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Gretna Green Accommodation
Gretna Green Old Blacksmiths Complex, Tartan Shop
Tam O'Shanter Bonnet Hats, Old Blacksmith Gretna Green Shopping
Interesting Sculptures around the Old Blacksmith Centre, Gretna Green
Specialist Food Shopping, Gretna Green
Quirky Gift Shopping Gretna Green, Ceramic Sheep Galore!
Famous Old Blacksmith's Shop, Historic Gretna Green Weddings Location
Lochcarron Tartan at Old Blacksmith's Shopping Complex, Gretna Green
Tongue-in-cheek Tartan Gifts, Gretna GreenGretna Green Weddings, Blacksmith Gretna Green, Dumfries and Galloway
Gretna Green Scottish weddings are still popular, with over 1000 couples marrying here in Gretna every year. The Old Blacksmith's Shop and Centre is the main hub not just for superb Scottish shopping but also as a heritage site for runaway weddings since 1754. The Gretna Story exhibit within the Blacksmith's complex is well worth your time to explore Gretna Green Weddings history and why couples flocked here to get married.
Gretna Green shopping lives up to the hype - at the Old Blacksmith's Centre you've everything from Scottish Tartan and Scotch Whisky to arts and crafts, Scottish gifts and full cafe and restaurant facilities on-site. More Gretna Green Shopping is on offer at the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village - see weblink right for details. Highly recommended too is the Devil's Porridge exhibit at St John's Church just outside Gretna at Eastriggs. It's an important site for women's history and the history of womens roles in munitions production during World War One. Little of the huge cordite munitions factory which once spread across the Gretna Green area during World War One remains now, but this museum gives you a glimpse of what was once here, and the dangers experienced by working class women who mixed the 'Devils Porridge' - cordite paste for munitions.
Gretna Green Blacksmiths, Gretna Green Wedding Planners, Scottish Weddings History at Gretna Green
Fancy a Gretna Green Scottish Wedding? Why not indeed, and many still do - attracted to the romantic heritage. Gretna Green is a fine setting too, perfect for weddings with a choice of wedding venues including the historic Old Blacksmith's Shop and plenty of wedding party accommodation choice.
See the Gretna Green Weddings weblink right for a list of wedding venue choices in Gretna, plus wedding planning information and how to get married in Gretna Green, ie. What you need to do regarding wedding licences and other details.
Gretna Green Tourist Information Centre, Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, Unit 10, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5GG. Scotland.
Gretna Green Old Blacksmith Centre - Gretna Wedding History & Gretna Green Shopping
Clearly signposted off either the M74 or A75, The 'World Famous' Gretna Green Old Blacksmith's Shop is a mix of independent shopping heaven, foodhalls selling fine Scottish produce, a choice of restaurants and exhibitions. On the shopping side, the Old Blacksmith's centre manages to pull together every single Scottish product you can think of under one roof. It's all here - Scottish tartan clothing incuding a fine selection of Tam O'Shanter hats (see photo left), a Scotch Whisky Centre, Arts and Crafts centre, Scottish gifts including the largest collection of ceramic sheep you're ever likely to come across and select foodhalls (checkout the fine selectiion of Scottish Hampers in the Hampers store).
Alongside shopping there are outside seating areas with fine views of the surrounding countryside, plus a cafe and restaurant on-site. (see the Gretna Green Old Blacksmith's Shop weblink right for details on restaurant service and shopping choice). For a spread of Scottish Tartan products, the Old Blacksmith's Shop is one of the best. Shops, cafe and exhibits cluster around an attractive central sculpture garden.
A nice touch is how the Old Blacksmith's Centre does justice to its historic past and the fact that runaway couples have been coming here to Gretna Green to marry since 1754. That year saw the introduction of the Hardwicke Marriage Act to England enforcing the need to have both a marriage license and a church wedding. Not so in Scotland, hence runaway couples scuttled upto Scotland usually calling in at the first stop to be married - here at the Gretna Green Blacksmith's Shop. Gretna Green weddings soon became legendary, with various players making the most of the market, including the Priest Joseph Paisley known for his dramatic straightening of the horse shoes over the anvil. The Old Blacksmith's lucky anvil is still incorporated into wedding ceremonies held here today - touching it is thought to bring good luck!
The Gretna Green Story exhibit explores this history in depth and is situated within the centre complex and is well worth a visit. This sits alongside the Original Marriage Room and legendary Anvil, plus there's a coach museum exhibiting early Victorian horse drawn transport. Gretna Green Old Blacksmith Centre, Gretna Green Group Ltd, Gretna Green, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland, DG16 5EA. Tel. 01461 338441. Note outside the Blacksmith's Centre complex, a rather good collection of sculptures - Britt Ekland opened it in 1994!
Gretna Green Gateway Outlet Village & Gretna Green Tourist Information
More Gretna Green shopping is on offer at the Gretna Gateway Outlet Village (website right for details).
Gretna Green Tourist Information Centre, Gretna Gateway Outlet Village, Unit 10, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5GG. Scotland.
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