Don't let Dunstable die: Digital Story

1100
Dunstable was just a crossroads in a forest.

1109Large areas of uncultivated woodland in this area were cleared, by order of Henry I, in order to attract settlers.
1119The first recorded play in England was performed in the town.
1123Henry I built a royal residence at Dunstable to take advantage of the hunting grounds. The site is now occupied by the Royal Palace Lodge Hotel in Church Street.
1131Henry I founded an Augustinian Priory at Dunstable dedicated to St. Peter.
1200Dunstable had a market and an annual fair.
1213Dunstable was almost completely destroyed by a fire, though it was quickly rebuilt.
1214A great synod was held at Dunstable priory by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
1215King John stayed at Dunstable on a journey north.
1222A storm destroyed the towers of the West Front of Dunstable Priory. The upper part of the damaged front was rebuilt to include the pointed arches and arcading evident today.
1223
Henry III visited Dunstable.
1229 There was a rebellion by the townsmen of Dunstable against the friars of the priory, it was felt that their power in the town had become almost tyrannical. 
1259A Dominican Friary was founded in Dunstable on what is now the High Street South.
1290The body of Queen Eleanor, wife of Edward I, was rested overnight at the priory as her funeral procession made its way through Dunstable en route to London.
1291A cross was erected in Dunstable market place to commemorate Queen Eleanor.
1457Henry VI visited Dunstable, and again in 1459.
1533Archbishop Cranmer announced the divorcce of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon in the Priory church in Dunstable.
1540The Augustinian Priory was demolished under Henry VIII's dissolution of the Monasteries (the Priory Church is all that now remains).
1572Queen Elizabeth I visited Dunstable
1582Dunstable suffered a severe outbreak of the plague.
1605James I visited Dunstable.
1643The Eleanor Cross, erected in 1291 to commemorate Queen Eleanor, was demolished during the Civil War by parliamentary troops of the Lord of Essex. A modern sculpture has now been erected in it's place.
1700The wool cloth industry declined, but new industries included lark catching, straw hat making, brewing and lace making.
1713Six almshouses (Charitable housing for the poor, widowed or those who can no longer work etc) were established by Mrs. Blandina Marsh. Known as 'The Maidens' Lodge', they were built to accommodate six unmarried gentlewomen.
1715Six almshouses were built for poor widows by Frances Ashton. Ashton Square is named after her.
1723Jane Cart, a wealthy widow built the Cart almshouses.
1727A charity school was built in Dunstable. It had been founded by William Chew for the education of forty boys and fifteen girls.
1740Grove House was originally built as an inn called the Duke of Bedford's Arms.
1742The first stagecoach ran through Dunstable from London to Lichfield. Thereafter the town became a busy coaching stop.
1770 A large amount of Roman coins, of Antonine and Constantine, were discovered at Dunstable.
1773The Duke of Bedford's Arms inn (now Grove House) was sold to John Miller who enlarged it and made it into a fashionable 'mansion house'.
1800The straw hat making industry boomed in Dunstable but declined towards the end of the century. New industries included printing and engineering.
1801 The population of Dunstable according to the census was 1,296.
1831 The population of Dunstable according to the census was 1,831.
1836A gas supply was introduced in Dunstable.
1848The first railway in Dunstable was opened as a brach of the London and North Western Railway. It joined the West Coast main line at Leighton Buzzard.
1855Dunstable's first newspaper, the 'Dunstable Chronicle and Monthly local reporter' was launched by James Tibbett, a local printer.
1858A rain line between Dunstable and Hatfield was opened on the Great Northern Railway.
1863A cemetery was laid out in West Street.
1864Dunstable Municipal Borough,local government district was created. It was abolished in 1974.
1855The Dunstable Borough Gazette newspaper was launched.
1865Gas street lighting was introduced in Dunstable.A police force was formed in Dunstable.The town gained a piped water supply.
1876The north aisle of St Peter's priory church was restored.
1883The original Dunstable Town Football Club was founded. The club was reformed in 1998
1891The population of Dunstable according to the census was 4,513.
1897The construction of a network of sewers for the town begun.The town's first telephone exchange was opened.
1900New industries in Dunstable included chain making and paper craft.The population of Dunstable according to the census was 5,157.
1911The population of Dunstable according to the census was 8,057.
1925An electricity supply was introduced in Dunstable.
1927A musem and a library were opened in Dunstable.
1931The local straw hat industry ceased as did the brewing within the town.Whipsnade Zoo was opened.
1947Priory Gardens was opened to the public.
1952Beecroft Primary School was opened.
1952The War memorial in Priory Gardens was unveiled. It commemorated the men and women of Dunstable who died as a result of the two World Wars.
1954Vauxhall motors came to Dunstable.
1961The population of Dunstable according to the census was 25,645.Dunstable College of Further Education was built.
1963The Magistrate's Court was built.
1964
Queensway Hall and St Marys Catholic Church was built.
1965Passenger rail services to Dunstable ceased and Dunstable station was closed.
1966The Quadrant shopping centre was opened by comedian Bob Monkhouse.
1971The population of Dunstable according to the census was 31,841.
1985Dunstable Town Council was created.
1987The Vauxhall Motors plant in Boscombe Road was closed.
1999The White Lion Retail Park was opened.
2000
Queensway Hall was demolished and Asda Supermarket opens on old Queensway Hall site.
2001 Population of Dunstable according to the census was 33,805.
2005Work starts on building the Grove Theatre.
2009Woolworth's store in High Street South is closed.Shops expert Mary Portas paints poor picture of the town in TV broadcast.
2010Railway bridge in Church Street replaced as part of busway project.
2011Norman King pub in Church Street is destroyed by arsonist.
2012Olympic flame procession passes through Dunstable.
2013Medieval project marks 800th anniversary of the Priory.The Mulberry Bush in High Street North reverts to its old name of the Bird in Hand.