HOW DUNSTABLE GOT IT'S NAME

(From F&F #31 Oct 1999)

You have all heard of the Battle of Hastings when the Normans under William the Conqueror defeated Harold and his Saxons and became the rulers of England: well, one of the defeated Saxon soldiers was a man called Dun. With about fifty others he escaped from the battlefield and made his way north until he came to the woods and hills of what is now south Bedfordshire. There they made their home and got a living by robbing travellers on the two main roads which crossed the area at right-angles. Unlike Robin Hood, Dun and his men robbed everyone, rich and poor alike, and so became much feared and hated in the area.

Many attempts were made to capture him but every time he and his gang defeated their enemies and left their bodies hanging from trees as a warning to others. However, on the occasions when they were hard pressed or severely outnumbered they would retreat to a large underground cave which was their lair.

Eventually the local people became so angry at the depredations of Dun's gang that they all banded together to defeat him. One hundred and fifty men armed with axes, scythes and pitchforks attacked him but he escaped on horseback. Later the posse, which was by now three hundred strong, caught up with him again and succeeded in dragging him from his horse but again he escaped, this time by jumping into the River Ouse. More of his enemies appeared on the further bank to cut off his escape so he was forced to swim downstream until he came to an island. His enemies got boats, pursued him to the island and captured him again and he was taken under guard to Bedford where, without trial, he was led to the scaffold. Still not willing to admit defeat he fought with the executioners nine times before he was finally hanged.

To ensure that he would trouble them no more his body was severed at the wrists, elbows, shoulders, ankles, knees and thighs and his head was removed and burned. The parts of his body were then distributed around the county and displayed as a warning to others.

In future years the area around his camp - his 'stable' - became known as Dun's Stable and a town grew up around the crossroads and took on the name - Dunstable.

[This is basically just a load of old codswallop but in the 12th century the area around Dunstable was notorious for outlaws and Henry I had a 'house' built there to uphold law and order. The part of the town around the Priory is still named after it - Kingsbury.]

Close this window to return to STORIES