Where O Ware

We have made a couple of visits to Ware whilst on this trip on the Lee and Stort rivers. The Lee runs through the centre of Ware which is in Hertfordshire, only about 20 miles north of London.

Ware is an old brewing town and reminders of this can be seen around the town.



Barley was brought in, and beer transported out of the town via the river.

Flats and apartments lining the river where once there were busy wharves reflect that heritage in their architecture.



The bronze in the town centre commemorates the malting industry.

Bargemen born in Ware were given the "freedom of the River Thames" — avoiding the requirement of paying lock dues — as a result of their transport of fresh water and food into London during the great plague of 1666.

Hidden away between some shops in the main street is the Leaside Church



But the Parish Church is clearly to be seen at the end of the High Street.

As well as being a brewing town, Ware was also a coaching stop on the way out of London to Cambridge and York.  There were many coaching inns along the High Street, there is still evidence of a few of them, with their gated entrances into a courtyard leading down to the river behind.

Along the river frontage in  what was once the back gardens of these old coaching inns are the 18th century gazebos, which are a  unique feature of Ware. 

So that's Ware we've been!