A conservation project at Dunstable’s Grade II listed Priory House has uncovered 800 years of hidden history, including nationally important wall paintings, sealed medieval doorways and protective marks once used to keep evil spirits away. Specialist teams led by HB Archaeology & Conservation Limited, together with structural engineers and building contractors, have been working since 2022 to repair and strengthen the ageing building. The major restoration project is supported by £1,142,730 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and £684,312 from Historic England. The discoveries have also changed what historians know about the building’s past.
Scientific tests confirm 13th-century origins
Scientific tests on organic material found inside the building’s vaulted stone undercroft confirmed that the structure dates from the early-to-mid 13th century. Radiocarbon testing of twigs found above the vaulting cones dated them to between cal AD 1217 and 1269. The undercroft was originally part of Dunstable Priory and was used as a guest house for travellers and pilgrims travelling along the ancient Watling Street. Archaeologists also found evidence of the building’s earliest layout. Among the discoveries was a forgotten doorway that once connected the main High Street directly to the inner priory grounds. They also found the original central hearth, which provided heat to the room above the stone vault. After King Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries in 1540, the building was separated from the church estate and turned into a private high-status home.
Five layers of historic wall paintings found
The removal of later plasterboard and panelling from the first floor revealed several layers of wall decoration from different periods. Dr Andrea Kirkham, a specialist in wall paintings and historic stone conservation, found up to five separate decorative schemes on the same wall. The surviving paintings range from 16th-century Tudor designs to 17th-century Jacobean patterns, showing how later owners repeatedly changed and updated the rooms. Conservator Claudia Fiocchetti carried out urgent work to protect the fragile paint and prevent further damage while repairs continued on the timber structure behind the walls. Conservators also found remains of late 18th-century hand-printed wallpaper and fabric wall coverings. In the attic, workers discovered pieces of woven straw plaiting that had been thrown away. The material confirms the building’s 19th-century link to the commercial straw-hat industry, when the site was used as a workshop by the firm Munt & Brown.
Protective symbols carved into old timber
The restoration team also recorded apotropaic marks, commonly called “witch marks”, carved into wooden beams and stonework around the building. The symbols include interlocking circles and marks made by burning candles into the surfaces. People who lived in the building believed these signs could protect their homes from witchcraft, fire and harmful spirits. These protective marks were often placed near entrances, including chimney flues, windows and doorways. People believed such points could allow evil forces to enter the home. In a statement published by Dunstable Town Council, the building’s current custodians described their surprise at the discoveries: “When Dunstable Town Council embarked on the repairs to Priory House back in 2022 as current custodians we thought we knew all that we could know about this remarkable building, but it turns out that it was hiding much more than we could ever have imagined,” the council stated. The local authority said the restoration has taken longer than first expected because the building requires complex conservation work. However, the discoveries have provided important information about how the structure changed over eight centuries.
Future opening and community heritage
Historic England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund said the historic objects and architectural features found during the project will be kept in place wherever possible. The new discoveries are also being included in updated heritage information and educational displays. These will help shape what visitors see and learn when the Grade II* listed building reopens. According to updated plans from Dunstable Town Council, Priory House is expected to complete its structural conservation work and fully reopen as a community heritage hub and tourist information centre in early 2027.