Traipsing round Tring

I woke up late and to a lovely morning. I got up to make the cup of tea and the sun was just in the right place to be able to see the giant carp that are in this area of the cut.

I'm afraid there is no scale (pardon the pun) for this photo but take it from me they are big carp.

As the weather was good today, and set to go down hill tomorrow we thought we would do Tring. It is about 1.7 miles but one route is a nice walk along the canal and quiet lanes. I was expecting the centre to more like everywhere else but it was small and not the usual shopping suspects.

Tring High Street.

We called at the Library and the TIC and made our way to the Natural History Museum. This was the collection of Lionel Walter, 2nd Baron Rothschild, of the international financiers family, who lived at Tring Park. Tring Park was originaly designed by Sir Cristopher Wren for Henry Guy who was part of the Privy Council of Charles II, and the MP for Hedon, where we live. The collection was gifted to the nation in 1937 on his death. He always wanted to own a museum and opened his first at the age of 10! He also always wanted to study zoology. The land for the purpose built museum was given as a 21 birthday present and was completed in 1892. He kept kangaroos, emus and giant turtles at his house. He had a zebra that pulled a cart. This is not to say that he was a dilettante as he was also highly educated in his field and the research into the animals. His collection is still world renowned and consisted of 2000 mounted mammals, 2000 mounted birds, 2 million butterflies and moths, 300, 000 bird skins, 144 giant tortoises, 200,000 birds eggs and a reference library of over 30,000 books.

The polar bear. The cases are the original and many of the displays are how Walter placed them originally. 

Lion.

The photo doesn't do the colours justice but this parrot was stunning.

We then walked back into the centre to find a little lunch and afterwards looked round the church of St Peter and St Paul. Tring was founded on a junction of two important roads in Roman times, Icknield Way and Ackerman Street. It is thought that the dual name may be from when the Roman Empire became Christian and was used to try to include all the Romano-British. The church has walls built with flints included and turrets and gargoyles etc. Lawrence Washington, the great grandfather of the first President of America, George was from Tring. 

St Peter and St Paul, Tring.

Whilst walking to Tesco's we walked round the Memorial Park that was laid out as a memorial graden to those fallen in WWII. Part of it had been in the gardens of Tring Park and some was made from demolishing redundant building, including a pub. It has a lovely quiet atmosphere despite it being near a busy cross roads. 

Memorial Gardens with lake and fountain. The tall tree in the middle is a giant red wood tree.

Memorial Garden Gates with extremely colourful bedding plants.

We walked back to the boat after Tesco but we will be back as we have a guided walk or two to do now.