From 1754, English couples needed parental consent to marry if either of them was under 21. They could avoid this restriction by marrying at Gretna Green in the Scottish county of Dumfriesshire, as Scottish law permitted marriage from the age of 16 without parental consent.
Until 1940, marriages at Gretna could be conducted by someone other than an ordained church minister.
Marriages at Gretna are included in the records at Scotland – Marriages, and from 1855 at Scotland – Marriage registrations.
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