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Allotments Ware
Allotments and Garden Society has two allotment sites in the town
- King George Road and Widbury Hill with “shop” available
for members on the Widbury Hill Site.
Athletics The Hertford
and Ware Athletics Club is very active and uses the Wodson Park
Sports and Recreation Centre as its home base.
Badminton Badminton
is played by the Ware Badminton Club and others at Wodson Park Sport
and Recreation Centre (see page 24).
Basketball An outdoor
basketball court can be found in the Priory Grounds. Operated by
Ware Town Council it is free of charge and accessible throughout
the year.
Bowls A first class
green (6 rink) is available in the Priory Grounds operated by the
Ware Bowling Club but also available for public use. Indoor Bowls
is played at Wodson Park Sports and Recreation Centre.
Cricket The Ware (O.H.)
Cricket Club (an open club) has premises at Widord www.warecricket.com.
Allenbury’s Cricket Team play at Park Road, Ware and most
of the nearby villages have cricket teams.
Darts Teams flourish
at most public houses and “Waggers” Social Club, Kibes
Lane.
Fishing Anglers can
enjoy a day’s fishing along the towpath of the River Lea and
in the Priory Grounds. Environment Agency licence required, available
from Post Offices or from www.environment-agency.gov.uk.
Football The Ware
Football Club play at Wodson Park, Wadesmill Road and there are
several junior youth teams in the area.
Golf Chadwell Springs
(9 hole) Golf Course is situated on the edge of the Town midway
between Ware and Hertford. East Herts Golf Club (18 holes) is situated
at Hamels Park just a few miles north of the town. Whitehill Golf
Centre is at Dane End, near Ware and there are also Golf Courses
at the Marriott Hanbury Manor Hotel and Country Club, Thundridge;
Briggens House Hotel, Stanstead Abbotts; Brickendon Grange Golf
and Country Club, Brickendon; Ash Valley Golf Club, Much Hadham
(18 holes) and Gt. Hadham Golf and Country Club, midway between
Much Hadham and Bishop’s Stortford.
Miniature Railway The
East Herts Miniature Railway Society is based at the Van Hage Garden
Company, run by volunteers and enthusiasts, open at weekends.
Music Concerts in
the Priory Gardens on Summer Sunday afternoons. Music Clubs, Ware
Operatic Society and the Maltings Sinfonia meet at the Ware Arts
Centre. Ware Choral Society and East Herts Modern Organ Club meet
at Ware’s Age Concern Hall, Priory Street, Ware.
Photography Ware and
District Photographic Society meets at Christchurch Hall, New Road,
Ware at 8.00 pm on Wednesdays from September to June. Anyone interested
in photography, either beginners or experienced photographers are
welcome to attend. More information can be found on www.wareps.org.uk
or by telephoning the secretary on 01920 822104
Putting A Putting
Green is available for public use in the Summer in the Priory Grounds.
Riding Several Riding
Schools nearby at Great Amwell, Hertford, Colliers End, Chapmore
End and Much Hadham.
Rugby The Hertford
Rugby Football Club, one of the leading rugby sides in the county
have their premises at Hoe Lane, Ware and run several sides each
weekend, with midweek floodlit games and mini rugby facilities.
Ware Rugby Club, based at Wodson Park Sports and Recreation Centre
runs 2 teams who train on Monday evenings and play on Saturdays.
New players (aged 17 plus) of any level welcome.
Squash The Old Hertfordians
Squash Club has two courts at Hoe Lane, Ware.
Swimming is well catered
for in Ware. The open air heated Priory Lido is operated during
the summer months by the Ware Town Council in the beautiful Priory
Grounds, Priory Street Ware, SG12 9AL Built in 1934, The Lido was
substantially altered in the 1970s with new changing rooms. Situated
in the grounds of Ware Priory, the Lido comprises a 30m (approximately)
Main Pool and a Teaching Pool. Fully qualified RLSS Pool Lifeguards
and a First Aider are on duty at all times. A refreshment kiosk
with access from both the Lido and neighbouring Priory Park offers
a wide selection of hot & cold food and drinks, confectionery
and of course ice cream
Contact Ware Town Council for opening times 01920 460316 www.waretowncouncil.gov.uk
The indoor Fanshawe Pool together with fitness room is operated
by East Herts District Council at the Chauncy School site, Park
Road, Ware.
Ware Arts Centre forms
part of an old malting in Kibes Lane built to supply dark malt for
the ale known as Porter which was popular with the workers in the
London markets. Completely refurbished in 2004 to provide four pleasant
studios of varied size and a refreshment room, all of which can
be used for a range of ‘arts’ related activities. The
Ware Arts Centre hosts a range of activities throughout the year
including art and photographic exhibitions, regular drama productions
and monthly film showings. Current users include Ware Operatic,
Ware Photographic, Ware Poets, Ware Wine & Beer societies as
well as painting classes, gardening groups, exercise classes and
many more. For information about ‘What’s On’ or
about hiring a space then please visit www.WareArtsCentre.org.uk
or phone 07551 426644.
