Tring
Tring is a small market town on the northern edge of the Chilterns, in an area known as the Tring Salient because it sticks out from the rest of Hertfordshire.
The Grand Union Canal is accessible at several points nearby, including Tring Station, Bulbourne and Marsworth, the best places to park are at Marsworth, or near Wilstone.
Take to the towpaths for a relaxing stroll around the reservoirs at Wilstone, Tringford, Startops End and Marsworth which not only supply water to the canal, but are also a magnet for wildlife and a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
To keep you busy, there are three circular “Tring Reservoir Trails”. Look out for the distinctive green, red and yellow way markers, and the “you are here!” helpful hints on some of the posts with interesting facts to learn along the way.
If all that exploring works up an appetite, there are a variety of local cafes and pubs along the way, perfect for a refreshment stop.
And for a touch of culture why not catch a play or concert at the Court Theatre at Pendley, off Station Road, or check out the Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum, the Arts Educational School, Louisa Cottages at the corner of Akeman Street and Park Road, or the Rose & Crown coaching inn on the High Street.
The history of Tring
Tring was first mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Record of AD571, in 1086 the Domesday book referred to the town as Treunge or Tredunga, and by the 13th century it was also know as Trehanger. Its trade roots stretch back to its position where the ancient Icknield Way crossed the Roman road, Akeman Street, and this tradition continued when the canal was built to the north-east of the town at the summit level of the Grand Union Canal.
The town has several architectural claims to fame, including a mansion designed by Christopher Wren in 1682 whose later tenant was the great-grandfather of George Washington, the first President of the USA. And in 1872 the estate became the home of the Rothschild family, whose influence on the town was considerable, included the provision of new homes designed in the style of old English lodges and houses. Look out for the unusual pavement maze in the shape of a zebra's head at Church Square in remembrance of Walter Rothschild’s trips around Tring in a zebra-drawn carriage!
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