The Fleet Marriage Act of 1753, also known as Hardwicke's Marriage Act, was a significant legal reform that outlawed clandestine marriages in England. This legislation required formal public bans and parental consent for marriages, aiming to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The act represented a shift towards more regulated marriage practices, reflecting broader societal changes regarding family and social order during the 18th century.

Created the cultural phenomenon of runaway Gretna Green elopements, a romantic and dangerous trope used extensively by Romantic and Victorian poets. Poets like Lord Byron and Elizabeth Barrett Browning explored themes of love and rebellion against societal constraints in their works.