55-691: Gretna Green is a parish in the southern council area of Dumfries and Galloway , Scotland , close to the town of Gretna , on the Scottish side of the English-Scottish border. It is accessed from the A74(M) motorway . Historically Gretna Green was on the Glasgow-Carlisle road, a significant early toll road between England and Scotland. Gretna Green railway station serves both Gretna Green and Gretna. The Quintinshill rail disaster ,
110-571: A duty of care towards each other, and certain social security benefits are calculated differently from those for single people. From 1 February 2005, visitors who wished to be married in the UK that are citizens of a country that is not a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), must apply for a visa before they travel. Without the visa, the registrar would not be able to accept the notice of marriage and would not be able to perform
165-499: A papal dispensation , which could later be used as grounds for annulment if the marriage proved politically or personally inconvenient, although there was no divorce as such. After the mid-sixteenth century these were reduced to those in Leviticus 13: 4-13, which limited them to relationships in the second degree of kinship . Separation from bed and board continued to be allowed in exceptional circumstances, usually adultery and under
220-508: A Gretna Green marriage sounds than a Coldstream or Lamberton toll-bar one! and yet they are equally efficacious. Gretna Green indeed, is as superior in reality as it is in name. It looks as if it were the capital of the God of Love, while the others exhibit the bustling, trading, money-making pursuits of matter-of-fact life. Though we dare say Gretna Green is as unlike what most people fancy, still we question that any have gone away disappointed. It
275-503: A different succeeding council area. For most administrative purposes, the base level of sub-division in Scotland is now that of communities , which may elect community councils . The main role of these bodies is to channel and reflect local opinion to other bodies; they otherwise have very limited powers. There are around 1,200 communities in Scotland. Not all communities have councils; some have joint councils. Scottish communities are
330-1214: A measure passed in Parliament by Alexander Colquhoun-Stirling-Murray-Dunlop to require 21 days' residence for marriage, and a further law change was made in 1940. The residential requirement was lifted in 1977. Other Scottish border villages used for such marriages were Coldstream Bridge , Lamberton , Mordington and Paxton Toll, and Portpatrick for people coming from Ireland. Subdivisions of Scotland Charles III William , Duke of Rothesay Swinney government The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP Kate Forbes MSP Sixth session Alison Johnstone MSP Angela Constance MSP Dorothy Bain KC The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections Local elections Referendums Starmer ministry The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP For local government purposes, Scotland
385-501: A minister of religion) or by an "authorised Registrar". Both parties to a marriage are required to independently submit marriage notice forms to the registrar of the district in which the marriage is to take place. In religious marriages a "Marriage Schedule" is completed by the parties involved and submitted to the local Register Office after the marriage so that it can be registered; the Marriage Schedule must be produced to
440-592: A public promise followed by consummation, or by cohabitation with habit and repute. All but the last of these were abolished by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939 , from 1 July 1940. Prior to this act, any citizen was able to witness a public promise. The tradition of eloping English couples searching for blacksmiths resulted legally from the fact that blacksmiths were necessarily citizens and could often be recognised by strangers by their presence at their forge . A marriage by "cohabitation with habit and repute", as it
495-550: A state registrar, but anyone over the age of 21 can apply to the Registrar General for authorisation to conduct a marriage under s12 of the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 , and no form of religious ceremony is necessary. Since a decision of the Registrar-General in 2005, statutory references to religious marriages must be " read in " as referring to " religion or belief ", in order to ensure compatibility with
550-441: Is 16. Marriage must be between two otherwise unmarried people. (Foreign divorces are generally recognised, but existing foreign polygamous marriages prevent a marriage in Scotland as this would be treated as bigamy ). Certain relatives are not allowed to marry. Under Scots law , one may not marry one's: Additionally, the following marriages are not allowed except under certain circumstances: The list of proscribed affinities
605-448: Is a pretty south country-looking village, much such as used to exist in the old days of posting and coaching. A hall house converted into an hotel, and the dependents located in the neighbouring cottages. Gretna Hall stands a little apart from the village on the rise of what an Englishman would call a gentle eminence, and a Scotchman a dead flat, and is approached by an avenue of stately trees, while others are plentifully dotted about, one on
