The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-02

!. The parish Of Gretna. or Graitney, COM
rises tiny reach of land in the southwest
I'm portion of Dumfriesshire, in the form
!: an irregular parallelogram, extending in
northeast and southwest direction, about
wen miles long, and from two to three
lies in width. In it's whole length it is
about one-half of it's south
'estern exposure lies along the head of Sol
lay Firth; and the Iemainded is bounded
n the little, though rapid and tumultuous,
yer Sark. The river empties into the Sol
ay from the northeast, few miles north
cumberland, coming down from the Scot
|sh Roxburgh hills. also cuts through the
5lway Moss into the whitened sands of
lie Firth. The strip of land be-
veen the two rivers, though incontesta-
NJ English soil, as the Sark is the real
l5undary between the two counties, has al
lays been debatable ground; until the UNI
llains of extraordinary variety; and in
lie olden times was scene OF lncessant
Esuds between the adherents of Scottish
aieftains and English border lords.
hTopographically the parlsh of Gretna is
ithout special interest. It is neither of
nnandale nor of Eskdale, and forms
ide hollow or swail. principally of moss
olway. Old Gretna, on the east bank of
lie kirtle water, in its old Anglo
axon name of Gretna-hol, is noted
Fhly for giving the name to the
arish and describing it's topography,
retan-hol or Gretan-how, meaning 1.-The
,eat hollow" Here and there traces ex-
K of ancient square towers and keeps, nee
.sary for defense against, and for gather,
| ig places for, foray, in ancient times; and
i the farm OF Gretna- Mains, the remains
an oval Druidio temple are found, one
;one of which measures 118 cubic feet.
tradition makes this spot famous as the
,ene of the formation Of ancient alliances
stween England and Scotland. The par
b itself is utterly devoid Of scenic inter
.inutes' walk from old Gretna, Especially
wards nightfall, a magnificent panorama
the Cumberland mountains of the Eng
iii Lake DISTRICT is presented to view.
ne heights and lower-lying spurs of Scaw-
II. Skidaw, and Hellvellyn lie under the
plden tinge of the setting sun in hundreds
individual masses, glorious in george
lille nearer, in the foreground, just
|pyond the crested chargers of the Sol
ay's incoming tide. may be had glimpse
modest Burgh- Marsh, and its gray old
Ionument marking the spot where death
frested the impetuous career of the first
amt stride across this very border to con-
i,er Scotland.
There are altogether but four villages in
ie parish. These are Old Gretna, Rigg of
retna, Greenhouses, lnouldy and sleepy
,slf score of houses on Solway- side, and
iretna Green, or Springfield. It Is the lat
Il two, which are practically one village.
700, for, as shall show, the practice is in
=pgue to this day-"Scotch border mar
lagos" have made famous or infamous.
he two villages comprise one long, stray
Ting street, the Gretna Green, or north
jester end having perhaps score of an
lent dwellings,, an old kirk, kirk-yard and
anse, and the Springfield, or southwest
.ost doleful and forlorn character.
he latter terminate abruptly on the
&w of sunny brea or bank. below
hich winds the impetuous Sark. It
iould be BON in mind that the center of
Ills stream, which is not forty rods from
| fe abrupt and dumped village-end, is the
ttual boundary line between the "King-
hateyer legal or moral vexations might in
re olden times, or now, lurk in the "De-
ttable Land" between the Sark and the
ak. whenever debtors or lovers, flying
:Om the memorable harassment of English
atute, once crossed the middle of the
ark, they we're instantly safe from their
hrsuers beneath the evsr-welcoming aegis
Scottish law. Added to this fact was the
most equally important one that the
eat coach-route, from London itself, and
deed from all parts of central and western
hgland, to Glasgow and all western Scot
ind. traversing the fortified English bor-
pr city of Carlisle. not ten miles
Istant, led over the sark which is
re spannaeed by a great stone
|otiy through Springfield and Gretna
Feen, fhrmino the long, broad village
ireet, while down to the here quite recent
Ia of railways an old inn, first at Gretna
reen, and latter the Kings Arms, which
still an inn at Springfield, was in turn
badquarters on his ancient post-route for
ie first change Of horses out of Carlisle on
iese facts it is also interesting to know
lat another place in Scotland once enjoyed
ht little less notoriety for irregular
carriages than Gretna Green itself. This
i,s the town of Coldstream in Berwick
ire, on the eastern border. 1t lies on the
5rth bank of the Tweed, which at that
hint forms the boundary between England
ad Scotland; and runaway debtors and
lvers from the northwestern English
Tres usually chose this route to safety or
lies as the more expeditions of the two.
bridge and ford assisted here in confus-
II pursuers: while the ford is really famous
border history. BY it Edward !. entered
aotland in 1885; and hosts of Scottish and
tlRlish armies made their way by the
,ldstream ford to rayage the countries of
seir respective enemies.
The direct causes leading to Gretna
.een becoming a far-famed court of Hy-
en- are traceable to the rigors of English
Iarital law and its Interpretation. The
kcient Law of England held that any mar