Tartan Details - The Scottish Register of Tartans

26 April 2024

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Tartan Details - Gretna Green

The information held within The Scottish Register of Tartans for the "Gretna Green" tartan is shown below.


STA ref:	5119
STWR ref:	none
Designer:	Buchan, Alistair
Tartan date:	01/01/1996
Registration date:	This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category:	Fashion
Restrictions:
Registration notes:	Designed in 1996 by Lochcarron for Tartan & Tweeds of Gretna Green. Gretna Green became famous for runaway marriages when 'irregular' marriages were banned by law in England in 1753. Couples were able to run to Scotland and become legally married by proclamation in front of two witnesses. This form of marriage was recognised worldwide. From the middle of the 18th century these marriages were in such demand that the blacksmith, conveniently situated on the crossroads at Gretna Green, became known as the 'anvil priest', giving birth to the anvil as the symbol of Gretna Green. Many couples are still married at the original smithy while many others, although married elsewhere, visit Gretna Green to take the traditional Scottish oath. The Gretna Green tartan reflects the twin influences of this history and that of the powerful border clan Johnstone, so influential in this area of Dumfriesshire, on which this tartan is based. Sample in Scottish Tartans Authority's Johnston Collection.

Tartan image: Gretna Green. Click on this image to see a more detailed version.

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Please note

Where tartans were recorded before the establishment of the Scottish Register of Tartans (SRT) on 5 February 2009, the original Scottish Tartans Authority (STA) and the Scottish Tartans World Register (STWR) reference numbers have been retained. The new SRT reference number can be found in the address box on your browser (url).

The registration criteria now applied by the Register conforms to the Scottish Register of Tartans Act 2008. These criteria are different to those previously applied by either the STA or the STWR. You may wish to refer to the STA website for further information on the original recording of this tartan.

National Records of Scotland, H.M. General Register House, 2 Princes Street, Edinburgh, EH1 3YY
email: [email protected].