Images: Dunstable gatehouse and priory church west front; priory church from southwest; priory church from southeast; Old Palace Lodge to north of priory church; detail of Old Palace Lodge block (Photos: C.A. Stanford), and plan of Dunstable Priory from Collections and Archives at Hatfield House (photo: Hatfield House)
Acquired: ca. 1540
A former priory, Dunstable was dissolved in 1540 and the former buildings were used to lodge the king that year and the next when he visited the town. In 1543 building works were evidently planned for Dunstable as the master carpenter Lawrence Bradshaw was paid for plans drawn up for the site, but these do not seem to have sparked much rebuilding. This plan may exist as a drawing at Hatfield House.
After Henry’s death the former priory was sold into private hands, and most of the monastic buildings are no longer extant, though the nave of the priory church was converted into the smaller church of St. Peter and maintains parochial functions today.