A visitor attraction celebrating the history of the Scottish parish of Gretna Green and its heritage as a destination for ‘runaway marriages’ has opened its doors.
Gretna Green, located just inside Scotland bordering with England, became famous for its weddings almost 260 years ago, following the Clandestine Marriages Act. 1753.
The act prevented couples under the age of 21 from marrying in England or Wales without their parents’ consent.
In Scotland, a couple over the age of 16 only had to declare their intentions to be husband and wife in the presence of two witnesses. This led to couples crossing the border to Gretna, the first village on what was then the main road to Edinburgh – a tradition that continues to this day.
Designed by Mather & Co, the Gretna Green Experience cost £1.5m and includes an exhibition and retail area and is located within the original Famous Blacksmiths Shop.
Kim Kherlopian, project director at Mather & Co, said: “Working on Gretna Green has been a very unique experience for us because the building itself is one of a kind.
“Depicting the vast amount of stories and rich history that has passed through the building certainly was a challenge. We had to capture the pure essence of Gretna Green and all the romantic adventures that took place there without relying on objects to tell these stories.”
The Experience allows visitors to view original objects including marriage registers. At the centre of the experience, is a 360-degree audio-visual film, ‘The Unbreakable Bond’.
There are 13 audio-visual experiences in total for visitors to feel all loved up in an immersive experience filled with love.
