GRETNA GREEN LURE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 June 1928, Page 4

GRETNA GREEN LURE

MORE WEDDINGS THAN EVER

GRETNA GREEN, May 13.

Tiler© has been a sudden boom, in l'Osjnanc© at Gretna Green, in spite of its growing modern surroundings. Tire River Sark continues, as of old, to bo the all-safe signal for runaway couples, as, in its tortuous windings, it traces the border line between England and Scotland and dreamily whispers over its counties white pebbles and around the old blacksmith’s shop, whose walls arc now gnarled with age.

The smithy still remains a spot where the romantic can conjure up visions of herulfled gallants, prancing horses, furtive glances from the closely headed faces of fair maidens, and irate fathers. THE B fJACKSMITH-PRTEST. Mr Richard Rennisou, who succeeded to the post of blacksmith-priest last October, told me that last month he married 1C couples. He said:

“This is a record for the last 101 years as far as J can discover. I married four couples in one day. That was during the Easter rush. Since last October I have married 70 couples. “It takes only a few moments. I ask them if they are both single and if one of them has lived in Scotland for 21 days. “1 have received a number cf letters recently asking if dates can be fixed for ceremonies. My charge for a marriage license is £l, including wit-

“Usually people just call without giving notice. Not long ago an Edinburgh doctor and his fiancee, called to look round the forge. They mentioned nothing about marriage but just took the ordinary tourists’ interest in the relics, and then suddenly the doctor asked: ‘Can we he married now?’ “I said they could if lie had lived in Scotland for 21 days. When he said they both came from Edinburgh T married them.” MARRIED BY FLASH-LAMP.

Runaways still make for Gretna Green. Recently a guardian chased his runaway Australian ward and her lover from the Highlands in a taxicab to prevent their marriage at Gretna Green. Having the advantage of the modern telegraph service, he was successful.

One couple were married with the aid of a flash lamp at nine o’clock on a dark night, as there is no artificial light in the old forge. They had travelled l>y train from Leith, called at Gretna, were married at the smithy, and then caught a train to Newcastle.

A millionaire’s son from the south of England drove up to the smithy in a luxurious motor car and was married over the anvil. He left a £o note. The old smithy has been turned into a museum as well as a marriage bureau, with a turnstile which last year recorded northing like 20,000 visitors. In one corner there is a portrait of Or Samuel Johnson, who is recorded co have visited Gretna on his way to -tour itie Highlands. There is also a painting of John Peal, who is stated to have been married at Gretna Green in 17!W.

.Another relic is an old plough claimed to have been mod by Burns. In an old chest are thousands of visiting cards left by nerple from all parts of the world.