Saltash's first known Charter was granted by the third Reginald de Valletort about the year 1225. To his "free burgesses of Essa", he confirmed "all their liberties and free customs ..... which they had in the time of my ancestors" and granted that "they may have their Reeve by their own proper election, and that the same may have all the toll of bread in the same town, and the rent of his house wherein he dwells, quit for his services". This Charter also states: "the fair of the same town shall be held in the middle of the town", which indicates that, in addition to the Saturday markets, there was an annual fair in the central market area.

Although there had been a settlement there from early times, Plymouth did not receive its first Charter until 1439, over two hundred years later. This late date gave rise to the local couplet: "Saltash was a borough town when Plymouth was a furzy down".

There was no mention of the ferry Passage in the Charter, because de Valletort retained possession of it. However, for four hundred years the burgesses were usually the actual operators of the ferry under leases granted by successive lords.

In 1270 Trematon Manor (including Trematon Castle, the Borough of Esse, and the Passage) was purchased from the third Roger de Valletort by Richard, Earl of Cornwall. In addition to the ferry, the Manor soon held jurisdiction over the tidal reaches of both the Tamar and the Lynher, extending their claims on oysterage and anchorage until they controlled all tolls as far upstream as the Calstock salmon weirs.

Trade on the estuaries invigorated rural life. Forder, hard by Trematon Castle, became a thriving town with industries such as market gardening, quarrying, lime burning, fulling and flour milling. The water mill where the medieval tenants of the Manor brought their grain to be milled can still be seen today. The inhabitants of Esse, however, probably relied on the nearer tide mill at Salt Mill Creek, just north of the new town.

While the hillside community centred on the market, the waterfront area at Esse developed around the ferry trade and other maritime pursuits. By the fourteenth century there was a Town Quay with a ship yard in the vicinity, and probably fish cellars would have been built alongside the cottages inhabited by the ferrymen, the fishermen, and those working the oyster beds.

Around the turn of the century the name of the new town metamorphosed, going from 'Esse' to 'Ayshe' or 'Asshe', and finally adding the prefix 'Salt' (presumably to distinguish it from other towns with similar names).

The creation of a new community had been entirely successful, and by 1300 there were 118 burgesses living in the borough now known as 'Saltasche'.

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