Tring
Tring is a small market town in Hertfordshire nestled below the beautifully Chiltern Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Tring High Street © Travel About Britain
The Abbot of Faversham gained Tring's first market charter in 1315. Markets have occupied various sites over the years and it is now held on Friday's in Church Square, outside the town's 13/14th century parish church.
Tring Market House © TAB
The High Street has many interesting old buildings of note. The half-timbered Rose and Crown Inn, opposite the church, was rebuilt by the Rothchild family in 1905. Tring Market House, at the top end of the High Street, was built by public subscription in 1900, to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. The venue now hosts a souvenir shop and information centre.
The 17th-c Mansion House (Tring Park Mansion) was built by Christopher Wren in 1670. Lionel de Rothschild (1808-1879) purchased the property in 1872 and made considerable alterations to it. The house later became the country residence of the 1st Lord Rothschild. The family were generous benefactors, building modern cottages and almshouses, and bringing about many improvements to the town. Lionel Walter, the 2nd Lord Rothschild created his famous Zoological Museum here, which is now a branch of the London Natural History Museum.
Tring War Memorial and Parish Church © TAB
The ancestors of George Washington (president of the United States from 1789 to 1797) once live in the town. The Reverend Lawrence Washington retired to Tring in 1643 from his parish in Essex. After his death in 1654 his sons emigrated to Virginia, joining with friends who had already moved there. One of these sons, John, was the great-great-grandfather of the first American President.
The Wendover Arm of Grand Union Canal terminates to north of the town. The Tring reservoirs, just beyond, were dug by navies in the 19th-c to supply water for the canal.
The prehistoric Icknield way and the Ridgeway National Trail pass near the town.
Places of Interest to Visit in Tring
Tring Local History Museum
Located in an old 19th-c livestock market, this small volunteer run museum covers the history of the local area.
Opening times: Fridays & Saturdays 10:00 to 4:00 - Free Entry
Location: 9 Brook St, Tring HP23 5ED
Tel: 01442 827601
Website: tringlocalhistorymuseum.org.uk
Tring Natural History Museum
Lord Rothschild's collection of zoological artifacts was bequeathed to the British Museum in 1938. On display is a large collection of mounted animal specimens and insects, including mammals, birds, fish and reptiles, from all parts of the world.
Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday and bank holidays 10.00-17.00
Location: The Walter Rothschild Building, Akeman St, Tring HP23 6AP
Tel: 020 7942 6171
Website: www.nhm.ac.uk
Tring Park
The extensive parkland to the south of the town was once part of the Rothchild estate. It was originally landscaped in the 1700s. Now run by the Woodland Trust, it is a large area of chalk grassland and woodland, which is home to a generous variety of flora and fauna. Designated as a SSSI grassland, the park is criss-crossed by a number of way marked trails providing excellent walks.
Tring Reservoirs National Nature Reserve
Large nature reserve with four reservoirs, located to the north of the town. Excellent for bird watching and coarse fishing, it is home to many aquatic birds including great crested grebes, mallards, heron, coot and moorhen.
Location: Tring Rural, Tring HP23 4LJ
Website: canalrivertrust.org.uk
Map of Tring
South East England
