Gretna Green

Gretna Green, a small hamlet in Dumfriesshire on the English border, 9 miles N.N.W. of Carlisle, was for long a retreat of smugglers, and was also the place where runaway matches from England, called, from its position, "Border" or "Gretna Green" marriages, took place. In 1856 these marriages were made invalid, unless one of the contracting parties had resided in Scotland for three weeks before the ceremony.