Gretna
- This article is about the Scottish town. For Gretna in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana see Greater New Orleans.
Gretna is located in Dumfries and Galloway in South West (Scotland). It is known as a border town, the border with England being just to the south. This entry concerns both Gretna and Gretna Green, which is located on the other side of the M74.
Understand
As the first town across the Scottish border, Gretna had a football team that for many years played in England until a new owner took it for a drastic rise and fall as a Scottish team.
More notably, border status made Gretna Green a traditional stop for weddings that could be prevented in England but not Scotland at a time when English law was more restrictive. The tradition dates to 1754, when England required parental consent for under-21's to marry.
A "marriage by declaration," where anyone could perform a ceremony, existed in Scottish law until 1940. This led to many marriages being solemnised "over the anvil" at the Old Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green, still a popular and traditional venue.
The marriage laws in England and Scotland are now similar, leaving few couples legally needing to cross the border to get married. Gretna remains a popular venue for weddings of people from the UK and further afield, with about 5000 weddings per year celebrated in a village with a population of 2700.
Get in
Gretna is well served by road, being just off the M74. Both road and railway fork at Gretna to take traffic to Glasgow or Dumfries; a train trip to Gretna is slightly more difficult since passengers on the main west coast line have to get off at Carlisle and take a train north on the Nith Valley line, which stops for Gretna Green very soon after crossing the border and splitting from the main line.
Get around
See
- 1 Gretna Green Story Museum (The Old Blacksmiths), DG16 5EA. Daily 9.00-17.00 (or 18.00). An exhibition in the traditional wedding venue of the Old Blacksmiths. You may catch a glimpse of a wedding taking place. £3.50.
Do
- Get married in Gretna Green!
- 1 Gretna Greyhound Racing, Halcrow Stadium, Annan Road, DG16 5DQ, ☏ +44 7706 171531, support@halcrowstadium.com. South West Scotland and North West England's premier independent greyhound racing venue. Tuesday night trials and Friday race meetings at Gretna Dogs attract greyhound racing enthusiasts and race-goers from around the country.
Buy
- 1 Gretna Sunday Market, Central Av, Gretna. Not as large and vibrant as it used to be
- 2 Gretna Gateway Outlet Village. Open 7 days a week 10am to 6pm. Gretna Gateway has 50 stores and 5 cafés.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
- Gretna Hall Hotel, Gretna Green, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5DY, ☏ +44 1461 338257. Historic 1710 manor house on ten acres of gardens, accommodates weddings, family celebrations, business meetings and overnight stays.
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