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4 unusual facts about Gretna Green


Gretna Green

In the novel A Poisoned Season by Tasha Alexander, the main character Lady Emily Ashton discusses with her suitor whether he loves her enough to consider eloping to Gretna Green.

It is in Dumfries and Galloway, near the mouth of the River Esk and was historically the first village in Scotland, following the old coaching route from London to Edinburgh.

John Dunn Gardner

While the suit was still pending, Lady Leicester eloped with John Margetts, a brewer, and married him in a bigamous ceremony at Gretna Green in October 1809.

Pierre-Chéri Lafont

After several years at the Nouveautis and the Vaudeville, on the burning of the latter in 1838 he went to England, and married, at Gretna Green, Jenny Colon, from whom he was soon divorced.


1915 in Scotland

22 May - Quintinshill rail disaster near Gretna Green: collision and fire kill 226, mostly troops, the UK's largest number of fatalities in a railway accident.

Shrigley abduction

The couple were married in Gretna Green, Scotland and travelled to Calais before Turner's father was able to notify the authorities and intervene.


see also

Douglastown, New Brunswick

Douglastown was originally known as Gretna Green and was founded in 1812 by two Scottish immigrants, Alexander Rankin and James Gilmour.