Welsh Newspapers - "Roping Newlyweds", a Forest Custom ? (General)

by Jefff , West London, Middlesex, Sunday, October 27, 2013, 22:11 (3826 days ago) @ Jefff

Has anyone else heard of this old Forest "marriage custom", seems very odd, or is it ?

From the Cardiff Evening Express, 7th January 1893.

"MARRIAGE CUSTOMS IN DEAN FOREST.
"Roping" the Bridal Carriage.

At Little Dean Petty Sessions on Friday (before Sir T. H. Crawley Boevey, in the chair Messrs. M. W. Colchester Wemyss, Arnold Thomas, A. C. Bright, and T. B. Brain).
George Gazzard and Frederick Thomas, respectably-dressed young men, of Flaxley Meend, Cinderford, were summoned by Police-constable Baker for obstructing the highway at that place on December 29. According to the evidence of a constable and a coachman, named Edward Payne, from the Fleece Hotel, Miss Cullimore was married at St. Stephen's Church, at Cinderford, on the morning in question, and as they were being driven home from church the defendants, each having hold of a rope which was stretched across the street, intercepted them, and the roadway was blocked.
The driver forced his way through, dragging defendants 30 yards along the street behind his vehicle. It was suggested that this was done in order to induce the "happy man "to give the people money for drink. Defendants indignantly repudiated this last allegation they were neighbours of the bride, and what they did was for fun — it was the custom to "rope" wedding folks in Dean Forest — The Chairman said the custom was as bad as it could be, and ought to be put down. Defendants, however, must pay 6s. 3d. costs each, and come up when called upon."

http://welshnewspapers.llgc.org.uk/en/page/view/3235241/ART50/dean%20forest%20wedding

I think this is the Marriage in question;

Record_ID: 24968
Entry_Number: 30
Year: 1892
Month: Dec
Day: 29
Grooms_Surname: TRIGG
Grooms_Forenames: Frederick
Grooms_Age: 26
Groom_Condition: Bachelor
Grooms_Occupation: Plumber
Grooms_Residence: St. Mary Magdalene Paddington London
Grooms_Fathers_Surname: Trigg
Grooms_Fathers_Forenames: Henry
Grooms_Fathers_Occupation: Nursery-man
Brides_Surname: CULLIMORE
Brides_Forenames: Georgina Mary
Brides_Age: 26
Brides_Condition: Spinster
Brides_Occupation:
Brides_Residence: Flaxley R[oa]d Cinderford
Brides_Fathers_Surname: Cullimore
Brides_Fathers_Forenames: Charles Hook
Brides_Fathers_Occupation: Water Bailiff
Licence_or_Banns: Banns
Date_of_Banns: [not stated]
Signature_or_Mark: Both sign
Witness_1: George Martin
Witness_2: Mary Caroline Clark
Other_Witnesses:
Officiating_Minister: C.W. Houlston
Event: Marriage
Memoranda:
Notes:
Register_Reference: P85/2 1N 1/6
Page_Number: 15
Parish_Chapel: Cinderford St Stephen
Soundex_Groom: T620
Soundex_Bride: C456

Has anyone else heard of this "tradition" ?.
Seems to me that "roping" the bridegroom should be part of a Western "shotgun wedding", perhaps ?