If you like Schmoozy music then tune into Martini in The Morning by clicking below. They even mention me!
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Chard Tourist Guide
The most read Chard site (over 400 million views) incorporating Crewkerne & Ilminster
The Wessex Tourist Board began in Chard in 2002
website: http:// www.wessextouristboard.org.uk           Tel: +44(0)1823 240170         Fax : +44(0) 845 862 1954     Click here to contact us
Fore Stree

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 flight
tourist office Chard SignChard Tourist Information Centre
Guildhall, Fore Street, TA20 Wessex
Monday to Friday 10-4 and Saturdays 10-1 all year round.
Telephone : 01460 260051
email: chardtic@chard.gov.uk
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BRIDGWATER DOORWAY
MENDIP DOOR WAY
TAUNTON DOORWAY
WEST SOMERSET DOORWAY YEOVIL DOORWAY

Back in 1971 our owners introduced a discount for Tourists using British European Airways  to get discounts from various shops and services in the UK.  It was very successful. So today for 2024 we are reviving the system in this area to back local independent businesses in Somerset to get greater custom and footfall. This is only for small independent traders and may only be used upon personal presentation. We invite all local independent traders to participate in this enterprise. Our representative will be pleased to meet with interested traders to include them in this handbook. Please contact us by email to: info@wessextouristboard.org.uk if you are interested.

The Wessex Tourist Board will be adding the Talk of the Tone logo beside the name of the shop or service providers who participate in allowing discounts to visitors in their online Tourist guides for Bridgwater, Chard, Taunton, Mendip, Wellington, West Somerset, Wiveliscombe and Yeovil. Look for the sign in the guides and shop window stickers.



 
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PODS FOR SENSEO COFFEE MACHINES



For many years now we have been using Phillips Senseo Machines to make our office coffee. Although Phillips tied up with Doux  Egberts we found that their range of coffees for the machines were both more expensive and inferior to those sold by Lydl. Lydl's range named Melangerie included Brazilian. Kenyan, Columbian and Nicaraguan coffees.  However earlier this month Lydl suddenly removed them from the shelves and replaced then with another variety using the Tassimo machines. We wrote to Lydl about this and they replied:

 "Re: Availability of Coffee Pods

Thank you for enquiring about our Coffee Pods. Unfortunately this item is not available in our stores at the moment.

We hope to have this available again in the future and apologise for any inconvenience. We have passed your interest in this item onto our Buying Department and would like to thank you for taking the time to contact us.
Yours sincerely,
For and on behalf of Lidl UK GmbH
Reece Aitken
Customer Service
Tel – 0370 444 1234
Email - customer.services@lidl.co.uk
globelogo3

Coffee Merchants UK

Unit 1, 18B
Bennett's field Trading Estate
Wincanton, Somerset  BA9 9DT
Phone: 0196331137
Fax: 0196331137
Email: info@thecoffeepod.co.uk
Email (orders): sales@thecoffeepod.co

https://www.facebook.com/
TheCoffeePod.co.uk


  Now we have done our research and found a lovely company in Wincanton; Somerset who can provide you with the Senseo pads in the following flavours: Colombian, Costa Rican, Kenyan AA, Sumatra, as well as Decaffeinated, and  French Extreme.

See: http://www.thecoffeepod.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d7_Senseo_Coffee_Pods_page_1.html

Colombia Supremo - Savour the rich and nutty flavour of this classic coffee.
French Roast  -  A dark-roast lover's dream!
Costa Rican Tarrazu -  Rich, volcanic soil, high elevation and climatic conditions all contribute to the unique flavour
Sumatra 'Lake Toba'- This full-bodied yet well-balanced cup is one of our Roastmaster's favourite.
Swiss Water Decaffeinated -, and Kenyan AA DeCaf. (ONLY included if asked for)
House Blend - One of our Roastmaster's favourite blends - a unique combination of 100% Arabica beans from some of the premier growing regions in the world. Smooth, rich & delicious - perfection in every cup!
Brazilian Santos- Brazilian Blend will produce a balanced coffee with low acidity and subtle chocolate and nut notes. A good smooth, bold everyday drinking coffee 
 Roast Master Choice - Blue Mountain Blend - Signature  - Kenyan AA - French Extreme Caffeine
Coffee Sense  is the solution to your single cup coffee needs - combining quality taste with the ease and convenience of a single cup! The gourmet selection offers the perfect coffees - light roasts, exotic estate coffees, flavoured, and decaffeinated as well as premium hand-picked teas. Convenience, choice and a gourmet selection!
    Individually Wrapped - 8g per pod
    100% Arabica Coffee
    Responsibly Grown Coffee
    Kosher Certified

