| Chard | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Chard Location withinSomerset | |
| Population | 14,287 (2021)[1] |
| OS grid reference | ST325086 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHARD |
| Postcode district | TA20 |
| Dialling code | 01460 |
| Police | Avon and Somerset |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| UK Parliament | |
| 50°52′22″N2°57′31″W / 50.8728°N 2.9587°W /50.8728; -2.9587 | |
Chard is a town and acivil parish in the English county ofSomerset. It lies on theA30 road near theDevon andDorset borders, 15 miles (24 km) south west ofYeovil. The parish has a population of approximately 14,000 and, at an elevation of 121 metres (397 ft), Chard is the southernmost and one of the highest towns in Somerset.
The name of the town wasCerden in 1065 andCerdre in theDomesday Book of 1086. After theNorman Conquest, Chard was held by theBishop of Wells. The town's first charter was fromKing John in 1234. Most of the town was destroyed by fire in 1577, and it was further damaged during theEnglish Civil War. A 1663 will by Richard Harvey ofExeter established Almshouses known as Harvey's Hospital. In 1685 during theMonmouth Rebellion, the pretenderDuke of Monmouth was proclaimed King in the Town prior to his defeat onSedgemoor. Chard subsequently witnessed the execution and traitor's death of 12 condemned rebels, who, tried byJudge Jeffreys, were hanged near the present Tesco roundabout. TheChard Canal was atub boatcanal built between 1835 and 1842.Chard Branch Line was created in 1860 to connect the twoLondon and South Western Railway andBristol and Exeter Railway main lines and ran through Chard until 1965.
The town has a very unusual feature, a stream running along either side ofFore Street. One stream eventually flows into theBristol Channel and the other reaches theEnglish Channel.Chard Reservoir, approximately a mile north east of the town, is aLocal Nature Reserve, andSnowdon Hill Quarry ageological Site of Special Scientific Interest. Major employers in the town includeNumatic International Limited. There are a range of sporting and cultural facilities, with secondary education being provided atHolyrood Academy; religious sites including theChurch of St Mary the Virgin, which dates from the late 11th century.
The earliest evidence of settlement near Chard is the Iron Age fort of Cotley Castle overlooking the Town near Bound's Lane. There was a small Saxon settlement centred round the Church and the area is still known as 'Old Town'. Chard's name wasCerden in 1065 andCerdre in theDomesday Book of 1086 and it means "house on the chart or rough ground" (Old English: ćeart + renn).[2] Before theNorman Conquest Chard was held by theBishop of Wells.[3] The town's first charter was fromKing John and another from the bishop in 1234, which delimited the town and laid out burgage holdings in 1-acre (4,000 m2) lots at a rent of twelve pence per year.[4] The parish of Chard was part of theKingsburyHundred,[5]
Most of the town was destroyed by fire in 1577.[3][6] After this time the town was largely rebuilt including Waterloo House and Manor Court House inFore Street which were built as a house and courtroom, and have now been converted into shops and offices.[7] In 2023, the historic Court House building was acquired bySomerset Council to safeguard its future.[8] Further damage to the town took place during theEnglish Civil War with both sides plundering its resources, particularly in 1644 whenCharles I spent a week in the town.[3]
A 1663 will by Richard Harvey ofExeter established Almshouses which became Harvey's Hospital. These were rebuilt in 1870 largely of stone from previous building.[3][9] In 1685 during theMonmouth Rebellion, the pretenderJames Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, was proclaimed King in the Town and several locals joined his forces. Commander of the pursuing Royalist army,John Churchill, made a severe cautionary speech to the townsfolk in St Mary's. After the rebellion collapsed, Chard witnessed the execution and traitor's death of 12 of the Duke of Monmouth's rebels, who were summarily tried and condemned atTaunton Castle byJudge Jeffreys. They were hung, drawn and quartered by the 'Handcross tree' whose site was near the present Tesco roundabout. The tree was removed by the railway in 1864 amid loud local protests.[3]