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#1732786951426660-592: Is allowed under certain circumstances, as is civil remarriage, though different religions and denominations differ on whether they permit religious remarriage. On 4 February 2014, Scotland became the 17th country to permit marriage between same-sex individuals. Since the Scottish Government had announced a consultation on legalising same-sex marriage in September 2011, the Government's initial view
715-528: Is difficult to discern. Scottish women in this period had something of a reputation among foreign observers for being forthright individuals, with Pedro de Ayala , the Spanish ambassador to the court of James IV , noting that they were "absolute mistresses of their houses and even their husbands". Before the Reformation, the extensive marriage bars for kinship meant that most noble marriages necessitated
770-400: Is divided into 871 civil parishes which often resemble same-named but legally different ecclesiastical parishes. Although they have had no administrative function since 1930, they still exist and are still used for statistical purposes such as the census. Many former civil parish areas also continued to form registration districts until 1 January 2007. Many boundary changes have occurred over
825-572: Is divided into 32 areas designated as "council areas" ( Scottish Gaelic : comhairlean ), which are all governed by single-tier authorities designated as "councils". They have the option under the Local Government (Gaelic Names) (Scotland) Act 1997 of being known (but not re-designated) as a " comhairle " when opting for a Gaelic name; only Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Council of the Western Isles) has chosen this option, whereas
880-421: Is no impediment to the marriage. A list of forthcoming local marriages is displayed to the public at each Register Office. Upon death of one's spouse, bequests to the other spouse do not incur inheritance tax . Intestate property by default will go to the spouse. Also, there is partial inheritance of pensions. Non-British spouses of British citizens may obtain residence permits . Spouses are considered to have
935-542: Is now 18 irrespective of parental consent. Of the three forms of irregular marriage that had existed under Scottish law, all except cohabitation by habit and repute were abolished by the Marriage (Scotland) Act 1939. Gretna's two blacksmiths' shops and countless inns and smallholding became the backdrops for tens of thousands of weddings. Today there are several wedding venues in and around Gretna Green, from former churches to purpose-built chapels. The services at all
990-618: The Highland Council ( Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd ) has adopted its Gaelic form alongside its English equivalent, informally. The council areas have been in existence since 1 April 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 . Historically, Scotland was divided into 34 counties or shires . Although these no longer have any administrative function, they are still used to some extent in Scotland for cultural and geographical purposes, and some of
1045-725: The Human Rights Act 1998 and allow humanists to conduct legal humanist marriages , which like civil marriages are also non-religious. As of 2017, the Humanist Society Scotland conducted more marriages each year than the largest religious body, the Church of Scotland . Civil partnerships became available to same-sex couples in the United Kingdom in 2005 and grant rights and responsibilities virtually identical to civil marriage. In September 2011,
1100-781: The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS, Scottish Gaelic: Seirbheis Smàlaidh agus Teasairginn na h-Alba ). Prior to 1975 policing was the responsibility of the Cities and Burghs of Scotland (see List of burghs in Scotland ). Between 1975 and 2013 Scotland was subdivided into Police and fire service areas based on the regions and districts and island council areas that were also formed in 1975. The police and fire service regions used between 1975 and 2013 are listed below. Edinburgh City (E Division) Renfrewshire & Inverclyde (K Division) Ayrshire (U Division) Greater Glasgow (G Division) Lanarkshire (Q Division) Scotland
1155-564: The Scottish Government launched a public consultation on the introduction of same-sex marriage, with the Scottish Government indicating it "tend[ed] towards the view that same-sex marriage should be introduced". On 4 February 2014, the Scottish Parliament passed a same-sex marriage bill by a vote of 105 to 18. In the late Middle Ages and early modern era , girls could marry from the age of 12 (while for boys it
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#17327869514261210-548: The United Kingdom . This was partly a consequence of differences in Scots law and also the role and influence of the national church of Scotland, the Church of Scotland . The tradition of couples from England and Wales eloping to Scotland to marry at border towns such as Gretna Green was due to England, at the time, having much higher minimum ages for marriage without parental consent than were required in Scotland. Today
