Gretna Green

Just over the border in Scotland not far from where I lived is a small town called Gretna Green.
It is the first village in Scotland and used to be the first coach stop in Scotland about 250years ago.
In England there was a law passed in 1745 which forbade people marrying without their parents consent under the age of 21.
Scotland did not have this law.Young people over the age of 16 could be legally married there. Many young lovers eloped to Scotland and were married in the
Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna by the blacksmith priests . At that place, people like fishermen, builders or carpenters could marry people.
The young couple would be married next to the anvil in the blacksmiths shop and when it was hit
with a hammer ,they were married after the wedding vows.
These days people still marry or renew their wedding vows in Gretna. 13% of all weddings in
Scotland take place in Gretna Green. From the mid 18oo's young people had to stay in Gretna for 21 days until they could be married.
One story tells of a father who arrived to stop the wedding of his son . The Blacksmith quickly told them to get into bed to make it look like they were already married. The father believed it
and went home. The couple were married the next day.
Gretna Green is a famous place in Britain.
People often make a comment like "You should run away to Gretna Green!"