Published in Scotland Magazine Issue 33 on 22/06/2007.

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Mr & Mrs Smiths

The new Smiths Hotel in the town of Gretna Green has a reputation for romance… Vivien Devlin stayed there

For centuries painters, poets and travellers have recognised and relished the beauty, magic, mystery and altogether romantic tranquility of the Scottish landscape. Nowhere more so, it seems, than the village of Gretna Green, renowned as Wedding Capital of the world.

In 1754 England passed a law preventing any bride or groom under the age of 21 from marrying without parental consent. In Scotland the age was 16 and so young lovers eloped, heading north to Gretna Green just half a mile over the border. As a stagecoach changing post on the London to Glasgow route, the first building was the Blacksmith’s shop. Marriage was a civil contract at the time and the “blacksmith priest” acted as witness for these hasty marriages over the anvil, believed to offer good fortune. Runaway couples travelled for days by coach and horses, often with fathers in hot pursuit.

The tradition continues unabated today – 4,000 weddings a year – with couples travelling from across the world.

The accolade of Scottish Wedding Hotel of the Year, 2007 was recently awarded to Smiths at Gretna Green. This innovative £5 million hotel is the latest venture by a family business founded in 1886 when Hugh Mackie bought the Gretna Estate including the Blacksmith’s shop. Today his great grandson Alasdair Houston, managing director, and family have developed the wedding venue, heritage museum, gift shops and restaurant into a major visitor attraction.

Located opposite the World Famous Old Blacksmith’s shop, Smiths .....

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By Vivien Devlin

Section : Best of Scotland

Page number : 30