 










 

 

  The Royal Bath & West Show

27 - 30 May 2015

The Royal Bath & West Show is England's Biggest Celebration of Rural Life and England's only 4 day Royal Show. The year the Show celebrates 50 years at the Showground. The Show Team are busy preparing for the 2015 Show and promise to bring you a action packed and great day out in May
Schedules for competitive classes are available now - CLICK HERE to view

NEW FOR 2015
  • New Ticket Prices - CLICK HERE to find out more
  • Sports Village
  • Horticultural Section
  • South Devons National Show
Trade stand packs for 2015 are available now please contact Sandie Collishaw on 01749 82220001749 822231
Bath
                                                          & West
                                                          Show Bath
                                                          & west Bath &
                                                        west
Bath
                                                          & west
                                                          Show

This is where all aspects of farming and rural life can be seen, from the best of British livestock to the latest business innovations in farming. The show offers the perfect day out for the whole family; the best for shopping, food, flowers, crafts, country pursuits, equestrian competitions and arena displays.


Start date:

27th May 2015

End date:

30th May 2013

Location:

The Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset

Web Link:

http://www.bathandwest.com/

Contact telephone:

01749 822 200




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 Welcome to Chard. Press Control+B to Bookmark this site for later reference.
THE CHARD MUSEUM
Come and see us.....You'll be Surprised!

This award winning local museum has a wide variety of exhibits, starting with the story of Chard, the ancient capital of Wessex, from 1235, the fire of 1577 and its disaster for the cloth trade; Monmouth's rebellon; the lace mills and the riots of 1842; the Pouletts, Lords of the Manor; and Chard in the two world wars.

 There are also displays on Chard's earlier history and prehistory, and local geology. And there are exhibits of Chard orgaisations and Chard clebrities - like the pioneers John Stringfollow, James Gillingham, and Corporal Vickery VC, and of course Margaret Bondfield, the first woman Cabinet Minister.



The Inventor of Powered Flight

John Stringfellow, local tool-maker, flew the world's first powered aeroplane, a ten-foot steam driven model, here in Chard in 1848. See his models, engines, tools and the fascinating story of this modest pioneer.

 

The Blacksmith

A complete local blacksmith's shop with forge, bellows, tools and photos of the forge in use. And a full carpenter's workshop and a wheelwright display. Outside there is a plumber's workshop, with leadworking tools and fittings.


Farm Machinery

Dening of Chard made farm machinery which was sold wordwide; apple-crusher , hay rake, seed drill, saw bench, and many others. Also see our collection of farm implements from a by-gone age, and farm waggons. There is also road making machinery, made by Phoenix Engineering, Chard's oldest existing firm.

Artificial Limbs

James Gillingham, a local Victorian shoemaker, pioneered artificial limbs. See the ingenious limbs he made, and the tools and patterns he used. He drew clients from all over Britain, as his 'before and after' photographs show.
Chard Lace

Chard was a 'mill town' from the 1820's. Three mills still remain, one (in South Chard) still working. See the 'bobbin-net' used for ladies fashions and curtains, and the complex machines which made it. Also pictures of a mill at work.



  • Other exhibits
    • costume gallery Granny's kitchen
    • Washday and the laundry
    • Cider making and the dairy
    • A local cobblerChard shops
    • A Victorian schoolroom
    • Puppets, toys and a dollshouse
    • 17th century needlework
    • Local churches
    • Crime and Punishment
    Old photographs and posters


    How to Find The Chard Museum


    Godworthy House, High Street, TA20 1QB



    Godworthy House, High Street is on the A30 300yds west of the town centre

      We are open Monday to Friday 10.30am to 4.30pm; Saturday 10.30am to 1pm. Not open Sundays.