Ware Drill Hall, Amwell
End, Ware, SG12 9HP. Hall Administrator - Catherine Young Tel. 01920
487447 and 07808 969379.
Ware.drillhall@btconnect.com. www.waredrillhall.org.uk
The main hall is 96ft long and 52ft wide, with a vaulting ceiling
that rises up to over 40ft. These impressive dimensions mean that,
for instance, it can be used for four badminton courts; seating
for up to 400 people for concerts or other performances; up to 50
market-style stalls. The Hall can also easily accommodate trampolines,
bouncy castles, go-karts circuits or an indoor football pitch. Other
facilities available are: a meeting-room for 20 - 40 people, recently
modernised toilets (including disabled)
Recently enlarged kitchen area, storage areas, available for the
use of regular hirers, tables, chairs, staging and PA system.
Wodson Park Sports and Recreation
Centre Wadesmill Road, Ware, Herts SG12 OUQ Tel:
01920 487091 Fax: 01920 485213 www.wodsonpark.com. One of Hertfordshire’s
largest sport and recreation centres that sits on land bequeathed
by a local farmer for the recreational pursuits of the local community.
The centre has a large fitness centre with over 40 stations with
friendly and helpful staff to ensure that you reach your goals.
This is complemented by two aerobic studios with over 40 varied
classes per week. There are also 2 large multi-purpose sports halls
that can cater for a variety of activities such as badminton, basketball,
football and short mat bowls. There is an 8 lane athletics track,
football pitches and an astro turf for hockey and football. A newly
established complex provides 4 netball/tennis courts. A crèche
is open Monday - Friday 9.15 - 11.15 a.m. for under 5s. An extensive
programme for children exists with numerous activities for 2 - 16
year olds after school and in the school holidays. A large function
suite and meeting rooms can  accommodate
many different types of events. There are also 3 bars and catering
is available. In fact there is something for everyone - and everyone
is welcome.
Ware’s Dickensian Evening
Ware’s annual Christmas event takes place on the first Friday
in December, from 6.30 pm to 10.00 pm. Roads in the town centre
- Amwell End, Baldock Street, Church Street and High Street - are
normally closed for the evening.
The main features include late night shopping throughout the town,
charity stalls and local organisations in Tudor Square, the Drill
Hall and Place House, Bluecoat Yard, and musical entertainment provided
by bands and choirs.
Although some items may vary from year to year, and are also subject
to the weather, there is usually a Christmas Tree Festival held
in Leaside Church, a shop window competition and a fancy dress competition
- with prizes for both. The theme of the evening is “Dickens”
and many people involved may be dressed in period costume.
The Ware Dickensian Evening is organised by the Ware Town Centre
Partnership. For further information on the evening or the partnership,
please write care of The Priory or see www.wareonline.co.uk.
Ware Museum The establishment
of the Ware Museum in 1986 marked the fulfilment of a long-felt
need in the town. It followed a well-attended public meeting, called
jointly by Ware Town Council and the Ware Society and led to the
founding of the Ware Museum Trust. The Town Council made available
the Priory Lodge, which was extensively refurbished by volunteers
to provide three exhibition areas.
In 2001 a much-needed extension was built supported by the Heritage
Lottery Fund, giving greater display space, and a link was created
between the museum and the World War Two Command Bunker with its
Interactive Display. A further extension was completed in 2007 following
a second successful Heritage Lottery Fund bid in order to improve
our display area and coverage of Ware’s history.
Artefacts and reminiscence material give a time-line of the “Story
of Ware” from earliest times up to the present day. Many aspects
of the town’s life are featured, including displays on Ware’s
industries such as malting, Wickhams and Allen & Hanburys.
The new extension now encloses the medieval well, which has been
covered with glass. There is a new interactive kiosk and satellite
picture showing the location of some of the hidden locations of
history. For children we have an archaeology ‘dig’ experience.
There is a regularly changing programme of temporary exhibitions
and children’s activities during most school holidays. Visits
for schools and other groups can be arranged, please contact the
museum for further information.
The Museum, Priory Lodge, High Street, Ware (also housing a Tourist
Information Point) is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays
from 11.00am - 5pm (11.00am - 4pm in winter) and on Sundays 2pm
- 5pm (2pm - 4pm in winter). Telephone 01920 487848. Website www.waremuseum.org.uk
Tourist Information Point Ware’s
own Tourist Information Point is to be found in Ware Museum; full
of good ideas for all ages, mostly within a one hour drive from
Ware.
On offer are over 100 leaflets and posters to cater for all tastes;
hands on farms to stately homes, aircraft or steam trains, music
and drama.
“Ware to” leaflets, local country walks, “Easy
Family Cycling in East Herts” and a new edition of the very
popular “Walk About Ware” are all available now.
The Tourist Information Point is open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and
Saturdays from 11.00 am - 5.00 pm (11.00 am - 4.00 pm in winter)
and on Sundays 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm (2.00 pm - 4.00 pm in winter).
Telephone 01920 487848.
Tourism Website Ware
also has its own tourism website with helpful information for would
be visitors. www.waretoursim.org.uk
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