On the left, near the formerly very-narrow entrance to Church Street, are the Red Lion Hotel (now demolished) and the old Westminster Bank (later redeveloped and now closed). In the distance is the old water tower on Half Moon Hill, now demolished. The shop near the West Street corner is the drapery business of J.H. Korn (Mr Herschkorn) which was there for many decades.
Perhaps for many older people the most significant change is the large advertisement hoarding, above the Keep’s newsagent’s shop, which once dominated the crossroads. For decades the space featured posters created by the Guinness beer company, whose series of cartoons kept everyone amused. The photo here shows the company’s familiar slogan, introduced in 1929, assuring everyone that “Guinness Is Good For You”. This developed into the “My Goodness, My Guinness” adverts which always featured a hapless zoo keeper whose pint glass full of the foaming liquid was perpetually out of his reach. It would be seen disappearing down the neck of an ostrich, dangerously balanced in the open jaws of a crocodile or perhaps concealed in the pouch of a kangaroo. The ads were created by John Gilroy who died in 1985.
Yesteryear is compiled by John Buckledee, chairman of Dunstable and District Local History Society.