1265-814: The Scottish border. Scottish law allowed for " irregular marriages ", meaning that if a declaration was made before two witnesses, almost anybody had the authority to conduct the marriage ceremony. The blacksmiths in Gretna became known as "anvil priests", culminating with Richard Rennison , who performed 5,147 ceremonies. The local blacksmith and his anvil became lasting symbols of Gretna Green weddings. Victorian chronicler Robert Smith Surtees described Gretna Green at length in his 1848 New Monthly Magazine serial, The Richest Commoner in England : Few of our readers—none we should think of our fair ones—but at some period or other of their lives, have figured to themselves
1320-472: The centrality of consent remained. Weddings were often elaborate occasions for public celebration and feasting. Among the poor the tradition of the penny wedding developed, by which guests contributed to the costs of occasion, with a meal after the ceremony, sometimes followed by music and dancing. In the early modern era there was a stress on a wife's duties to her husband and on the virtues of chastity and obedience. How exactly patriarchy worked in practice
1375-471: The change with a significant majority (18,500) submitted via the Equality Network's Equal Marriage consultation website. Scotland For Marriage, a coalition of religious bodies opposed to the change, submitted around 20,000 postcards to the Scottish Government in addition to a 9,000 signature petition. After analysis of the responses, the Scottish Government announced it intended to go ahead with
1430-635: The councils. There are several joint boards for electoral registration and the purposes of property valuation for assessing council tax and rates . See also NHS Scotland Until 1 April 2014 the towns of Cambuslang and Rutherglen were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board area despite being located in South Lanarkshire. They are now part of NHS Lanarkshire. The Scottish Government has created seven "Regional Transport Partnerships", for establishing transport policy in
1485-445: The current council areas are named after them. There are also a number of other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of the councils. At the most local level, Scotland is divided into civil parishes , which are now used only for statistical purposes such as the census. The lowest level of administrative subdivision are the communities , which may elect community councils . Traditionally burghs have been
1540-406: The difference in minimum ages is much closer with the legal minimum age to enter into a marriage in Scotland being sixteen years without requiring parental consent while England today allows marriage at sixteen with parental consent but eighteen without. In Scots law, there is a distinction between so-called religious marriages, conducted by an authorised celebrant, and civil marriages, conducted by
1595-460: The east side, bearing a board with the name of the house, the host and high-priest, "Mr. Linton". There is an air of quiet retirement about it that eminently qualifies it for its holy and hospitable purpose. Since 1929, both parties in Scotland have had to be at least 16 years old, but they still may marry without parental consent. Since April 2022 in England and Wales , the minimum age for marriage
1650-421: The features of Gretna Green. Few we should think but have pictured to themselves the chaise stained "with the variations of each soil", the galloping bustle of the hurrying postboys, urging their foaming steeds for the last stage that bears them from Carlisle to the border. It is a place whose very name is typical of brightening prospects. The poet sings of the greenest spot on memory's waste, and surely Gretna Green
1705-658: The first Scottish settlement on the main West Coast route from England; hence the term Gretna Green marriage for marriages transacted in a jurisdiction that was not the residence of the parties being married, to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed by the parties' home jurisdictions. Other Scottish Border villages used for these marriages were Coldstream Bridge , Lamberton Toll (in Lamberton , Berwickshire), Mordington and Paxton Toll. Portpatrick in Wigtownshire
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1760-567: The four cities of Aberdeen , Dundee , Edinburgh , and Glasgow form separate areas from the surrounding countryside, with the Lord Provost of each city acting ex officio as the lord-lieutenant. Not shown: The Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 resulted in the merger of local police and fire services on 1 April 2013 to form the Police Service of Scotland ( Scottish Gaelic : Seirbheis Phoilis na h-Alba ) and
1815-586: The key unit of the local government of Scotland , being highly autonomous entities, with rights to representation in the old Parliament of Scotland . Even after the Acts of Union 1707 , burghs continued to be the principal subdivision. Until 1889, administration was on a burgh and parish basis. The years following 1889 saw the introduction of a hierarchy of local government administration comprising counties , counties of cities , large burghs and small burghs. With effect from 16 May 1975 and until 31 March 1996
