A Blackmith in Gretna Signals a New Age- Commemorate It with Us
Times change and times remain the same. It was ever thus. There was the tradition of courting couples, forbidden by families or guardians to marry that they would run away to the Borders and marry over the blacksmith’s anvil in Gretna Green. But with the change of technology from horses to the horseless carriage the practice of Smithing was lost from the village about 150 years ago. But now after that enormous lull Blacksmithing has returned to Scotland's wedding capital as a new forge opens.
It will be a working smithy and also allow newly weds to forge new the bonds of their marriage by hammering hot ironworks on the anvil and create a keepsake of the occasion. And if they make it to their sixth anniversary they’ll have something made of iron which represents strength and durability the solid foundation and an unbreakable bond.
It all dates back a long way when the Marriage Act of 1754 in England - forbade marriages without parental consent if either party was under 21. However, the law had a loophole and eloping couples could border hop and be married simply by stating their intent in front of witnesses – often over the anvil at the blacksmith’s. A quick thump of the hammer on the anvil and the couple were duly wed. This created a romantic trend at a time when romanticism was all the rage and up to a fifth of al marriages in the Scottish nation were enacted in the area of Gretna Green. It was certainly an easier way to make a living than the sweated labour in the smithy.
Even now the village is host to a plethora of weddings and you can barely move for the plighting of troths, the flinging of rice and the tossing of bouquets. And if it is your turn to attend a wedding as either a parent or a guest and you feel a bit stuck for some present ideas then you have wandered into exactly the right place for great value and longevity of gift. We have a whole section of the website devoted to wedding gifts for the bride and groom, for the best man or the maid of honour, or for those pesky sides men There are offers of up to 55% off, that’s less than half price, and many products which can be personalised as a memento of the significant day. It’s all there just browse away. To The Happy Couple! Cheers!
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