Fleet marriage

An "irregular marriage" was one that took place either away from the home parish of the spouses (but after banns or licence), or at an improper time.

[2] With few local exceptions, earlier Christian marriages across Europe were by mutual consent, declaration of intention to marry and upon the subsequent physical union of the parties.

By a legal quirk, however, clergy operating in the Fleet could not effectively be proceeded against, and the clandestine marriage business there carried on.

[citation needed] The majority of Fleet marriages were for honest purposes, when couples simply wanted to get married quickly or at low cost.

[citation needed] The scandal and abuses brought about by these clandestine marriages became so great that they became the object of special legislation.

[8] This act had the effect of putting a stop to these marriages, so far as England and Wales were concerned, and henceforth couples had to travel to Scotland, the nearest point being Gretna Green.