Invitation to a new exhibition on Augustinian Dunstable

We are delighted to tell you about a new exhibition for Spring 2022 at Priory House, Dunstable, and invite you to an open day on Wednesday 26th January when historians and Town Guides will be on hand to answer questions about the Medieval town and Augustinian priory, and offer information about Priory and town tours and talks that may be of interest to your group.

Dunstable town centre, sitting at the crossroads of the pre-historic Icknield Way and the Roman Watling Street, has witnessed many main events in England’s history. Henry I kept a palace here, and the town played host to spectacular royal events including Christmases and melées, when thousands of people came to practice their skills of medieval warfare.

The church of the Norman priory remains to this day the town’s parish church, and with the help of a recent geophysical survey carried out by Historic England, we are able to share with you the layout of the original priory. Dunstable’s Augustinian priory was an important house, owning property and land across seven counties, from Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire to Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Henry VIII sent Cranmer and the bishops to Dunstable to obtain his annulment from Catherine of Aragon, the trigger for the Reformation.

Please join us at Priory House, 33 High Street South, LU6 3RZ on Wednesday 26th January, at any time between 10.00am and 3.30pm, refreshments will be provided and we will be delighted to see you or another member/s of your group. If you would prefer a timed visit in these Covid times when you can have one dedicated guide we would be happy to arrange that.

Jean Yates
Dunstable HSAZ Consortium Email; culturaldunstable@gmail.com
www.medievaldunstable.org.uk Email; august@medievaldunstable.org.uk