Tring Charter 700 wins Heritage Lottery Fund support

Community

Tring Together, a registered charity that aims to make life better and more enjoyable for the residents, businesses and associations of Tring and surrounding villages, has received £71,400 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).The grant supports Tring Together’s most exciting project to date, the celebrations of the 700th Anniversary of Edward II granting Tring a charter to become a market town. Led by volunteers from the local community, the project will share heritage in the form of a Tring Heritage Trail, a formal photographic archive of Tring in 2015 and new road signage welcoming visitors to the town. In addition there will be a wide range of events supporting the two week celebrations of the 700th anniversary commencing June 27th.

Tring Charter 700 aims to provide education opportunities for residents, voluntary organisations, businesses and visitors to learn more about the history of the town, improve access to our heritage and create a lasting legacy for the future – promoting Tring in 2015 as a modern town, with an important heritage and a vibrant community.

Outputs will include:

  • A new Tring Heritage Trail – available as a mobile phone app or in leaflet form, that guides residents and visitors around the heritage sites within the town centre.
  • An Education Pack that (linked to the trail above) will provide support for key stages 1 and 2 of the national curriculum relating to local history.
  • A photographic archive of life in Tring in 2015.
  • A photographic competition and exhibition open to all.
  • New road signage to increase awareness of the town charter and heritage of Tring.

The celebrations starting on June 27th will include:

  • This year’s Tring Carnival and High St Parade on Saturday, 27th June will have a medieval theme.
  • On Monday, 29th June, the actual anniversary date, the Town Mayor & Town Crier will be visiting all schools to read and explain the Charter. In the evening a civic service will be held at St. Peter and St. Paul Church followed by a BBQ and fireworks.
  • There will be a variety of talks, fun days and musical events throughout the two week period. See www.tring700.org for details on the whole project and learn how to get involved.

Tring is a vibrant market town nestled in the bowl of the Chiltern Ridge, an area of outstanding natural beauty. It is an ancient town situated at the confluence of Europe’s oldest road (the Ridgeway) and England’s most important early trading route (the Icknield Way). By 1315, Tring was established as a centre for commerce. The town required a right to exist independently of the Lord of the Manor and the granting of a market charter allowed Tring to hold a weekly market. It gave this market legal protection from attempts by nearby market towns to close it down and the right to prevent the creation of rival markets with one day’s travel distance from the town (around 6 miles). The grant of the charter was a very important event for Tring and confirmed its status as a prosperous market town, free from the control of the Lord of the Manor. The weekly charter market is still held every Friday.

Commenting on the award, Vivianne Child, Enterprise Manager of Tring Together said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are confident the project will encourage young people, residents and visitors, to be aware of and actively engaged with pride in Tring’s Heritage.”