Glass Splashbacks | Kitchen Splashbacks | Bathroom Splashbacks | Glass Balustrades | Dunstable, Bedfordshire
Based in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Splashbacks of Distinction have a real passion for toughened glass in and around the home. We have transformed many properties, both commercial and domestic with our glass splashbacks, for kitchens, bathrooms and living rooms. Our toughened glass balustrades, glass shelving and splashbacks with high resolution images have really caught the imagination of people who demand beauty and functionality in their homes and offices.
We are currently working on several properties in the Dunstable area, so why not give us a call?
Splashbacks and other quality glass products in Dunstable
Dunstable is a market town and civil parish located in Bedfordshire. It lies on the eastward tail spurs of the Chiltern Hills, 30 miles north of London. These geographical features form several steep chalk escarpments most noticeable when approaching Dunstable from the north.
Dunstable is the fourth largest town in Bedfordshire and along with Houghton Regis forms the westernmost part of the Luton and Dunstable urban area.
A little Dunstable history
Relics of Palaeolithic humans, including such relics as flint implements and the bones of wild animals, suggest the Dunstable settlement is prehistoric. At Maiden Bower in the parish of Houghton Regis to the north, there is an Iron Age hill fort, which is clearly marked on the Ordnance survey maps. Maiden Bower has some of the ramparts showing through the edge of an old chalk quarry at Sewell where remains of an older Bronze Age fort exist. There are many prehistoric sites in the area and details can be found with the Manshead Archaeological Society, which is based in Winfield Street, Dunstable. Dunstable is on the route of the Icknield Way, claimed to be the oldest road in Britain.
Where did the Dunstable name originate?
In Roman times there was a minor settlement called Durocobrivis in the Dunstable area. Today, this is now occupied by the Dunstable we now know.
It was generally assumed that the nominative form of the name of Dunstable had originally been Durocobrivae, so that is what appears on a map that was printed in 1944. However, current thinking is that the form Durocobrivis, which occurs in the Antonine Itinerary, is a fossilised locative that was used all the time and Ordnance Survey now uses this form.
Other theories concerning the modern name of Dunstable:
Some legends make reference to a time of utter lawlessness in Dunstable. So bad was the crime in Dunstable, that the town was personified in a thief called Dun. Wishing to capture Dun, the King stapled his ring to a post daring the robber to steal it. It was, and was subsequently traced to the house of the widow Dun. Her son, the robber, was taken and hanged to the final satisfaction that the new community bore his name.
It has also been mooted that the Dunstable name comes from the Anglo-Saxon for "the boundary post of Duna".
Some scholars believe that Dunstable is derived from Dunum, or Dun, a hill, and Staple, or a marketplace.
It is still debated amongst historians as to the true origin of the Dunstable name, and the debate seems likely to run for many more years to come.
Dunstable as a Roman settlement
A settlement was established by the AD 40s and 50s, when the Romans arrived and paved the road now known as Watling Street and its crossroad, the Icknield Way. Traces of Neolithic activity are not in doubt but much of their mystery may be lost under the surrounding Chiltern Hills.
The Romans built a posting station and probably named the settlement Durocobrivae, but over time this may have shifted to Durocobrivis. The area was occupied by Saxons around AD 571.
Medieval times in Dunstable
The modern structure of Dunstable dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, as do many of the nearby towns and villages. The etymology of Dunstable is much like Luton, Houghton Regis, Totternhoe, Kensworth, Caddington, Toddington and Leighton Buzzard is Anglo-Saxon in origin, and believed to mean Duns market, which became known as Downs market, so literally meaning the market near the downs or hills. There is no firm date as to the founding of Dunstable. However, it could be possible that once the early Anglo-Saxon settled in the area, and had subdued local Romano-Britons, Dunstable along with its adjacent communities was founded between the 6th-8th centuries. During the Heptarchy period, what was to become Bedfordshire was part of the Kingdom of Mercia. This area of southern Bedfordshire was near the Danelaw boundary, though within the territory ruled by King Alfred the Great in his treaty with the Norse Lord Guthrum.
