THE WORLD-FAMOUS Blacksmiths Shop at Gretna Green has reopened following a £1.5 million upgrade.
The venue is renowned for being the home of runaway marriages, and now visitors can step into the world’s greatest love story with the immersive new Gretna Green Experience.
At a launch event, the present owners of the venue, the Houston family cut the ribbon to officially re-open the Famous Blacksmiths Shop. Their great-great grandfather, Hugh Mackie, bought the Gretna Estate in 1885 and the land has belonged to the family ever since.
The Experience allows visitors to get up close to original objects including marriage registers, furniture, the wedding dress of Dorothy Bell (the grandmother of the owner) and the original anvil that was used by the blacksmiths to confirm the union between man and wife.
Recent updates to the exhibition include a video presentation highlighting the history of the venue, an anvil designed to celebrate the ruling of same-sex marriages in 2014 and 13 audio-visual experiences, including a 360-degree piece titled ‘The Unbreakable Bond’, that brings the history of the site to life around the original anvil.
Cheshire-based experience makers Mather & Co has been responsible for all design, management and production of the retail area – including repairs and restoration of the original Famous Blacksmiths Shop.
READ MORE: The Famous Blacksmiths Shop in Gretna Green has £1.5million makeover
Graphic designer Alec Hawkins said: “Working on Gretna Green has been a very unique experience for us because the building itself is one of a kind.
“Depicting the vast amount of stories and rich history that has passed through the building certainly was a challenge. We had to capture the pure essence of Gretna Green and all the romantic adventures that took place there without relying on objects to tell these stories.”
The historic rooms of the original Blacksmiths shop will be available for visitors to have a wander round when weddings aren’t taking place.
Guests can also leave their personal stories of love or the venue at the end of their visit, much like Dennis and Marie Lloyd, who were special guests at the launch.
Mr and Mrs Lloyd ran away in July 1965 to get married in the venue and are still together to this day.
The Gretna Green Experience is now open to the public.
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