    Telephone : 01460 65091


    Its Showtime
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    British Seaside
    Monmouth rebellionIn Memorium
    "I am James Scott, First Duke of Monmouth and the son of His Royal Majesty Charles II. All those who join me in my quest against the Catholic Usurper, James Duke of York, my father's brother and his murderer, will gain Royal favour when I take my rightful place as England’s Ruler."

     Duke of Monmouth Crowned King in Chard 1685

    In Memory of the People of Chard executed for following me:   Simon Cross, William Davy, James Dennett, Henry Earterbrook, Edward Foote, William Godfrey, Humphrey Hitchcock, John Jervis, John Knight, Abraham Pill, Edward Warren & William Williams.By courtesy of "hanging" Judge Jeffries.  Although Monmouth's rebellion was a disaster for many it will always be remembered amongst West Country people as a reason for some pride. Pride that when liberty was threatened the West County at least was prepared to fight against all odds for what they believed in.
    James
                            Scott Duke of Monmouth

    Monmouth's Progress
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    May Events from Heart Radio

    Saturday  1st - Charity fashion show at Dellers Wharf Nightclub in Taunton from 7pm - 10pm, with fashion for all shapes and sizes! Live music, goodie bags, a sparkling wine reception and fizzy cider supplied by the Orchard Pig Cider Company. Tickets £7.50 or £5.50 for students. Get tickets and more information at www.verymodelblog.com *OVER 18's ONLY*

    Saturday 1st - Cancer Research May Market at Wincanton Memorial Hall from 9.30am till 12noon. Plants and stalls with cakes and crafts. To book a stall call 01963 824874

    Saturday 1st - Gemini Tae Kwon-Do presents 24 Hour Charity Sparathon. Raising money for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Charity in aid of Elliot Davies. Starts 3pm, at Kings Fitness and Leisure, Station Road, Cheddar. For more information check out www.tkd-selfdefence.co.uk  




    Saturday 1st - Ange Hardy on Tour "Story In Song" at Corton Denham Village Hall, near Sherborne from 7.30pm till 9.30pm

    Sunday 2nd - The Glastonbury Road Run! Starts outside the Town Hall in Glastonbury. To find out more and to register go to www.glastonburyroadrun.inf

    Wednesday 5th - Saturday 15th - Taunton Art Group Annual Exhibition at Taunton Library 
    Art on the Block - Charity Auction 11th - 6.30pm Here's your chance to buy the very best quality Art at affordable prices and benefit Taunton Musgrove Park Hospital. The auction will be held at the Castle Hotel, Taunton.For tickets call (01823) 342 488. Tickets cost £10 Or visit www.artforlife.nhs.uk to bid online.
    Saturday 15th - Yarlington Specialist Plant Sale at Yarlington House. From 10am till 4pm. With plants, cakes, teas, and more.
    Saturday 15th - 4th Annual Antiques and Collectables Fair at Comton Dundon's village hall. With indoor stalls and outdoor pitches, including plant sales. Raising money for St Margaret's Somerset Hospice and Children's Hospice South West. From 9.30am till 3pm.
    Saturday 15th - Peter Donegan (son of Lonnie Donegan) fronts his dads original band to play a celebration of Donegan's music. At the Tacchi Morris Arts Centre. from 8pm 
    Saturday 15th - Ange hardy "Story In Song" at Tatworth Memorial Hall from 7.30pm till 9.30pm 
    Adult Learners Week 15th - 21st  From learning Pilates to gaining a PHD, Adult learners week celebrates learning in all it's diversity. Events will be taking place at various locations across Somerset. Call Sue Edwards on (01823) 347 952 Or visit www.southwest.org.uk
    Sunday 23rd - Conquest Family Fun Day at the Conquest Equestrian Centre, Norton Fizwarren from 11am till 5pm. With It's A Knockout, mounted police display, stalls, food and more 
    Donkey Day! 29th May - 11am-3.30pm Come along and groom donkey's from the Donkey Sanctuary. For meore information contact us on the details below. Call the Somerset Rural Life Museum on (01458) 831 197 Or visit www.somerset.gov.uk/museums
    Saturday 29th - Ange Hardy on Tour "Story In Song" at Fivehead Village Hall, near Taunton from 7.30pm till 9.30pm 
    National Family Week. 31st May - 5th June Free events will be taking place across Somerset including a week of activity in Taunton Town Centre. For more info call 0845 345 9177 or email jtollington@somerset.gov.uk
     