There was afulling mill in the town by 1394 for the textile industry.[3] After 1820 this expanded with the town becoming a centre for lace manufacture led by manufacturers who fled from theLuddite resistance they had faced in theEnglish Midlands. Bowden's Old Lace Factory[10] and the Gifford Fox factory[11] are examples of the sites constructed.The Guildhall was built as a Corn Exchange and Guildhall in 1834 and is now the Town Hall.[12]
On Snowdon Hill is a small cottage which was originally a toll house built by the ChardTurnpike trust in the 1830s,[13] to collect fees from those using a road up the hill which avoided the steep gradient.[14]
Chard is the birthplace ofpowered flight, as it was here in 1848 that theVictorian aeronautical pioneerJohn Stringfellow (1799–1883) first demonstrated that engine-powered flight was possible through his work on theAerial Steam Carriage.[15][16] James Gillingham (1839–1924) from Chard pioneered the development of articulatedartificial limbs when he produced a prosthesis for a man who lost his arm in a cannon accident in 1863.[16]Chard Museum has a display of Gillingham's work.[17]
Chard was a key point on theTaunton Stop Line, aWorld War II defensive line consisting ofpillboxes and anti-tank obstacles, which runs fromAxminster north to theSomerset coast nearHighbridge.[18] In 1938 a bomb proof bunker was built behind the branch of theWestminster Bank. During the war it was used to hold duplicate copies of the bank records in case its headquarters in London was destroyed. It was also used to store the emergency bank note supply of theBank of England. There has also been speculation that theCrown Jewels were also stored there, however this has never been confirmed.[19]
Action Aid, the International Development Charity, had their headquarters in Chard when they started life in 1972 as Action in Distress. The Supporters Services department of the charity is still based in Chard.[20]
Chard was one of the boroughs reformed by theMunicipal Corporations Act 1835, and remained amunicipal borough[21] until theLocal Government Act 1972, when it became asuccessor parish in thenon-metropolitan district ofSouth Somerset. Somerset became aunitary authority[22] on 1 April 2023.
The town council (aparish council with the status of a town) has responsibility for local issues. It evaluates local planning applications and works with the local police, district council officers, andneighbourhood watch groups on matters of crime, security, and traffic. It initiates projects for the maintenance and repair of parish facilities, and consults with the district council on the maintenance, repair and improvement of highways, drainage, footpaths, public transport and street cleaning. Conservation matters (including trees and listed buildings) and environmental issues are also the responsibility of the council. It sets an annual precept (local rate) to cover its operating costs and produces annual accounts for public scrutiny. The council has a reception and offices in the Guildhall,[23] a Grade II*listed building which was built in 1834 as a corn exchange.[24]
In 2006 Chard Town Council came to the attention of the national press when mayor Tony Prior was found guilty of sexual discrimination and victimisation of the town clerk. He was ordered to pay £33,000 in compensation.[25] Prior was banned from holding public office for nine months but was returned to council (as an independent councillor) in a 2010 by-election.[26]
Somerset Council is responsible forlocal planning andbuilding control, local roads,council housing,environmental health,markets and fairs,refuse collection andrecycling,cemeteries andcrematoria, leisure services, parks,tourism,education,social services, thelibrary, roads,public transport,trading standards,waste disposal and strategic planning, although fire, police and ambulance services are provided jointly with other authorities through theDevon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service,Avon and Somerset Police and theSouth Western Ambulance Service.
The civil parish of Chard Town (its formal name) elects councillors from fiveelectoral wards: Avishayes, Combe, Crimchard, Holyrood and Jocelyn.[27]
Chard is part of theYeovilcounty constituency represented in theHouse of Commons of theParliament of the United Kingdom. It elects oneMember of Parliament (MP) by thefirst past the post system of election.