1870-440: The legalisation of same-sex marriages, though with plans to put in safeguards to prevent religious bodies that do not wish to carry out such ceremonies from being prosecuted. They found that, of respondents in Scotland, 36% of those were in favour and 64% against the proposals when considering all submissions - standard responses, postcards and petitions. When standard responses alone were considered, 65% were in favour and 35% against
1925-422: The local government divisions of Scotland consisted of an upper tier of regions each containing a lower tier of districts except for the single-tier island council areas . Since 1996 there has only been a single tier of government, and the former island council areas are of equal status to the other councils. Scotland has several other administrative divisions, some of which are handled by joint boards of
1980-690: The marriage ceremony. Visitors who are already in the UK, and are citizens of a country that is not a member of the EEA, would need the approval of the Home Secretary to be married. This will be provided in the form of a certificate of approval. From 4 April 2011, the requirement for a Certificate of Approval was abolished by the United Kingdom Parliament through a Remedial Order under the Human Rights Act 1998. Divorce
2035-474: The nearest equivalent to civil parishes in England. Marriage in Scotland#Irregular and common-law marriages Marriage in Scotland is recognised in the form of both civil and religious unions between individuals. Due to Scotland's history as a previously independent country, the laws around marriage developed differently in Scotland compared to other jurisdictions that also became part of
2090-611: The person performing the marriage otherwise it cannot take place. After the ceremony the Schedule is signed by the couple, their witnesses and the person performing the marriage. In civil marriages, the Schedule is kept by the Registrar and signed after the ceremony. Unless specially authorised by the Registrar General, a minimum of 15 days' notice must be given for a marriage; procedural requirements increase this for most marriages to 4–6 weeks to ensure that it can be determined that there
2145-595: The pre-1975 administrative counties with Glasgow being the only current city to form a registration county. Sheriffdoms are judicial areas. Since 1 January 1975, these have been six in number: The Lieutenancy areas of Scotland are the areas used for the ceremonial lord-lieutenants , the monarch 's representatives. The areas are similar to the Historic Counties and the Registration Counties, but are not identical to either. Most notably,
2200-513: The reformed Kirk divorce was allowed on grounds of adultery or desertion. Scotland was one of the first countries to allow desertion as legal grounds for divorce and, unlike England, divorce cases were initiated relatively far down the social scale. Under early modern Scots law , there were three forms of "irregular marriage" which can be summarised as the agreement of the couple to be married and some form of witnessing or evidence of such. An irregular marriage could result from mutual agreement, by
2255-500: The regions. They broadly follow council area groupings. In the Eurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), Scotland is a level-1 NUTS region, coded "UKM", which is subdivided as follows: The current land registration system in Scotland divides Scotland into 33 Registration Counties , each coming into effect on various dates between 1981 and 2003. These areas in most cases resemble those of
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2310-459: The requirements for marrying in England and Wales but did not apply in Scotland , where it was possible for boys to marry at 14 and girls at 12 with or without parental consent (see Marriage in Scotland ). It was, however, only in the 1770s, with the construction of a toll road passing through the hitherto obscure village of Graitney, that Gretna Green became the first easily reachable village over
2365-476: The second marriage in 1826 of Edward Gibbon Wakefield to the young heiress Ellen Turner, the Shrigley abduction . Other motives for Gretna marriages were to avoid publicity or to marry immediately. In 1856, Scottish law was changed to require 21 days' residence for marriage, and since 1929 both parties have had to be at least 16 years old (though there is still no parental consent needed). A further law change
2420-470: The subject of complex negotiations over the tocher ( dowry ). Some mothers took a leading role in negotiating marriages, as Lady Glenorchy did for her children in the 1560s and 1570s, or as matchmakers , finding suitable and compatible partners for others. In the Middle Ages, marriage was a sacrament and the key element in validity was consent. The sacramental status was removed at the Reformation, but
2475-406: The venues are always performed over an iconic blacksmith's anvil. In common law , a "Gretna Green marriage" came to mean, in general, a marriage transacted in a jurisdiction that was not the residence of the parties being married, to avoid restrictions or procedures imposed by the parties' home jurisdiction. A notable "Gretna" marriage was the second marriage in 1826 of Edward Gibbon Wakefield to
