Baron of Prestoungrange (or Prestongrange) is one of the oldest aristocratic titles in the country, a title of nobility in the

Baronage of Scotland In Scotland, "baron" or "baroness" is a rank of the ancient nobility of the Baronage of Scotland, a hereditary Imperial, royal and noble ranks, title of honour, and refers to the holder of a barony, erected into a free barony by Crown Charter, ...

associated with the lands of Prestoungrange, located near

Prestonpans Prestonpans ( , Scots: ''The Pans'') is a mining town, situated approximately eight miles east of Edinburgh, Scotland, in the council area of East Lothian. The population as of is . It is near the site of the 1745 Battle of Prestonpans (first ...

East Lothian East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In ...

, Scotland.

History

The title was first created in 1189 when

Robert de Quincy Sir Robert de Quincy, 1st Baron of Prestoungrange ( 1140 – ), Justiciar of Lothian, was a 12th-century English and Scottish noble. Life Quincy was a younger son of Saer de Quincy and Maud de Senlis, daughter of Simon I de Senlis, Earl of ...

, a nobleman of Anglo-Norman descent, granted the lands to the monks of Newbattle Abbey. This original grant was expanded by Robert's son, Seyer de Quincy, to include rights to coal and quarry working down to the low water mark on the

Firth of Forth The Firth of Forth () is a firth in Scotland, an inlet of the North Sea that separates Fife to its north and Lothian to its south. Further inland, it becomes the estuary of the River Forth and several other rivers. Name ''Firth'' is a cognate ...

, making Prestoungrange one of the earliest sites of coal mining in Scotland. The barony passed through various hands over the centuries, including the Kerr, Morrison, and Grant families. In 1746, the barony came into the possession of the Grant-Suttie family, who maintained it for several generations. The barony was associated with significant industrial activity, including coal mining, brickmaking, and salt panning, which continued until the 1960s. In 1998, the 14th Baron of Prestoungrange (Dr. Gordon Prestoungrange, Baron of Lochnaw) revived the Baron Court of Prestoungrange, focusing on preserving the cultural and historical legacy of the barony. He was awarded the

Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(OBE) for his services to the community.

Modern activities

The barony continues to play an active role in the local community, with the Baron Court of Prestoungrange supporting numerous cultural and historical initiatives. Including commissioning the Scottish playwright

Andrew Dallmeyer Andrew Dallmeyer (10 January 1945 – 21 May 2017) was a Scottish playwright, theatre director and actor. He wrote over 75 plays, including the ''Opium Eater'' and directed more than 50 productions. His plays have won a number of awards, includ ...

to write a number of plays. The current baron - Mathew Wills, 15th Baron of Prestoungrange - continues the work started by his father. He manages the baron's court in collaboration with his brother, the Baron of Dolphinstoun, and their father, the Baron of Lochnaw.

Notable barons

, 1st Baron of Prestoungrange: The original grantee of the lands in 1189. *Sir Alexander Morrison, 4th Baron of Prestongrange: Born in Edinburgh in 1579, he inherited Prestongrange, a mansion west of Prestonpans, from his grandfather, John Preston. He married Lady Helenora Maule in 1610 and died in Prestonpans in 1631. *Sir William Morrison, 6th Baron of Prestongrange: Lived from 1663 to 1739. *Sir George Grant-Suttie, 5th Baronet: Succeeded to the barony in 1836 and consolidated the estates in 1866. *Sir Philip Grant Suttie, 8th Baronet: Succeeded to Prestongrange in 1947 and disentailed in 1961. * Dr. Gordon Wills Prestoungrange, Baron of Lochnaw, was 14th Baron of Prestoungrange: Revived the Baron Court of Prestoungrange in the late 20th century and awarded OBE. *Mathew Wills, 15th Baron of Prestoungrange: The current titleholder by descent.

Arms

The coat of arms associated with the Baron of Prestoungrange is described as: ''"Argent, a saltire Sable between four roses Gules, barbed Vert."'' The roses symbolise the barony's rich history and connection to the land. The family motto, ''"Amo Probos"'' (I love the honest), reflects the values held by the barony.

References

External links