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    CHARD TOWN HISTORIC PLAQUE TRAIL

    Chard 2000 first promoted the idea of Plaques to identify buildings or sites of historic interest. Each plaque is produced in metal, oval shaped 500 x 280 mm with white lettering on blue background, by local company CERDIC FOUNDRIES, Beeching Close, Furnham Road, Chard.   The plaques indicate the site together with the Borough Seal and some brief historical notes. All plaques have been sponsored by local people, firms, organisations and businesses as listed below to whom Chard 200 are most grateful
    Howards
                          Way
    Start at Guildhall beneath Margaret Bondfield
    Margaret Bondfield
    Guildhall
    The Walk commences from the centre of Chard at the Guildhall, the town's main cultural centre, just down from Woolworth's at a building now occupied by Dolland & Aitcheson but previously occupied by the Bristol & West Building Society can be viewed
    Bristol & West
    1.Bristol & West Bristol & West
    Sponsored by Bristol & West - Unveiled 02/09/1995
    A hall in the centre of the street here was an Assize Court and Market House 1600-1834. Here too Lizzie Taff was sold in 1801 for half a crown by her husband,
    Return to the Guildhall- Left side facing can be viewed
    Town
                          Hall

    2.Chard Town Hall

    Town
                                Hall
    Sponsored by Chard Town Council- Unveiled 30/04/1993

    The Town Hall was built here in 1835 and held butchers shambles, prison cell and fire engine. The Corn Exchange at the rear was added in 1883
    Continue up Fore Street and the Cornhill to Bakers Dozen where two plaques can be viewed on the new building which replaced the original.
    William Hill

    3. Corn Hill

    Cornhill
    Sponsored by Chard & Ilminster News - Unveiled 18/02/2000

    The site of Thomas Young's printing business where the Chard & Ilminster News was founded in 1874

    Bakers Dozen

    4. Bakers Dozen

    Bakers Dozen
    Sponsored by Helmsted Society - Unveiled 08/06/1996

    Here in 1343 stood the Medieval Borough Chapel of Saint Francis. It became Town Hall after the Reformation. It was sold in 1834 as building material for £43
    Turn left into Holyrood Street passing the Baptist Church and then turn left along the pedestrian way just past Martin. Go past the back of the Lydl superore to Boden Street. Cross Boden Street and turn right. On the left a short way down you will come to the Boden Arts Centre.

    5. Boden Street Library

    Boden Library


    Retrace your steps along Boden Street and cross back behind the Lydl Superstore and on your left is the Holyrood Lace Mill
    Lace Mill

    6. Holyrood Lace Mill

    Lace
                                Mill
    Sponsored by Mr & Mrs D. Hill - Unveiled 28/02/1998

    Manufactured plain net from 1829-1964. The mill owner for many years was Col. J.W.Gifford (1856-1930), Astronomer and Pioneer in X-ray photography.
    Return to Holyrood Street and turn left. Continue past Mill Lane to end of street. Cross at junction with extreme care to Church Street and continue to Forton Road where you can view on boundary wall of Glebeland.
    Glebeland House

    7. Glebeland

    Glebeland
    Sponsored by Chard Toc H. Unveiled 30/10/1999

    Home of Dr. R.A.Fawcus for 50 years. Beloved Physician and Friend Freeman of Chard
    Cross the main road with Great Care and return to Holyrood Street with St. Mary's church on your left. At junction on bounday wall of Holyrood House you can see the very first Chard 2000 plaque

    8. Borough Boundary

    Borough Boundary
    Sponsored by Chard 2000 - Unveiled 14/04/1992

    Bishop Jocelyn marked a boundary of his new Borough here 'at the gate of our court' in 1235 to the south was Old Chard and the Manor.
    Continue past Manor Court School to Crowshute House to view-
    Crowshute House

    9 Crowshute House

    Crowshute House
    Sponsored by Mr & Mrs.T.Prior - Unveiled 06/11/1993

    Formerly Love's Furniture Emporium and later the Town's Fire Station. A small Quaker burial ground lay to the west.
    Continue along Crowshute Link passing Mitchell Gardens with Beacon financially supported by Chard 2000. Turn left into High Street and continue to no 121 which is site of

    Stringfellows House

    10. Stringfellow's House
    Stringfellows House
    John Stringfellow, local tool-maker, flew the world's first powered aeroplane lived here.
    Cross main A30 road (High Street) and turn right back down towards town centre. At the junction with Helliers Road on stone wall which formed boundary of the now demolished High Street School can ve viewed.