Chard istwinned withHelmstedt in Germany (since 12 April 1980);Morangis, Essonne in France (since 29 May 1994); andȘeica Mare inTransylvania, Romania.[28]
At an altitude of 121 metres (397 ft), Chard is one of the highest towns in Somerset, and is also the southernmost.[18] The suburbs include: Crimchard, Furnham, Glynswood, Henson Park and Old Town. Local folklore claims that the town has a very unusual and unique feature, a stream running along either side ofFore Street. One stream eventually flows into theBristol Channel and the other reaches theEnglish Channel.[29] This situation changed when the tributary of the Axe was diverted into the Isle; the gutter in Holyrood Street, though, still flows into the River Axe and therefore it is still true it lies on the watershed and that two gutters within the town eventually drain into the Bristol Channel and the English Channel.[30]
The 36.97 hectares (91.4 acres)Chard Reservoir, around a mile northeast of the town, is aLocal Nature Reserve. It is used for dog walking, fishing and birdwatching, with a bird hide having been installed.[31] Species that are seen regularly includegrey herons,kingfishers,great cormorants,little grebes, ducks and also a wide range of woodland songbirds. Others include thegreat white egret,cattle egret, andspotted redshank.[32]
Snowdon Hill Quarry is a 0.6hectare (1.3 acre)geological Site of Special Scientific Interest on the western outskirts. The site shows rock exposures through theUpper Greensand andChalk, containing fossil crustaceans which are both unique and exceptionally well-preserved making it a key locality for the study ofpalaeontology in Britain. The unit has been dated to the subdivision of the Chalk known as theTurrilites acutus Zone, named after one of the characteristic fossils,[33] which was laid down in the MiddleCenomanian era between 99.6 ± 0.9MA and 93.5 ± 0.8 MA (million years ago).
There are also caves in Chard, first recorded in a charter of 1235 as being used by stonemasons, which provided local building stone. The cave is smaller than when it was used as a quarry as part of the roof has fallen in but a cave 20 feet (6.1 m) below ground still exists with the remains of the supporting pillars left when it was being worked.[30]
Along with the rest ofSouth West England, Chard has a temperate climate which is generally wetter and milder than the rest of the country.[34] The annual mean temperature is approximately 10 °C (50.0 °F).Seasonal temperature variation is less extreme than most of the United Kingdom because of the adjacent sea temperatures. The summer months of July and August are the warmest with mean daily maxima of approximately 21 °C (69.8 °F). In winter mean minimum temperatures of 1 or 2 °C (33.8 or 35.6 °F) are common.[34] In the summer theAzores high pressure affects the south-west of England, howeverconvective cloud sometimes forms inland, reducing the number of hours of sunshine. Annual sunshine rates are slightly less than the regional average of 1,600 hours.[34] In December 1998 there were 20 days without sun recorded at Yeovilton. Most of the rainfall in the south-west is caused byAtlantic depressions or byconvection. Most of the rainfall in autumn and winter is caused by the Atlantic depressions, which is when they are most active. In summer, a large proportion of the rainfall is caused by sun heating the ground leading to convection and to showers and thunderstorms. Average rainfall is around 700 mm (28 in). About 8–15 days of snowfall is typical. November to March have the highest mean wind speeds, and June to August have the lightest winds. The predominant wind direction is from the south-west.[34]
Textile manufacture was important to the town during theMiddle Ages. Chard is the birthplace ofpowered flight as in 1848John Stringfellow first demonstrated that engine-powered flight was possible. Percy and Ernest Petter, who formedWestland Aircraft Works, witnessed some of Stringfellow's demonstrations in Chard and often asked for help in the formation of Westland's first aircraft development factory on the outskirts ofYeovil.AgustaWestland now holds the Henson and Stringfellow lecture yearly for theRoyal Aeronautical Society.[15][16] James Gillingham developed articulatedartificial limbs. Chard is a key point on theTaunton Stop Line, a World War II defensive line.
Chard is the home ofNumatic International Limited, notable for its 'Henry' vacuum cleaners with the characteristic large smiling face. The company employs over 700 people. In contrast to competitors such asHoover andDyson the firm continues to manufacture in Britain. The site occupies an area of more than 10 hectares and operates continuously, producing over 4,000 products per day.
Another large employer in Chard was Oscar Mayer,[35] a producer of own-brand packaged ready-meals. (It is distinct from the American company of the same name owned byKraft Foods). Oscar Mayer employed many Portuguese and, more recently, Polish workers.[36] In 2007 it was announced that the factory would be bought by Icelandic company theAlfesca Group, which owns Lyons seafoods.[36] However this deal fell through and the company announced 250 job losses.[37][38] Oscar Mayer announced on 22 October 2020 that it was considering ending production at its Chard sites. Following collective consultation with its employees, the company decided to close the Chard sites, with most of the staff employed there becoming redundant. It was expected that the transfer of Oscar Mayer's Chard manufacturing business to its other UK sites would be complete by the end of September 2021.[35]
Chard is also home toBrecknell Willis, one of the world's oldest and leading specialists in the design, construction and installation of railway electrification systems, most notably metro and light rail systems. Its largest customer, London Underground, purchases both train-borne equipment and infrastructure. Brecknell Willis occupies a site at the bottom of the hill next to the site of the old LSWR station, which is now aTesco store. At the time of writing (August 2014) the company was preparing to move into a new purpose-built building from which all of its operations will be based. In early July 2014 the company was bought by WABTEC, bringing it into the Wabtec Rail Group as well as the Falstand Electric Group.