2530-525: The worst rail crash in British history, in which over 220 died, occurred near Gretna Green in 1915. Gretna Green is most famous for its "runaway marriages". Gretna's "runaway marriages" began in 1754 when Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act came into force in England. Under the Act, if a parent of a person under the age of 21 objected to the minor's marriage, the parent could legally veto the union. The Act tightened
2585-422: The years and an area currently derived from an old parish might no longer contain a place previously within that parish. Similarly, county boundaries (as still used for land registration) have also changed over the years such that a parish mentioned historically (generally before the 1860s) as being in one county (or sometimes two due to straddling a border) might now be in a neighbouring county and consequentially in
2640-470: The young heiress Ellen Turner, called the Shrigley abduction (his first marriage was also to an heiress, but the parents wanted to avoid a public scandal). Other towns in which quick, often surreptitious marriages could be obtained came to be known as "Gretna Greens". In the United States, these have included Elkton, Maryland , Reno and, later, Las Vegas . In 1856 Scottish law was changed due to
2695-628: Was from 14) and, while many girls from the social elite married in their teens, most in the Lowlands married only after a period of life-cycle service, in their twenties. In some cases, marriage may have followed handfasting , a period of betrothal, which in the Highlands may have effectively been a period of trial marriage, although recent scholarship suggests this idea is the result of late 20th-century New Age mythology . Marriages, particularly higher in society, were often political in nature and
2750-649: Was known in Scots law, could still be formed; popularly described as " by habit and repute ", with repute being the crucial element to be proved. In 2006, Scotland was the last European jurisdiction to abolish this old-style common-law marriage, by the passing of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 2006. In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, marriage laws in Scotland encouraged the practice of couples wishing to marry eloping from England to Scotland. With transport less developed, many of these marriages were at Gretna Green ,
2805-522: Was made in 1940 to abolish these irregular marriages by declaration . The residential requirement was lifted in 1977. Gretna Green remains a favoured location for marriage because of its romantic associations, with Dumfries and Galloway (the council area containing Gretna Green) the most popular area to get married in Scotland in 2015 (4,395 marriages in Dumfries and Galloway, out of a total of 29,691 marriages throughout Scotland). The marriageable age
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#17327869514262860-773: Was reduced in the early twentieth century by the Deceased Wife's Sister's Marriage Act 1907 , the Deceased Brother's Widow's Marriage Act 1921 and the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Relationship Act 1931 . The Marriage (Scotland) Act 1977 is the main current legislation regulating marriage. The Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 extends the availability of civil marriages to "approved places" in addition to Register Offices and any other place used in exceptional circumstances; religious marriages in Scotland have never been restricted by location. Marriages can either be conducted by "authorised celebrants" (usually, but not always,
2915-481: Was stated to be in favour of legalisation of both civil and religious same-sex marriage, but allowing religious bodies to opt out of performing same-sex marriages if they so wished. As passed in 2014, the law establishing marriage equality in Scotland did not require religious institutions to hold ceremonies on their premises. The consultation of 2011 provoked widespread debate and garnered 50,000 responses. The Equality Network gathered over 20,000 responses in favour of
2970-484: Was the particular spot he had under consideration. Gretna Green! The mind pictures a pretty straggling, half Scotch, half English village, with clean white rails, upon a spacious green, and happy rustics in muffin caps, and high cheek bones, looking out for happier couples to congratulate. Then the legend of the blacksmith who forged the links of love, added interest to the place, and invested the whole with fairy feature. How much better, brighter, more promising, in short,
3025-516: Was used by couples from Ireland, because of the daily packet boat service to Donaghadee . Gretna's famous runaway marriages began in 1753 with the passing of Lord Hardwicke's Marriage Act in England . The Act required consent to the marriage from the parents if a party to a marriage was not at least 21 years old. However, in Scotland it was possible for boys to get married at 14 years and girls at 12 years without parental consent. Some Gretna marriages were of (sometimes abducted) heiresses; e.g.,
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