    11. High Street School
    High Street School
    Sponsored by Mr & Mrs J Brice- Unveiled 09/03/1994
    Site of the Non-Conformist British School built 1854 and enlarged by the school board 1870. A junior school 1925-1960. Margaret Bondfield was a pupil here.
    Return down High Street ( with a chance to visit Chard Museum) to the hamstone building where inside the porch can be viewed.
    Harveys Homes
    12. Harveys Homes
    Harvey's Homes
    Sponsored by Trustees of Harvey's - Unveiled 29/05/1997
    Richard Harvey merchant of Exeter. By his will dated 1663 left this property, rebuilt in 1842, for the use as a hospital for the residents of Chard, the place of his birth.
    Continue down High Street passing Choughs Inn on your left and turn into Coombe Street where on the front boundary wall of the imposing terrace can be viewed
    Hope
                          Terrace
    13. Hope Terrace
    Hope Terrace
    Sponsored by Mrs Liz Doherty - Unveiled 07/12/2002
    Local Philanthropists headed by Reverend John Gunn instigated the buildong of this terrace to relieve acute hardship caused by unemployment in the 1820's.
    Return to junction and continue down Fore Street past Manor Court, Phoenix Hotel, Co-Op Store and Essex House to Chard School. On this building can be viewed-
    Chard School

    14. Chard School

    Chard School
    Sponsored by Old Cerdics - Unveiled 08/03/2003

    John Symes owned this manor house in 1583. A School was founded in 1671, The Town Grammar School until 1890.
    To view the next plaque you will need to walk approximately half a mile. Over the pedestrian crossing to Furnham Road with the Church of the Good Shepherd pn your left. Continue down East Street, over Victoria Roundabout and turn left into Avishayes Road (opposite Tesco's), past fire station to Wilkins Close. The plaque is set in hamstone plinth on site of former Sunnylands home.
    Chard
                          Union
    15. Chard Union

    Sponsored by Mr & Mrs K Haines - Unveiled 19/07/1995
    Site of the Chard Workhouse built in 1837 for the relief of destitution under the 'poor lawact, 1834' here also wayfarers were lodged. Became Sunnylands E.P.H. in 1948, demolished 1974.
    You will need to retrace your steps back into the town with Catholic Church on left at East Street/Fore Street junction. Continue past Methodist Church to entrance of Holly Terrace where on a pillar you can view -
    Holly Terrace

    16. Holly Terrace

    Holly Terrace
    Sponsored by Mrs W Chubb - Unveiled 23/06/2001

    One of several Town 'Rows' was built in 1896 on land once owned by John Riste, founder of Chard's Lace Industry.
    Continue up Fore Street and you will be back where you started.
    Sights of Chard
    Some of The Sights of Chard
    You Will Pass
    on the Historic Plaque Trail

    More Sights of Chard

    Churches you pass on the Trail

    Catholic Church
    Catholic Church
    Martyrs
    Church of the Good Shepherd
    St.Mays
    St. Mary's Church
    Methodist Churc
    Methodist Church
    Baptist Church
    Baptist Church

    Lace Riot BenchThe Chard Lace Riot Audio Walk

    It's a Riot - In 1842 Chard was the Scene of the Famous Chard Lace Riot. Now YOU can join the rioters on The Chard Lace Riot Audio Walk. Simply go to the Tourist Office (Next to the Guildhall) and get the audio machine. Then you walk the three quarters of a mile round the 7 sites of the riots. (There is a resting bench at each site). Listen to A crowd of starving angry workers demanding their rights ........Civic Leaders in Panic.......Tension Mounting......... Call in The Cavalry.  History re-enacted & brought vividly to life.
     


