Tring Local History Museum

About the museum

The Tring Local History Museum began in 1994, when Tring Town Council set up a society to create a museum for the town. Fundraising and the collecting of objects went on for years, and the museum opened to the public in September 2010. The society, now called the Tring and District Local History and Museum Society, still manages it.

The museum occupies the former office of the Tring livestock market on Brook Street, a single-storey building from about 1893 that originally had three gables. A lease with Tring Town Council, which owns the freehold, was signed in 2006. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant awarded in 2007 paid for the restoration, which began in 2008 and brought back the three-gabled roof and added an outer gallery.

The displays are arranged in chronological sections from the prehistoric age to the present day and include interactive activities for children. The museum is run entirely by volunteers, with two stewards needed on duty at all times, and has met the national standards of the Arts Council England accreditation scheme. It also offers education resources for schools, including a heritage trail through the town.

Highlights

• Chronological displays from prehistoric times to the present
• Former livestock market office of 1893 with restored gables
• Interactive activities for children
• Tring Heritage Trail and education pack for schools
• Souvenir shop with books on Tring and the surrounding area

Permanent exhibition

• Tring through the ages – Chronological displays tell the story of the town and its people from prehistoric times to the present day.

Founded

2010

Operated by

Tring and District Local History and Museum Society

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free for all ages. A small donation is requested for group visits outside normal opening hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: not available
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: not available

The museum is step free, with a gentle entrance ramp and all galleries on one level for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. Text panels use large print, magnifiers are available and a folder of large-print object captions is provided. There is no audio guide, but stewards can explain the exhibits. The museum has no public toilet; the adjacent car park has one, and stewards may allow use of the accessible staff facilities. Three disabled bays are near the High Street exit of the car park and two at the foot of the slope near the museum; Blue Badge holders park free.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Hands-on stations

The displays include interactive activities for children, and the shop has items for children.

Getting there & parking

Approach from Brook Street or through The Forge car park; the museum is in Tring Market Place, just beyond the slope at the far end of the car park.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Museum shop

No café on site; several are in the town centre. The museum shop sells souvenirs, including a Tring mug set, and books about Tring and the surrounding area.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit