan",
          "url": "../tartans/ancient-campbell.html",
          "relationship": "Campbell tartan family comparison"
        }
      ],
      "existing_tartan_guide_url": "../tartans/black-watch.html",
      "evidence_summary": "High confidence is assigned because multiple reference traditions identify Black Watch/Government sett as a historically important tartan with enduring military and universal use. The Campbell relationship is contextual rather than presented as exclusive.",
      "confidence_reasoning": "The tartan identity and broad use are well established; the only caution is around how strongly to present a Campbell clan relationship, so that relationship is explained as historic/contextual.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "name": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "url": "https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/",
          "category": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "tier": 1,
          "note": "Primary database for tartan design records and naming variants."
        },
        {
          "name": "Black Watch reference summary",
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Watch",
          "category": "Historic Clan References",
          "tier": 4,
          "note": "Used for broad regimental context and origin notes."
        },
        {
          "name": "Clan Campbell reference summary",
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Campbell",
          "category": "Historic Clan References",
          "tier": 4,
          "note": "Used for Campbell/Old Campbell context; not treated as exclusive modern restriction."
        }
      ],
      "faq": [
        [
          "Is Black Watch a clan tartan?",
          "Black Watch is best treated as a universal and military-associated tartan. It has Campbell/Old Campbell context in many sources, but it is widely worn beyond one clan."
        ],
        [
          "Can anyone wear Black Watch tartan?",
          "Yes. It is commonly used as a universal tartan and is one of the safest choices when no family tartan is known."
        ],
        [
          "Is Black Watch suitable for a formal event?",
          "Yes. Its darker colours make it one of the most versatile tartans for formal dinners, Burns Night and weddings."
        ],
        [
          "Is Black Watch the same as Government tartan?",
          "Black Watch is commonly discussed with Government sett or Government No. 1. Exact naming and sett details should be checked in the Scottish Register of Tartans for formal specification."
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Royal Stewart Tartan",
      "slug": "royal-stewart",
      "also_known_as": [
        "Royal Stuart",
        "Stewart/Stuart Royal"
      ],
      "classification": "Royal and universal tartan",
      "confidence_level": "HIGH",
      "confidence_score": 93,
      "verification_status": "PASS WITH NOTES",
      "direct_answer": "Royal Stewart is the best-known Stewart/Stuart-associated tartan and is widely worn in modern Highland dress as a bright universal tartan, despite its royal association.",
      "history_summary": "Royal Stewart is closely associated with the royal House of Stewart/Stuart and is one of the most recognisable tartans in the world. Modern use is broad and popular, especially for formalwear and celebratory events.",
      "historical_notes": "Some sources describe Royal Stewart as the personal tartan of the monarch, while also noting that it has become widely treated as a universal tartan in modern practice. Kilt-Hire.co.uk presents both points to avoid overstating either restriction or free use.",
      "colour_notes": "Royal Stewart is bright and red-led, with green, blue, yellow, white and black details. Its visibility makes it popular for public ceremonies, festive events and statement formalwear.",
      "primary_colours": [
        "red",
        "green",
        "blue",
        "yellow",
        "white",
        "black"
      ],
      "occasion_recommendations": [
        "Scottish weddings",
        "Burns Night",
        "Ceilidhs",
        "Festive formalwear",
        "Public Scottish events"
      ],
      "related_clans": [
        {
          "name": "Clan Stewart",
          "url": "../clans/stewart.html",
          "relationship": "Primary historic and royal house association"
        }
      ],
      "related_tartans": [
        {
          "name": "Hunting Stewart Tartan",
          "url": "../tartans/hunting-stewart.html",
          "relationship": "Darker Stewart comparison"
        },
        {
          "name": "Black Watch Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/black-watch/",
          "relationship": "Universal tartan comparison"
        },
        {
          "name": "Ancient Ferguson Tartan",
          "url": "../tartan-finder/ancient-ferguson/",
          "relationship": "Clan-specific comparison"
        }
      ],
      "existing_tartan_guide_url": "../tartans/royal-stewart.html",
      "evidence_summary": "High confidence is assigned to the Stewart/Stuart and royal association, with a clear note that modern use is widely treated as universal. This prevents the page from giving simplistic permission advice.",
      "confidence_reasoning": "The tartan identity is well established. The nuance is etiquette, not existence: royal association and modern universal use both need to be visible.",
      "sources": [
        {
          "name": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "url": "https://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/",
          "category": "Scottish Register of Tartans",
          "tier": 1,
          "note": "Primary database for Royal Stewart naming and tartan records."
        },
        {
          "name": "Royal Stewart tartan reference summary",
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Stewart_tartan",
          "category": "Historic Clan References",
          "tier": 4,
          "note": "Used for broad history, first-published context and universal-use discussion."
        },
        {
          "name": "Clan Stewart reference summary",
          "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Stewart",
          "category": "Historic Clan References",
          "tier": 4,
          "note": "Used for Stewart/Stuart clan and house context."
        }
      ],
      "faq": [
        [
          "Is Royal Stewart a Stewart clan tartan?",
          "Yes. It is strongly associated with the royal House of Stewart/Stuart and commonly linked to Clan Stewart, while also being widely worn as a universal tartan."
        ],
        [
          "Can anyone wear Royal Stewart tartan?",
          "In modern practice, Royal Stewart is widely worn by the public. Because it has royal associations, some wearers prefer to describe it as a universal formalwear choice rather than a personal clan claim."
        ],
        [
          "Is Royal Stewart suitable for weddings?",
          "Yes. It is bright, recognisable and popular for weddings and festive formal events, especially when a more visible tartan is desired."
        ],
        [
          "What is a quieter Stewart alternative?",
          "Hunting Stewart is often a better choice for people who want a Stewart connection with a more restrained formal palette."
        ]
      ]
    }
  ]
}