      Chard Tourist Information Centre,
    Guildhall, Fore Street, TA20 Wessex
    Telephone : 01460 260051   email: chardtic@chard.gov.uk
    Monday to Friday 10-4 and Saturdays 10-1 all year round.

    Click here to contact us

    Chard has two twin towns. Helmstedt & Morangis.

    Helmstedt in Germany is near Brunswick in Lower Saxony. It has a population of 30,000. Website :  www.helmstedt.de

    Morangis is in France in the department of Essone It has a population of 10,000. Website :  www.morangis91.com

    Signpost to Twin
                              Towns

    Somerset Carnivals

     Carnival heritage wins £41,000 lottery grant

    11:00 - 15-July-2010

    The Carnivals In Somerset Promotion Project group has made a successful bid for Heritage Lottery funding to promote and conserve the history of the area's famous illuminated carnivals. A Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £41,000 has been secured to develop a range of facilities and key element will be a mobile exhibition unit, due to make its first appearance on Wells Cathedral Green on August 4. It will then be touring the county and elsewhere.The exhibition van will display the history, heritage, culture and community of the carnivals through images, video, text and memorabilia. The van also has a recording facility to collect oral histories and memories. Anyone with carnival memorabilia is invited to bring it along. A carnival DVD and educational package for schools is being prepared.

    The Carnivals in Somerset Promotion Project (CISPP), was formed by volunteers in January 2009, in response to concerns that the heritage of Somerset's illuminated carnivals could be lost unless more people are encouraged to take part in the tradition.The carnivals bring in an estimated £40 million of tourist and other revenue each year. Around 10,000 people are thought to be involved in carnival and there are more than 50 float clubs and another 100 or so other clubs who enter as walking groups or individuals.
    The origins of carnivals in Somerset can be traced back to the famous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators failed in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. King James I and his parliament decreed that the events of November 5 should be commemorated annually with the lighting of bonfires which led to a tradition of merrymaking out which the carnivals were born. The Bridgwater Carnival (the oldest event of its kind in the UK) can be traced back to 1847 through journalistic records.

    http://www.northsomersetcarnival.co.uk/contents/media/carnival%2001.jpg

    The Somerset Carnivals are highly regarded as the largest illuminated processions in the world.
    They occur late on in the year at various locations including: Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Ilminster, Glastonbury, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Taunton, Wellington, Wells,  Weston-Super-Mare, and Yeovil.


    The carnivals in Somerset date back to 400 years, and are one of the most spectacular events in Somerset today. In some of the bigger locations (such as Bridgwater), you can expect to see crowds of more than 120,000.


    The carnival floats (or carts as they are sometimes referred as), are designed and built by dedicated carnival clubs around the West Country.

    These carnival clubs have many members who raise money throughout the year, and work relentlessly to achieve the spectacular carnival entries. The carnival floats take part in the carnival parade along with other entries; these range from clowns dancing in the streets to 100ft illuminated carnival floats (some with up to 30,000 light bulbs) pulled by tractors.

    The timing of the West Country Carnival close to the British celebration of Bonfire night is no coincidence, as the roots of the original carnival in Bridgwater date back to 1605.  Guy Fawkes is the character most associated with the plot to blow up the Houses of Parliament, however the instigator was Jesuit priest Robert Parsons from Nether Stowey, a short distance from Bridgwater. Parsons and his colleagues were Catholics who wanted to put an end to the Protestant King James VI and Parliament of the day, in order to put an end to catholic persecution, hence they planned their ill-fated attempt on 5 November 1605. 

    Bonfire night is a major annual celebration across the whole of England, but it is likely that the reason that the West Country Carnival was originally so keenly celebrated is that the South West towns were predominantly Protestant — hence the celebration of Robert Parsons' (and Guy Fawkes') failure. The religious origins of the event are almost forgotten and far less significant today
    The Carnival Circuit
     The Bridgwater carnival was the first carnival of its type, however other carnival processions within the South West began some years ago. They start in late August and continue until late November. The oldest and largest circuit is the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association Circuit which starts at Bridgwater, with many of the carts will appear in all of the carnivals. Prizes are awarded in several categories for the best carts in each carnival.

