Myths and Legends

King Henry I founded a priory at Dunstable in 1131. In 1259 Dominican friars, known as black friars because of the colour of their costumes arrived in Dunstable. The king granted the prior control of the town. However he had already promised the townspeople the same freedoms as the citizens of London. As a result there were endless arguments over who ran Dunstable. The priors had a gaol, possessed the power of life and death, and sat as judges with the king's justices. In 1533 Archbishop Cramner announced the divorce of Henry VIII from Catherine of Aragon in the Priory church. Henry VIII closed the priory in 1539. The parish church is all that remains of the Priory.