The Tudor building in West Street Robinsons Estate agency
20 West Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1SX
In the mid-1500s, Henry VIII sought to annul his marriage to Katherine of Aragon due to the lack of a male heir and his desire to marry Anne Boleyn. The court that declared his marriage invalid was held at the Lady Chapel of Dunstable Priory. To make this possible, England broke from the Roman Catholic Church, with Henry becoming head of the new Church of England.
With control of the church, Henry dissolved the monasteries, seizing their wealth—lead from roofs, silver, gold, and altar cloths. But the buildings remained. To prevent their reuse and preserve no memory of them, roofs were stripped and walls damaged. This left carved stone lying around—free for the taking. Enterprising builders reused it in new constructions, with no objection from the Crown.
Dunstable had two monasteries: the Augustinian Priory and the Dominican Friary, both closed by 1540. Around that time, an inn called The Leaden Porch appeared on West Street—possibly built using lead taken before Henry’s men arrived. No. 20 West Street, built around the same time, features a classic medieval shop layout and a basement with dressed stone likely sourced from the dismantled monasteries. The layout behind nearby No. 18 shows a typical Tudor arrangement: shop in front, living quarters above, and workspaces behind.
Though both buildings have changed over 500 years, they remain Tudor at heart—offering a tangible link to Dunstable’s past.
Timings & Tours
- Saturday 13 September:
- 1000-1500
Location & directions
20 West Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU6 1SX
- Contact on day:
- Annette Clynes
- Telephone number:
- +447540048930
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