    The three circuits are:
        * Wessex Grand Prix Circuit: Sturminster Newton, the third Thursday in August/weekend before Bank Holiday; Trowbridge; Mere; Frome; Shaftesbury; Gillingham; Castle Cary & Ansford; Wincanton; Warminster
        * South Somerset Federation Of Carnival Committee Circuit: Wellington held on the last Saturday in September; Ilminster; Chard; Taunton; Yeovil
        * Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association Circuit: Bridgwater on the Friday following the nearest Thursday to 5 November; North Petherton on the following Saturday; Burnham-on-Sea on the following Monday; Shepton Mallet on the following Wednesday; Wells on the following Friday; Glastonbury & Chilkwell on the following Saturday; Weston-super-Mare on the following Monday, the last carnival in the whole circuit. From 2012 this will change with Bridgwater on the first Saturday after 5 November, Weston-super-Mare on the following Friday, North Petherton on the second Saturday, Burnham-on-Sea on the following Monday, Shepton Mallet on the following Wednesday, Wells on the third Friday and Glastonbury on the third Saturday.
    http://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/resources/images/1065265/?type=gallery
    There is one unofficial carnival in the circuit, held at Midsomer Norton on the Thursday between the Shepton Mallet and Wells carnivals. There are also a series of unofficial Christmas carnivals, including Sidmouth.
    [edit] Carts and floats

    Uniquely in the West Country, the vehicles are called carnival "carts", unlike other carnivals where the term carnival float is used. The term "cart" is still used today to describe the large and elaborate trailers used in the procession. Carts are built by local clubs of individuals funded totally by charitable donations and sponsorship from local businesses.
    Carts are always themed, with no restriction on the theme from the organising committee. Regularly chosen themes include:

        * Popular children's books - like Alice in Wonderland
        * Favourite children's characters - such as Disney characters
        * Scenes or themes from history - like Pre-Historic, Victorian or famous Battles
        * Scenes or themes from around the world - such as Australia, Rio de Janeiro or Spanish
        * Travel and transport - such as cars or trains, e.g. The Chattanooga Choo-Choo
        * Popular themes of the day - including pop songs or dances
        * The future or exploration - such as space
    Carts include both music and costumed people to complete their theme. People and items on the cart can either be moving, or static in tableau format - the later being difficult to hold position for on a cold November evening.

    Today these carts are driven by farm tractors, and usually also tow a large diesel driven electricity generator to provide the huge amount of power required to power the carts. Some generators used can provide over one megawatt of power, with 10,000 to 30,000 light bulbs not uncommon on a modern day cart.[8] The tractors themselves are often decorated to match the rest of the cart and generator, and in some cases modified so that the driver is positioned low down between the two front wheels. This allows for a higher degree of decoration without obscuring the driver's view. The length of the entire cart is often built to the maximum allowable of 100 feet (30 m).

    These floats are also interspersed with walking exhibits, either groups or singles, and occasional marching bands or majorette troupes.

    Somerset
                                                  Carnivals
    The dates of the Somerset Carnivals 
    own(Click on Link)
    Date
    Picture
    Time
    Circuit
    Bridgwater   [route/map]
    The origins of our annual carnival in Bridgwater can be traced back to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 when Guy Fawkes and his fellow conspirators, failed in their attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. That story is well known to everyone, but what is not so widely acknowledged is that it was King James 1st and his parliament who decreed that the events of 5 November should be commemorated annually with the lighting of bonfires, a tradition which is celebrated across the nation to this very day.
    5th November (Fri) The image
                                        “http://www.fireworks.co.uk/images/squibbing/bridgewater_carnival.jpg”
                                        cannot be displayed, because it
                                        contains errors. 7:00pm Somerset County GFCA
    Burnham-on-Sea / Highbridge   [route/map]
    In the late 1800s and contininuing into the 1900s Burnham celebrated November 5th with a bonfire in the High Street to which were rolled blazing tar barrels. In about 1907/8 there were concerns about safety and it was decided to have the bonfire on a field and  a torchlight procession starting in the High Street and processing to the bonfire field. Thus in 1909 Burnham had its first Torchlight Carnival Procession. This format continued until the outbreak of World War One ,and the carnival did not return until 1923.It then continued as an evening carnival until 1939, when an afternoon procession was held. Festivities were cocooned until 1947 and the event grew in size and popularity to become one of the most popular carnivals in Essex.Afternoon events were held on the Mildmay Ironworks Field and there were madi gras type events in the High Street after the procession. In the 1950s a full Funfair was introduced into the High Street and this remained until 1966. There were problems in this year and the following year an small afternoon procession was organised .1967 saw an Evening procession back,now at the end of September and much curtailed from pre-1966. Subsequent committees have built that carnival up to what you now see today, with one of the most successful Carnivals in the South East of England.

