Scotland South

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TOURISM - SCOTLAND SOUTH

Gretna Green

Gretna is famous as being the wedding capital of the UK and has been a favourite wedding venue, when couples from England eloped to Gretna for their marriages.

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GRETNA GREEN

Gretna is famous as being the wedding capital of the United Kingdom and has been a favourite wedding venue, when couples from England eloped to Gretna Green for their marriages.

It's main claim to fame is the Old Blacksmith's Shop where many runaway marriages were performed. These began in 1753 when an Act of Parliament , Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act , was passed in England, which stated that if both parties to a marriage were not at least 21 years old, then consent to the marriage had to be given by the parents. This Act did not apply in Scotland where it was possible for boys to get married at 14 and girls at 12 years old with or without parental consent.

Since 1929 both parties have had to be at least 16 years old but there is still no consent needed. In England and Wales the ages are now 16 with consent and 18 without.

This led to many elopers fleeing England and making for the first Scottish village they came to — Gretna Green. The blacksmith 's shop, built around 1712 , became the focal point for the marriage trade. It was opened to the public as a visitor attraction as early as 1887 .

This has now moved onto a flourishing business in both Scottish goods and good food.

We dont mention football very often but this is an exception. Gretna Football Club remarkably romped to their second successive Championship as the club took the Second Division by a clear 18-points from nearest rivals Morton and Gretna also went all the way to the Tennent's Scottish Cup final in 2005/06 where they were unlucky to go down 4-2 on penalties after drawing 1-1 with Premier League Hearts. In the 2006-07 season they raised more eyebrows when they were promoted to the Premeir League.