Cattle trough

There's a Victorian-era cattle trough tucked away in Hertfordshire - the sort of thing most people walk past without a second glance. But if you're the type who stops to read plaques and thinks about what daily life looked like a century and a half ago, it's worth knowing about.

These troughs were everywhere once. Farmers needed watering spots for livestock on their way to and from market, and Victorian philanthropists saw them as a chance to do good - fresh water for animals, free of charge. This particular example survives as a tangible reminder of rural Hertfordshire before it all got swallowed up by London's sprawl.

Historically minded visitors and anyone interested in vernacular architecture will appreciate it more than most. Kids will probably find it a bit dull unless you're already in the area and can spin a story about 19th-century drovers and cattle drives. It's the sort of stop you make when you're exploring the quieter pockets around Edmonton and Sewardstone, perhaps as part of a larger walking route.

If you're based at Lee Valley Camping and Caravan Park or one of the other sites dotted within a few miles, it's easily combined with proper countryside walks rather than visited as a destination in itself. Allow ten minutes if you happen upon it. Bring a camera if you're into documenting local heritage - the detail work on these old troughs can be surprisingly fine. No facilities, obviously, but that's rather the point.