800-years of hidden history uncovered in Dunstable Priory House restoration

The Grade II listed building that survives as part of the original Dunstable Priory is undergoing repair and restoration ahead of its planned reopening to visitors.

The restoration is being supported by a £1,142,730 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £684,312 from Historic England.

Tony Calladine, East of England regional director at Historic England, said Priory House had "quietly held onto centuries of Dunstable's story".

He said the discoveries would help shape how the history of the building and the town is shared with visitors, adding: “This isn't just about restoring bricks and mortar. It's about giving this community back a piece of its own history, one that's even richer and more surprising than we imagined.”

Dunstable mayor Cllr Richard Atwell said the town council had thought it knew what could be discovered when repairs began in 2022 – but the building had been "hiding much more than we could ever have imagined".

Cllr Atwell said: “It is exciting to learn more about its history, and these finds are evidence of why restoring Priory House for future generations is so important. It is a building of significance not just locally but nationally, and I am proud that the town council has worked with our committed partners to make this happen and to unearth these new finds.”

Radiocarbon dating of organic material found within the building's vaulted ceiling dated to the 13th century.

Archaeologists also uncovered evidence of the building's earliest layout, including a medieval doorway which once connected the High Street to the Priory grounds.

The location of a central hearth, which would have heated the room above, has also been identified.

Following the Dissolution of the Priory in 1540, Priory House was converted into a home. The discoveries included fireplaces, showing that the first floor was divided into two heated rooms and traces of wall paintings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.

Wall painting and stone conservation expert Dr Andrea Kirkham identified up to five separate decorative schemes on one wall, suggesting the rooms were redecorated several times over the centuries.

The paintings are considered nationally significant but are particularly fragile.

Conservation specialist Claudia Fiocchetti has worked to protect them before some areas of the building are covered again.

Researchers have also found small marks on first-floor fireplaces, including compass-drawn circles and a taper burn, which could be evidence of protective rituals believed to help safeguard the home.

Later discoveries include late 18th-century wallpaper and fabric wall coverings, providing insight into changing fashions and tastes.

Fragments of straw plaiting have also been found, providing evidence of the building's use as a straw-hat factory in the 19th century.

The project is being carried out with archaeologists, conservation specialists, construction contractors and structural engineers working together to repair and stabilise the historic building.

Priory House is expected to reopen to visitors in early 2027, when the newly uncovered history will form part of the visitor experience.