Drawing shows how Dunstable may have looked in the 15th century

It is included in a new book, Medieval Dunstable: Its Monasteries, Manors, Markets And Melees, which will be published this Saturday (September 14).

The book includes articles by a number of local historians about various aspects of medieval life in the town.

It is part of a number of projects organised to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Priory.

One of these has been a geophysical survey by the Manshead Archaeological Society of the remains of the old Augustinian monastery whose foundations lie under Priory Meadow.

The drawing is therefore a reasonably accurate depiction of its buildings, of which only the Priory Church remains today.

The drawing also shows the old Dominican Friary which faced South Street (High Street South) and the ponds which once filled the centre of the main street.

The Queen Eleanor’s Cross, destroyed during the Civil War, once stood facing the old Lion and Peacock inns which straddled the crossroads.

The book, price £12.50, will be launched in the Priory Church at 10.30 on Saturday when its authors will be present to answer questions and sign copies.

> Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.