Restoration of Dunstable's Priory House Reveals Eight Centuries of Hidden Art and Architecture
During a major conservation effort at Priory House in Dunstable, workers uncovered medieval wall paintings, sealed doorways and protective symbols dating back to the 13th century.
A conservation project at Dunstable’s Grade II listed Priory House has exposed a millennium of concealed history, including nationally significant wall paintings, hidden medieval doorways and protective carvings. Teams from HB Archaeology & Conservation Limited, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£1,142,730) and Historic England (£684,312), have been strengthening the aging building since 2022. Radiocarbon dating of organic material in the vaulted undercroft places its construction between AD 1217 and 1269, confirming its role as a guest house for pilgrims on the ancient Watling Street.
Removal of later plaster revealed up to five separate decorative schemes, from 16th-century Tudor motifs to 17th-century Jacobean patterns, while conservators also found late-18th-century wallpaper and 19th-century straw-plaiting linked to a hat-making workshop. Additional discoveries include apotropaic marks carved into beams and stone, believed to protect the building from witchcraft and fire. Dunstable Town Council, the current custodian, plans to reopen the restored Priory House as a community heritage hub and tourist information centre in early 2027.
Why it matters
The finds reshape understanding of the building’s evolution and enrich local heritage for future visitors.
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