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England Lancashire  Preston

Guide to Preston history, family history, and genealogy: parish registers, census records, birth records, marriage records, and death records.



History
Preston is recorded in the Domesday Book as "Prestune" in 1086.

Preston is located on the coast of the North Sea, and in the center of what was originally the county of Lancashire. The River Ribble provides a southern border for the city. The Forest of Bowland forms a backdrop to Preston to the northeast while the Fylde lies to the west. The Ribble valley is a low-lying, fertile river valley, and has been farmed and grazed for centuries.

During the Roman period, Roman roads passed close to what is now the centre of Preston. For example, the road from Luguvalium to Mamucium (now Carlisle to Manchester) crossed the River Ribble at Walton-le-Dale, 3⁄4 mile (1 km) southeast of the center of Preston, and a Roman camp or station may also have been here.

The name is probably an early derivative of the "Priest's Town" refering to a priory set up by St Wilfrid near the Ribble's lowest ford.

When first mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book, Preston was already the most important town in Amounderness (the area of Central Lancashire between the rivers Ribble and Cocker, including The Fylde and the Forest of Bowland). When assessed for tax purposes in 1218 – 19 it was the wealthiest town in the whole county.

The right to hold a Guild Merchant was conferred by King Henry II upon the Burgesses of Preston in a charter of 1179; the associated Preston Guild is a civic celebration held every 20 years and 2012 was the latest Guild year. It is the only Guild still celebrated in the UK and is thus unique