The vikings are attacking

Visited Prestonpans museum today to see the two exhibitions that are currently on: SAGA: Viking tales and the Battle of Prestonpans (1745).

Both exhibitions were great and the recently refurbished museum is looking great.

My blip is of the Viking tapestries, which tell the story of the vikings in Scotland.

In 795 Viking longboats were seen attacking coastal communities along the Scottish coasts (this was before the existence of what we call Scotland, England etc.). At this time East Lothian was part of the Anglian kingdom, although their power was under threat from the Scots and the Picts. Around this time, the Danish vikings conquered the Kingdom of Northumbria, leaving East Lothian more exposed to viking attacks. 

The folklore goes, that at this time a Viking leader called Althamer was caught in a terrible storm causing his longboat to be wrecked on the coast. With no way to get home, the raiders then used the timbers from the boat to build a village named after their leader. 

However, a few hundred years later (1184), when the lands were grated to the monks of Newbattle Abbey, they changed the name from Althamer or Aldhammer to Preston (Priests Town). The pans bit got added a bit later when salt panning became an important industry in the town.

Still today, the name of Althamer/Aldhammer is remembered in Prestonpans in street and house names. 

Yes, it’s great afternoon finding out more about local history.

I hope you have had a similarly enjoyable day.