The Monks of Newbattle Abbey were in charge of maintaining the large gardens and nearby watermills, not only that they were farmers producing fruit, vegetables and wool to name a few.
If that wasn't enough they also mined coal! and are recorded as the first miners.
They mostly used coal for the production of salt, and keeping the Abbey warm and profitable.
In 1198 the Monks used salt pans to collect salt from Prestonpans, which was of great value back then.
They also would collect tax from ship's docking and loading cargo at Preston Village Harbour
Fun fact- Preston means 'Priest's Town' after the Monks of Newbattle
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