MU Meeting 20th May 2026
image: courtesy of GretnaGreen.com
This month, our speaker was David Shaw, who gave us a fascinating talk about the History of Eloping and Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act of 1753.
David is a wonderful storyteller who has researched a lot of historical facts. He told us many funny stories about the history of Eloping, which was a way of escaping a marriage when there was no such thing as divorce. Women in particular could ‘elope’ from one set of circumstances to another. Marriage was often arranged for the purpose of inheritance and property, so was not necessarily for love.
In 1753 after Parliament was lobbied for better conditions, Lord Hardwicke’s Act became law in 1754. This was the first legislation to require a formal, public wedding ceremony with two witnesses, the reading of banns, the presence of a clergyman, and a place of worship. Parental consent was needed for people under the age of 21. This was probably the beginning of ‘Eloping to Gretna Green’ and other situations where the English law didn’t apply.
Things have certainly changed in so many ways these years as time has gone on. People can choose to marry in many places other than in church. Some can marry very privately without necessarily telling anyone. This is what an aunt of mine did many years ago at the beginning of the Second World War. It came as a great shock to my grandparents and their other seven children!
After David’s talk, we enjoyed refreshments and chatter.
Our meeting next month will be our Strawberry Tea which is our annual fundraising meeting for Mothers’ Union funds. This year the MU will be 150 yrs old and so members have been invited to wear hats as ladies used to do. If you would like to join us you would be very welcome.
For information about joining the MU, please ring Carole Elliott on 07942900292 or Judy Copley on 07837 601049, or simply turn up at one of our monthly meetings (usually 3rd Wed. at 2pm in the Hall).