Dunstable is a town in the county of Bedfordshire, England, lying at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills. The distinctive chalk escarpments are at their most noticeable when viewed from the north of the town. The origins of Dunstable can be traced back to Roman times when the small settlement here was known as Durocobrivis. This was an obvious place to have a settlement since it is the crossroads between the Roman road of Watling Street (now the A5) and the ancient Icknield Way.
Renting Property Including Houses and Flats in Dunstable
There are lots of different styles and prices of property to rent in Dunstable and the nearby locations. If you are looking to rent a property in Dunstable then use the Rentright services to contact multiple letting agents or search the site for current rental property. Rentright has many letting agents not just in Dunstable but other nearby areas including Luton and Houghton Regis. To start your search for your next rental property today just click on the link below to the Dunstable Homepage.
Renting Flats and Houses in Dunstable
Background History to Dunstable
Later, the town was of importance because it was located at a days horse ride distance from London on the road to the North. As a result of this, a large number of Inns were established to provide a resting place for weary travellers. Two of these coaching Inns are still in existence today in the form of the ‘Saracens Head’ and the ‘Sugar Loaf’ in the High Street.
When the wife of Edward the first, Eleanor of Castile, died in Lincolnshire, her body was taken to Westminster Abbey and the 12 places where the body was kept overnight on the journey subsequently had ornate crosses erected in her memory. Dunstable was one of these places and although the cross no longer exists, there is a modern statue of the Queen in High Street North. The Queen’s body was kept overnight in the Priory Church of St. Peter in Dunstable which was founded in 1132 by Henry I and this Church today is an impressive building although a lot smaller now than it was originally. The Hostel for travellers and Pilgrims which was attached to the Priory has largely disappeared, Priory House being all that now remains of the impressive Dunstable Priory.
In 1848, the railway came to Dunstable as part of the ‘London and North Western Railway’, and in 1858 a second rail link with Hatfield via Luton was also opened. However, when passenger services were discontinued in 1965, the station was closed leaving Dunstable as one of the largest towns in the country without a passenger rail link. Plans for a ‘Guided Bus’ link with Luton running along the line of old track are now underway.
Current Day Information on Dunstable
Today, Dunstable has moved away from the previously dominant printing and motor vehicle manufacturing industries to smaller enterprises mainly located to the east of the town centre on the Woodside Industrial Estate.
Perhaps, Dunstable is a name known to most people because of its association with the chalk escarpments to the West of the town, the famous Dunstable Downs. This is where many people enjoy flying kites, gliding, hang gliding, and paragliding or simply walking or picnicking. Whipsnade Zoo, which is a part of London Zoo, is also on the Downs and well worth a visit.