Old Cumbria Gazetteer

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	Toll Bar Cottage, Gretna
	Toll Bar Cottage
	Sark Bar
	Old Toll Bar
locality:-	Sark Bridge
locality:-	Gretna
country:-	Scotland
locality type:-	toll gate (site)
locality type:-	toll house (ex)
locality type:-	buildings
coordinates:-	NY32686706
1Km square:-	NY3267
10Km square:-	NY36
	BOB01.jpg (taken 31.8.2007)   BOB02.jpg  Notice:- "YE OLDE TOLL BAR / ..." (taken 31.8.2007)
evidence:-	old map:- OS County Series (Dmf 59)  placename:-  Alison Bank Turn Pike
source data:-	Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25 inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton, Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948. "Alison Bank T.P."
evidence:-	descriptive text:-  placename:-  Gratna
source data:-	Pennant, Thomas: 1780: Tour of Scotland "At a little distance from the bridge, stop at the little village of Gratna, the resort of all amorous couples, whose union the prudence of parents or guardians prohibits: here the young pair may be instantly united by a fisherman, a joiner, or a blacksmith, who marry from two guineas a job, to a dram of whisky: but the price is generally adjusted by the information of the postillions from Carlile, who are iin pay of one or another of the above worthies; but even the drivers, in case of necessity have been known to undertake the sacerdotal office. If the pursuit of friends proves very hot; and there is not time for the ceremony, the frightened pair are advised to slip into bed; are shown to the pursuers, who imagining that they are irrevocably united, retire, and leave them to consummate their unfinished loves."
evidence:-	road book:- Cary 1798 (2nd edn 1802)
source data:-	Road book, itineraries, Cary's New Itinerary, by John Cary, 181 Strand, London, 2nd edn 1802.   goto source   click to enlarge C38283.jpg page 283-284  "Gretna Green - T.G." item:-  JandMN : 228.1 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old text:- Harper 1907 placename:-  Sark Bar
source data:-	HP01p168.txt Page 168:-  "..."   click to enlarge HP0131.jpg "SARK BAR." "..." item:-  JandMN : 1055.33 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old itinerary:- Johnson 1908 (Roads/Cum)
source data:-	Itinerary, Route 37 reverse in Roads Made Easy by Picture and Pen, Glasgow to Preston, by Claude Johnson, edited by Lord Montagu, published by The Car Illustrated, 168 Piccadilly, London, 1908.   click to enlarge JS5015.jpg item:-  private collection : 268.3 Image © see bottom of page
evidence:-	old map:- Burrow 1920s placename:-  Sark Bar Toll House
source data:-	Road book, strip maps with parts in Westmorland, Cumberland etc, irregular scales about 1.5 miles to 1 inch, by E J Burrow and Co, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, 1920s. "... The actual border [to Scotland] is crossed at Sark Bar toll-house, where the small River Sark is also crossed, a mile before reaching Gretna Green village. ..."
	BOB03.jpg  The Marriage Room. (taken 31.8.2007)
	BUF87.jpg  Marriage certificate, issued at Allison's Bank Tollhouse, 1854.  courtesy of Keswick Museum
notes:-	The Olde Toll Bar now advertises:-
	"Admission Free / to the Horse Shoe Marriage Room. / Souvenirs and Postcards on sale."
hearsay:-	The Marriage Act 1753, put forward by Lord Hardwick, ended the instant marriages, Fleet Marriages, performed at or near the Fleet prison, London. The law did not apply in Scotland; there, a declaration before a man of standing, in front of two witnesses was still enough to be legally married. The route from England to Scotland through Longtown and across the River Sark made the first place in the country for a quick wedding. The old smithy, built 1713, became a popular place for these rites. A new turnpike route crossing the Sark by Telford Bridge, built 1817, passed a new toll house, on the scottish side of the border, which became the new place for runaway weddings.
	It all came to an end at the passing of an act put forward by Lord Brougham, 1857, which demanded 21 days residence in Scotland for a scottish wedding.

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