IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Osmington Place, TRING, HP23 4EG

Osmington place is one of the late 20th century housing developments off Christchurch Road, in the grounds of the former Osmington Prep School.

This sad looking building has been a regular target for vandals ever since it was built - which is a great shame.

The day before this was taken the Storm "Doris" had passed over the area bringing down many trees. A number, like this one, were old and covered with ivy, and were particularly vulnerable. The fallen tree forms a bridge over an informal footpath, much used by dog walkers and children, which runs between a football field and a park area with swings. It is also not far from the footpath from Tring to Drayton Beachamp. Not much appears to be stopping the tree falling further as it is only supported six foot above the ground because its top branches had tangled with the branches of another, still standing, tree. I have notified the Council and it will be interesting to see how quickly it is made safe.

Goldfield is a large open area between Miswell lane (the houses in the distance) and Christchurch Road. This picture of the football field is taken from the entrance to a footpath which runs alongside Osmington Place.

While the building has remained the same over the years the shop fronts have changed. The nearest shop had originally been a local sub-post office and newsagents. By the time this picture was taken it was only a newsagent, although the cylinder post box remained. The further shop had been used by an interior decorator but, as the picture shows, became a Pilates Studio. By 2013 (Image) The nearest shop had become a Londis store - while still selling newspapers - and the other had become a Ladies hairdressers.

These two units were built circa 1960s to service the housing estates on the ridge to the north of the town of Tring. The first shop was originally a newsagent and a post office - and the cylinder post box is still there. The post office was closed down early in the 21st century and became little more than a distribution office for the newspaper round. It closed at the end of May 2013 and after a major refit opened as a Londis store a couple of days before this picture was taken. The shop next door has also changed over the years - and recently opened as a Ladies Hairdresser

The middle part of Goldfield is a large triangular area where nature is taking over much loved by dog walkers. It was the former playing fields of Osmington School and is designated as a public open area. When the school closed in about the 1970s the school site was developed for housing, but planning permission has never been given for this area. The original boundary fence became broken down and was removed for safety reasons, and young trees are beginning to grow in places round the edges. See view in the other direction taken in 2018 Image shortly after planning permission was given for two houses in this area. The houses in the distance are the former council houses in Goldfield Road and mainly Victorian houses in the "Tring Triangle". Beyond the houses lies the Chiltern escarpment.

This was formerly a school playing ground, and there have been debates over its future for years. Earlier this year (2018) planning permission was given for two large houses in the area shown, and I understand the rest will officially become part of the public park area. See an earlier view from the other end of the track Image The path cutting across the picture in the immediate foreground is the Tring to Drayton Beauchamp footpath