Prestonpans History

Battle of Prestonpans

The battle which was fought on 21st September 1745 between the Jacobite army of Bonny Prince Charlie and the Hanoverian forces under Sir John Cope is described far better than we could on several other sites. Our favourite is that of Thomas Carroll Woods which appears here

Industrial Past

The stretch of coast at Prestonpans, owing to the absence of large rivers, was ideal for the production of salt and, with the extensive coalfields, provided the means to produce great quantities of salt. Mining ended with the closure of Prestongrange Colliery in 1952.

Extensive potteries, commenced about the middle of the 18th century and employed almost 100 people. Some of this early pottery, one example being Prattware, remains quite collectable today. The "everyday" brown and white ware is not as popular because of its wide availability across the world.

Bricks, tiles and pipes were mass produced in the town and there were also a tradition of brewing and soapworks. Another main employer was the fishing industry, in particular that of oysters.

Remnants of these former industries can still be seen at Prestongrange Industrial Museum, located on the coast road between Musselburgh and Prestonpans.

Witchcraft

In the 16th and 17th centuries, 81 Prestonpans residents were put to death having being accused of witchcraft. Four hundred years later on 27th July 2004, at the last sitting of the Baron Courts of Prestoungrange and Dolphinston before feudal powers were abolished in Scotland, these poor souls were completely pardoned. View the Judgement and Declarator here (pdf).

Resources for Genealogists and Family Historians

Prestonpans has the parish number 718. It lies within the modern county of East Lothian (formerly Haddingtonshire).

A useful list of Old Parish Registers for the area can be seen here (pdf)

Accurate records are maintained for most of the late 19th and 20th century cemeteries but not for the earlier ones. Basic search facilities are offered by the offices shown below for which no fee is currently charged. Postal enquiries are preferred to personal visits and there is no provision for copying of burial entries. Contact: The Area Registrar, Aldhammer House, High Street, Prestonpans, EH32 9SH. Tel: 01875 810232.

The Family and Local History Centre for East Lothian is located at Haddington Library, Newton Port, Haddington. Tel: 01620 823307. They stock memorial inscriptions, valuation rolls, maps, newspaper cuttings and Statistical Accounts.

Old Parish Registers (1650-1854) and Mormon (IGI) Index of christenings and marriages (1650-1875),Valuation Rolls (1855-1989), Census Returns (1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, 1901) are available on microfilm/fiche - n.b. Microfilm/fiche reader must be pre-booked.