Prestonpans
| Prestonpans | |
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 Prestonpans Old Parish Church |
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 Prestonpans
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| Prestonpans shown within East Lothian | |
| Population | 7,153 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | NT401745 |
| Civil parish |
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| Council area | |
| Lieutenancy area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Prestonpans |
| Postcode district | EH32 |
| Dialling code | 01875 |
| Police | Scottish |
| Fire | Scottish |
| Ambulance | Scottish |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
| UK Parliament | |
| Scottish Parliament | |
Prestonpans is a small town to the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the unitary council area of East Lothian. A census in 2001 recorded that the town had a population of 7,153, but many more have moved to the area since many new houses have been built. It is the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans, and has a history dating back to the 11th century. The town boasts some impressive examples of historical architecture, such as the Preston Tower and the doocot and the local Mercat Cross, which is the only one of its kind in Scotland which remains in its original form and location. The town is also credited for achieving the title of "Scotland's Mural Town" with many wall murals reflecting the town's colourful past.
According to certain stories Prestonpans was founded in the 11th century by a traveller named Althamer, who became shipwrecked on the local beach/coastal area. Finding it impossible to get home, the survivors of the wreck decided to remain where they were and founded a settlement named Althamer in honour of their leader. Whether this story is true or not is a matter of opinion, however when the monks of Newbattle and Holyrood arrived in the district in 1184 there was already a settlement named 'Aldhammer' on the site of what is now Prestonpans. The monks gave the settlement their own name, Prieststown or Prieston. Because of the salt manufacturing carried out by the monks using pans on the sea shore, the town's name would later develop into Salt Prieststown and Salt Preston, and finally Prestonpans.
One of the first post-Reformation churches was built in Prestonpans in 1596, for and at the expense of the new minister, Reverend John Davidson. The church was greatly re-modelled in 1774. Ten years after the original building of the new church, Prestonpans became a Parish in its own right, having previously formed part of the Parish of Tranent.
On 31 October 2004 the innocence was publicly declared of 81 Scottish women convicted of being witches and executed in the 16th and 17th centuries.
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Wikipedia