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Restoration work at the Priory House in Dunstable – a Grade II-listed building that was originally part of the grounds of Dunstable Priory, founded by Henry I in 1132 – is carefully unpicking its evolution over the decades.
The project, carried out by HB Archaeology & Conservation Ltd, is funded by grants from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England and has been ongoing since 2022. Since then, the house has revealed many secrets, with evidence confirming that the building’s earliest layout dates to the 13th century.
Following the Priory’s dissolution in 1540, the building was converted into a private home, and this is reflected in the number of fireplaces that were added during this time, with the first floor divided into two heated rooms. Numerous traces of wall paintings dating to the 16th and 17th centuries were also uncovered (above). In total, Dr Andrea Kirkham, a wall paintings and stone conversation expert, determined that there were at least five different decorative schemes on one wall alone – reflecting the number of times the room had been redecorated over those two centuries. These paintings are considered nationally significant and are currently undergoing conservation work to protect them before the building is fully renovated.
In addition to the decorative wall paintings, there were several curious marks found around the first-floor fireplaces, including compass-drawn circles and a taper burn, common apotropaic marks thoght to have been made for ritual protection. These marks and paintings were largely covered over in the 18th century by wallpaper and other fabric wall coverings, while fragments of straw plaiting found during the work reflect the house’s use in the 19th century as a factory manufacturing straw hats.
Commenting on the project, Maggie Henderson, Director of HB Archaeology & Conservation Ltd, said: ‘While the essential repairs were carried out to the property, we have had the pleasure of uncovering and observing highly significant evidence that not only assisted in confirming the building’s mid-13th-century origin but also filled in a lot of blanks in the narrative of this important building’s evolution over the c.800 years of its life since first built.’
Text: Kathryn Krakowka / Image: HB Archaeology & Conservation Ltd
