The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111922 Message #2362331
Posted By: Big Tim
10-Jun-08 - 11:22 AM
Thread Name: Folklore: Johnny Cope - what are 'the coals'?
Subject: RE: Folklore: Johnny Cope - what are 'the coals'?
This from Robin's Smith's monumental book 'The Making of Scotland' (2001).
'Prestonpans was the 'Priest-town' where sea water was evaporated from iron 'pans' by burning small coals of very local origin leaving unrefined dry salt. Eight tonnes of coal were needed to produce one ton of salt'.