The district is remarkably rich in British and Roman remains: Maiden Bower, a circular British earthwork, and Totternhoe, a combined British and Roman fort, lie at short distances from the town (see [Map]). The Watling Street is crossed here in the centre of the town by the Icknield Way, and a piece of the Roman road was exposed near this spot, which was 9 inches thick and intensely hard, of cemented flints and sandstone.
Turning to the right, along Church Street (part of the Icknield Way), the priory church, with its beautiful west front, is seen upon the right.
Dunstable Priory Church.—Founded 1131, the church is but a fragment of that which formerly stood here. Tower, transepts, chancel, and Lady Chapel have disappeared, and even the nave, which remains, has been curtailed. The body of Queen Eleanor rested here in 1290 upon its progress to London; and in 1533 Archbishop Cranmer held his court in the church, and formally divorced Queen Catherine of Aragon from the King. The priory was dissolved in 1534. The greater part of the building is Transition Norman, the chevron and billet ornamentation being of excellent workmanship. The north aisle is Perpendicular. In the chancel are ten balusters of Flemish design and execution. Undoubtedly the great feature of the building is the exquisite west front, which, though suffering in parts from recent restoration, still delights the ecclesiologist. It contains four orders of architecture, which effectually harmonize with one another.
Mr. Worthington G. Smith, the eminent local antiquary, has written a most admirable handbook to the town, which will supplement these brief particulars.
SECTION II
(TRUNK ROUTE)
DUNSTABLE TO ATHERSTONE, 72½ MILES
DISTANCES ALONG THE ROUTE
| Miles. | ||
| Dunstable to Hockliffe | 4 | ½ |
| Hockliffe to Fenny Stratford | 7 | ¼ |
| Fenny Stratford to Stony Stratford | 7 | |
| Stony Stratford to Towcester | 8 | |
| Towcester to Daventry | 12 | ¼ |
| Daventry to Kilsby | 5 | ½ |
| Kilsby to Lutterworth | 9 | ¾ |
| Lutterworth to Cross-in-Hand | 2 | ½ |
| Cross-in-Hand to High Cross | 3 | ¾ |
| High Cross to Atherstone | 12 | |
NOTES FOR DRIVERS
Dunstable to Daventry.—Undulating in places, but with good surface to Daventry.
Daventry to Lutterworth.—Poor road to Kilsby; 4 miles from Kilsby an ascent of 1 in 14, followed by a descent of 1 in 12; then a gradually improving road to Lutterworth.