Days Gone By

For over two hundred years Gretna Green has been the haven for fleeting lovers seeking matrimony in defiance of parental opposition. In days gone by it stood on the stagecoach route between London and Edinburgh, and was the first changing post across the English border.

Gretna Green came into prominence in connection with runaway weddings in 1754 when a bill was inroduced in Parliament to put an end to the clandestine marriages in England.

There is evidence that runaway weddings took place in Gretna up to twenty years before that date.

The Bill, introduced by Lord Hardwicke, was the result of an outcry against the form of weddings being performed at The Fleet Prison in London. This Bill did not affect Scottish Marriage law, by which it was possible for a couple to marry simply by declaring themselves before witnesses to be man and wife. Lovers from South of the Border quickly took advantage of the Scottish Law and it resulted in a thriving marriage trade being set up in Gretna Green. It become a lucrative business and a variety of men set themselves up as "priests". One of the first was Joseph Paisley who was a fisherman and smuggler.

Three of the runaway marriages establishments are retained as museums of these hectic and exciting days. They are the Old Blacksmith's Shop, Gretna Hall and the Sark Bridge Toll Bar. The Queen's Head Inn at Springfield also had a "priest" at one time.

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