Preston, East Lothian

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Preston is a village on the East Lothian coast of Scotland, UK, to the south east of Prestonpans and Prestongrange, and to the west of Cockenzie and Port Seton.

The name Preston means "priest town", and the monks of Holyrood Abbey and Newbattle Abbey owned land here. The village was noted for St Jerome's Fair, held on the second Thursday of October. The chapmen of the area had formed themselves into a guild and elected their office bearers at the fair.

Two of Preston's most important structures are Preston Tower with its Doocot, and Preston Mercat Cross.

The Mercat Cross is unique in that it is the only mercat cross still in its original location and form. The cross has eight compartments, two doorways, six alcoves with semi-circular mouldings of scallop shells. The latter are said to be an allusion to the pilgrim traffic between North Berwick and St Andrews.

Preston Tower belonged to the Hamilton family (also known as the "haughty Hamiltons") who owned ten strongholds including Preston House, Hamilton House, Innerwick Castle and Brodick Castle, Arran .

Other notable buildings include Northfield House and Preston Lodge, pictured on the right.

Preston Mill is a watermill near East Linton, East Lothian.