Tradition tells us that about the end of the 11th century, there was a man called Althamer,a seafaring man, who with his crew had the doubtful reputation of being pirates.

The story goes that their ship driven by hurricane winds was blown into the Firth of Forth, and wrecked on rocks, at what we now call Prestonpans.

Unable to return to their old "trade", these ship-wrecked mariners, possibly of Dutch origin, decided to remain there, where they formed a hamlet naming it "Althamer" in honour of their captain.Thus when the Monks of Newbattle obtained a settlement in the district, they found the hamlet of Althamer occupied by villagers probably descendants of those original shipwrecked sailors. These villagers would mostly be engaged in the fishing trade.certain of their sons would seek employment in the newly established salt works (1189).

The original "gift" from "De Quincy of Tranent and Winton" was the land which ultimately became known as the "Barony of Prestongrange".A second gift of land in the meadows of Tranent, became known as Bankton.ln these meadows the Monks grazed their sheep, they excavating peats as a fuel to produce salt. It was there that they came across what they called "Black Diamonds", in reality coal out crops between Bankton and Seton. And so it was that during the early years of the 1.3th century (1202-10), coal was discovered and excavated by these early settlers in the district. With an abundant supply of coal and an even greater supply of salt water, the salt industry flourished.

Around this time the name of the hamlet began to change.lt had become Aldhamer, and after the arrival of the Monks, it became known as Prieststoun.Then as if in keeping with the new industry, it became "Salt Prieststoun", which was soon reduced to "Salt Preston".In the course of time, the word salt was dropped and replaced with the word "Pans", as in salt pans, and it soon became the town and by act of Parliament 11 July 1606, and Parish of Prestonpans.