SCENE OF ROMANTIC MARRIAGES.—The old smithy at Gretna Green, famous the world over, may soon cease to he the scene of romantic marriages over the anvil. -The Committee on Scottish Marriage Law recommends the abolition of Gretna Green and its irregular marriages. The committee’s report states that actually there never was a blacksmith’s shop at Gretna Green, but a man named Mackie exploited the romantic stories by fitting up a room with an anvil and conducting “marriages,” his income from this source reaching £2000 a year. Richard Rennison, seen above at the gate has been carrying on the establishment for some years, and says he will continue to marry people until the law abolishes it.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 11 (Supplement)

SCENE OF ROMANTIC MARRIAGES.— The old smithy at Gretna Green, famous the world over, may soon cease to he the scene of romantic marriages over the anvil. -The Committee on Scottish Marriage Law recommends the abolition of Gretna Green and its irregular marriages. The committee’s report states that actually there never was a blacksmith’s shop at Gretna Green, but a man named Mackie exploited the romantic stories by fitting up a room with an anvil and conducting “marriages,” his income from this source reaching £2000 a year. Richard Rennison, seen above at the gate has been carrying on the establishment for some years, and says he will continue to marry people until the law abolishes it.