From 1842 Chard was the terminus of theChard Canal, atub boatcanal that joined theBridgwater and Taunton Canal atCreech St. Michael. It had fouraqueducts, three tunnels and fourinclined planes along its 13.5-mile (21.7 km) length. It took seven years to construct and cost about£140,000 (£16.6 million in 2023).[39][40][41]
In the 1860s the town became the terminus oftwo railway lines. The first was opened in 1863 by theLondon and South Western Railway (LSWR) as a shortbranch line fromtheir main line. This approached the town from the south.[42] The second and longer line was opened by theBristol and Exeter Railway (B&ER) in 1866 and ran northwards, close to the route of the canal, to join their main line nearTaunton.[43] From 1917 they were both operated byone company, but services were mostly advertised as though it was still two separate lines.[44] It was closed to passengers in 1962 and freight traffic was withdrawn a few years later.[45]
The LSWR's station (later known asChard Town) opened in 1860 with a singleplatform, and the B&ER's (variously known as Chard Joint orChard Central) in 1866. For five years LSWR trains continued to call at Chard Town and then reversed to the connecting line and then resumed their forward journey to the Joint station. In 1871 a new platform was opened on the connecting line; this closed to passengers on 1 January 1917 but the town station was the main goods depot for the town until it finally closed on 18 April 1966. Passenger trains ceased to operate to Chard Central on 11 September 1962, and private goods traffic on 3 October 1966. The station building and train shed still stand and are in use by engineering companies.[45]
The town's public transport links to Taunton are now provided by First Group'sBuses of Somerset. Two routes go between the towns. Route 30[46] and route 99,[47] which both run hourly during weekdays. There is also a service toYeovil viaCrewkerne provided bySouth West Coaches
Chard has a number of local sport clubs.Chard Town F.C. playfootball in theSomerset County League,[48] whilst a number of Chard football clubs play in thePerry Street and District League.[49]TheRugby union club,Chard RFC, was formed in 1876.[50] The Club runs 3 Senior sides, with the 1stXV playing currently in South West One (west) achieving promotion toNational League 3 South West on 26 April 2014 beating Old Towcestrians in the playoff final.[51]Chard Hockey Club was established in 1907 and it now runs three male and three female sides.[52] There are also facilities forcricket,tennis,bowls, darts andgolf.[53] The Wessex Pool League is also played in a number of Pubs in Chard, along with the Chard and District Darts League.
Television signals are received from either theMendip orStockland Hill TV transmitters.
Radio stations for the area are BBC Radio Somerset on 95.5 FM, Heart West on 97.1 FM, Greatest Hits Radio South West on 106.6 FM and Radio Ninesprings on 104.6 FM.[54]
Local newspapers are the Chard and Ilminster News, Somerset County Gazette,Somerset Guardian and Standard and Somerset Live.
The original school building in Fore Street was built in 1583 a private residence for William Symes ofPoundisford. In 1671 his youngest son, John, conveyed the property to 12 trustees so that it should be converted into agrammar school – according to his father's wish.[55] Today, it is known asChard School, aprivate school for children ages 4 to 11.
Avishayes Community Primary School, Manor Court Community Primary School, Tatworth Primary School and The Redstart Primary School all offer primary education, whileHolyrood Academy offers secondary education. The school, as of 2019, has 1,276 pupils between the ages of 11 and 18.[56]
TheAnglicanChurch of St Mary the Virgin dates from the late 11th century and was rebuilt in the 15th century. The tower contains eight bells, of which two were made in the 1790s by Thomas Bilbie of theBilbie family inCullompton.[57] The three-stage tower has moulded string courses and an angle stair turret in the north-west corner. The church has been designated byEnglish Heritage as a grade Ilisted building.[58] There is a church room, built in 1827.[59] The Baptist Church in Holyrood Street was built in 1842.[60]
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