There were raids by Norsemen, who had settled in Bedford and further north in Northampton and up to the Leicester and Rutland regions, for cattle, crops and slaves, which were often repelled by local Anglo-Saxon forces. One such raid occurred in 912, where Norse jarls from the East Midlands arranged raids of what is now southern Bedfordshire, including the Luton and Dunstable areas. However, Norse activity in the area was subdued after the Anglo-Saxon victory at the Battle of Tempsford, believed to have been fought further north in the county. Bedfordshire and by extension the Dunstable area was affected by later Norse raids, under Kings Sweyn Forkbeard and Cnut of Denmark, in response to the St. Brides Massacre executed by King Ethelred the Unready of England. From 1002, to 1016, which marked the ascension of Cnut as King of England?
The Norman Conquest in Dunstable
At the time of the Norman Conquest, Dunstable was known to have been an uncultivated tract covered by woodlands. In 1109, Henry I started a period of activity by responding to this danger to travellers. He instructed areas to be cleared and encouraged settlers with offers of royal favour. In 1123, a royal residence was built at what is now called the Royal Palace Lodge Hotel on Church Street. The king used the residence as a base to hunt on nearby lands.
The Dunstable Priory was founded in 1131 by the King and was later used for the divorce between Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, which led to the establishment of the Church of England in opposition to the Roman Catholic Church. The same year the town granted a town charter to the power of the priors.
During the Invasion of England of 1326, Queen Isabella of France and her army, having landed in Suffolk, captured Dunstable on 7 October without a fight.
The 17th century in Dunstable
Bedfordshire was one of the counties that largely supported the Roundheads during the English Civil War. Nearby St Albans in Hertfordshire was the headquarters of the Roundheads, and troops were occasionally stationed at Dunstable. The town was plundered by King Charles I's soldiers when passing through in June 1644, and Essex's men destroyed the Eleanor cross.
The prosperity of Dunstable, and the large number of inns or public houses in the town, is partly because it is only one or two days' ride by horse from London, and therefore a good place to rest overnight. There are two pubs which still have coaching gates to the side: the Sugar Loaf in High Street North, and the Saracen's Head in High Street South. The Saracen's Head is a name often given to pubs frequented by knights of the crusades. It is positioned considerably lower than the road to its front, witness to the fact that the road has been resurfaced a number of times during the lifetime of the pub.
The 19th century in Dunstable
Dunstable's first railway opened in 1848, originally in Houghton Regis. It was a branch joining the West Coast Main Line at Leighton Buzzard. A second line linking Dunstable with Hatfield via Luton opened in 1858. Passenger services to Dunstable were withdrawn in 1965, but the line between Dunstable and Luton remained open for freight traffic for many years.
Dunstable was a significant market town, but its importance diminished as the neighbouring town of Luton grew.
The 20th century in Dunstable
The 19th century saw the straw hat making industry come to Luton and a subsequent decline in Dunstable, to be replaced in the early 20th century by the printing and motor vehicle industries, with companies such as Waterlow's and Vauxhall Motors respectively. The new Bedford Dunstable plant came into production in 1942 to support the British Army in the Second World War. It continued manufacturing commercial trucks and buses until 1992. The closure of the main factories and the decline of manufacturing in the area have led to this distinctiveness being lost.
The war efforts made Dunstable a major target for the German bombers, as tanks, munitions and parachutes were all being manufactured in Dunstable at this time. The work carried out during war time by workers in Dunstable cannot be played down. Dunstable made a significant contribution to the war effort.
Shops were concentrated along High Street North and South, known as Watling Street and in 1966 the Quadrant Shopping Centre opened in Dunstable. During the 1980s, Dunstable town centre was a successful shopping centre featuring major retailers including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose, Bejam, which is now referred to as Iceland, Boots, Halfords, Co-op department store, Argos, Woolworths, Burton, Next and many independent specialist shops including Moore's of Dunstable. These attracted shoppers from outlying villages resulting in a retail town centre larger than would be supportable by Dunstable residents alone, so much so that in 1985 the Eleanor's Cross retail area was developed to cater mainly for smaller shops.
