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Walter Rothschild Zoological MuseumTring & The Rothschild's
Tring is a small market town right in the far west of Hertfordshire, about 30 miles (50km) north west of London on the A41. The town lies at the edge of the Chiltern Hills where the ancient Icknield Way crosses the Roman Akeman Street.
The Manor of Tring is described in the Domesday Book of 1086. In 1682 the Mansion designed by Christopher Wren was built for the owner Colonel Guy. A later tenant was Lawrence Washington, great-great-grandfather of George Washington, the first President of the USA. In 1872 the estate became the home of the Rothschild family, whose influence on the town was considerable. They built many of the town’s buildings but their biggest legacy was The Walter Rothschild Zoological Museum, built in 1889 and opened to the public in 1892. It was specifically built to house Walter Rothschild's collection of mounted specimens (or stuffed animals to you and me) and is a must visit. In addition to the museum he kept exotic animals - kangaroos, zebra, cassowaries and giant tortoises in Tring park. In 1902 he introduced the glis-glis (edible dormouse) to the Park where they have become established.
