A brief history of Preston

The history of Preston goes back nearly 2000 years before Christ when the first Bronze Age settlements appeared on the banks of the river Ribble, things changed very little until the Roman Legions arrived at what is now Walton Le dale in round 150 AD.
The name Preston originated in the 5th or 6th Century and comes from Priest Tun meaning Priest Field.
In 1066 after Harold's loss at Hastings, Preston was given to Roger de Pioctou and was mentioned in the Doomsday Book, in 1179 Henry II granted Preston its first Charter.
Preston was a largely Roman Catholic town and when the scots invaded England they reached as far as Preston where they were welcomed by the towns people, and then ensued the battle of Preston which saw the scots defeated.
In 1892 the Albert Edward dock (now known as Riversway) was opened. In more recent times Preston celebrated the 800th anniversary of the granting of its charter in 1979 and in 2002 Preston was granted City status.