The Cottage Garden Flower Shop in Chiltern Road, Dunstable, established in 1898, is believed to be the oldest independent retail business still trading.
The 21st century in Dunstable
As with many other market towns, the rise of out-of-town retail parks contributed to a decline in town centre trade; Sainsburys, Tesco, Halfords, and Next moved to newer larger premises outside Dunstable town centre.
More recently, major grocery retailers Asda and Aldi have opened stores within Dunstable town centre. Whitbread PLC, which manages Premier Inn, Beefeater, Brewers Fayre and Table Table, is headquartered on the Houghton Regis and Dunstable industrial estate.
Quality toughened glass products for your Dunstable property
Splashbacks of Distinction have been transforming our client's kitchens, bathrooms and living areas for years with the finest quality toughened glass. There is no limit to where these glass products can be used throughout the home. The most popular use is as a kitchen splashback, but many people are now considering having coloured glass in their bathrooms and living areas. Even a flat screened television looks fantastic with a coloured toughened glass splashback behind it. What could we do to improve your Dunstable property?
Splashbacks of Distinction are available to visit your Dunstable home to measure up and fit a quality glass splashback or one of our other toughened glass products. Glass is such a clean and modern medium for your home and you'd be surprised just how much glass can transform your home. Whether it's a splashback in the kitchen, or the clean, bright lines of bespoke glass shelving in your living room, Splashbacks of Distinction can supply and fit it all.
Only the finest quality from Splashbacks of Distinction in Dunstable
Splashbacks of Distinction ensure that only the finest quality toughened glass is used in all our products. We guarantee all of our work and are fully insured. We employ only trained and certified engineers. Splashbacks of Distinction never leave your property without ensuring you are totally satisfied with your beautiful new glass splashback, baluster, shelving or shower enclosure.
Call us today for a free, no obligation quote on our superb toughened glass products. We can literally transform your Dunstable property for considerably less than you might have imagined.
Splashbacks of Distinction supply the following splashback products in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Glass kitchen splashbacks
- Glass kitchen splashback samples
- Glass kitchen splashbacks in many different colours
- Printed glass splashbacks
- Colour matched splashbacks
- Painted splashbacks
Splashbacks of Distinction also supply the following glass products in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Stainless steel and glass Balustrades
- Glass shelves
- Coloured mirrors
- Toughened mirrors
- Decorative glass
- Glass hardware
- Glass worktops
- Glass shower cubicle
- Garden glass balustrades
- Glass staircases
- Glass table tops
- Satin glass
- Toughened glass
- Laminated glass
- Opaque glass
Splashbacks of Distinction also supply the following glass related services in Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Glass cut to size
- Mirrors cut to size while you wait
- Glass processing
- Glass supply and installation
- Supply only splashbacks
- A glass express service
- Template and fit
Only the finest quality from Splashbacks of Distinction
Splashbacks of Distinction ensure that only the finest quality toughened glass is used in all our products. We guarantee all of our work and are fully insured. We employ only trained and certified engineers. Splashbacks of Distinction never leave your property without ensuring you are totally satisfied with your beautiful new glass splashback, baluster, shelving or shower enclosure.
Further Information
If you would like to know more or are interested in a quote we would be happy to help. Phone us on 01920 830 084, email us at enquiries@splashbacksofdistinction.co.uk or fill in our enquiry form and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
Areas covered in Bedfordshire:
- Ampthill, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Bedford, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Biggleswade, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Flitwick, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Kempston, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Luton, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Potton, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Sandy, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Shefford, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
- Stotfold, Bedfordshire - Kitchen splashbacks | Bathroom splashbacks | Splashbacks with High Resolution Pictures | Glass Balustrades | Glass Shelves | Bespoke Mirrors | Bespoke Shower Screens and Enclosures | Acrylic Splashbacks | Glass splashbacks | Glass Worktops
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Showroom: Unit 11, Broomhall Farm, Watton At Stone, Hertford SG14 2RN
Splashbacks of Distinction is the trading name of RDC Glass Ltd