About this place
Famous former blacksmith's forge where generations of runaway couples were married over the anvil.
For over two centuries, couples too young or otherwise unable to marry under English law crossed the border to Gretna Green, where more relaxed Scots marriage law meant a ceremony could be performed simply by declaration in front of witnesses - famously conducted over the anvil in this old blacksmith's forge by a 'blacksmith priest'. The building still displays the anvil and tells the story of the runaway marriage trade that made this small border village internationally famous. It's a quirky, distinctly Scottish piece of social history rather than a conventional attraction. Entry to the exhibition is free, and the site is fully accessible.
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55.0056, -3.0625