    8th November (Mon) 'Wrath Of Neptune' from
                                        Masqueraders Carnival Club won
                                        the 2007 Burnham-On-Sea
                                        Carnival 7:30pm Somerset County GFCA
    Castle Cary
    The Castle Cary & Ansford Carnivals take place annually in October. Our Children’s Carnival usually takes place on the afternoon of the second Saturday, when children and parents process through Castle Cary town centre. The Illuminated Carnival takes places on the evening of the following Saturday.Around the time of the Illuminated Carnival, a fun fair is in town, and high street traders compete in a window-dressing competition. The Carnival Committee produces a 64-page Carnival Programme,on sale locally, which provides information about the Carnival, serves as a directory to the local businesses that advertise in it, and includes competitions. On our pages you will see line drawings that have appeared in our Programmes, drawn by Committee member Pam Pope. On the evening of the procession there are barbeques, hog roasts, and other hot food and drinks around the town.
    16th October (Sat) http://www.orchard-farm.co.uk/IMGP7463.JPG 7:30pm Wessex GP
    Chard
    (route/map)
    In 1967, representatives from the League of Friends and Chard Youth Centre met to discuss ways in which to raise money for the respective groups. Gerald Quick, Mervyn Ball, Tom Miller and Wendy Clulow decided that the best option would be to revive Chard Carnival, after a break of 13 years. The carnival is now in its 43rd year and has raised over £85,000 pounds for local charities and organisations, including Chard Christmas Lights, Children’s Hospice South West, Chard Hospital and all the local schools. In the early 1970’s, Chard, Ilminster, Wellington and Taunton formed the South Somerset Federation of Carnivals, with Yeovil joining at a later date. This provided a competition for the best entries from the 5 towns taking part.


    9th October (Sat) Carnival05 7:15pm South Somerset FC
    Crewkerne
    Sandra Shore, secretary of the now-disbanded committee, said: "It was felt that due to the current climate and the difficulty in fund raising, obtaining sponsorship, the cost of public-liability insurance and new rulings on health and safety, it would be impossible to commit to staging this event with the limited funds the committee had in reserve following the disastrous summer last year and the poor attendance of floats at the carnival in December




    Frome
    Carnival has been in Frome since 1929 having been founded by Mr Alan Bennett together with others who worked at that time for Butler and Tanners, a local printing firm who are still one of the main employers in the town. Frome carnival grew in popularity over the years and this was aided by the fact that Mr Bennets daughter Hazel met and married Mr Roy Butler M.B.E. he became known as "Mr Carnival" and was well known in the community for his dedication to the carnival charity which was formed to help local people in need.
    25th September (Sat)
    7:00pm Wessex GP
    Gillingham


    9th October (Sat) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2913898587_bfd7ecece5.jpg?v=0 7:30pm Wessex GP
    Glastonbury   [route/map]
    Glastonbury, with Bridgwater, is the biggest. At each carnival there are collections to raise money for charities.The Carnival takes over the town for one day, starting at around 7.30 in the evening. Thousands of people pour in from near and far, traffic is closed off, and the town reeks of hot dog stands and outdoor snack bars. People line the streets, all wrapped up against the cold, and the Carnival floats weave through town. It's quite a close-and-friendly affair. Apart from crowds in the streets, people hold parties in houses along the route and the pubs fill up after the event. Kids love it - there's a fairyland element to it, even though the high-volume music makes it a little, shall we say, modern!
    13th November (Sat) None 7.00pm Somerset County GFCA
    Ilminster
    This is the second Carnival in the Somerset circuit, Ilminster is a small market town South of Taunton.  Ilminster always have some good organisation and put on a well organised show with more entries than most towns. There are prizes for 1st, 2nd and third in their different classes, there is a cup for “Spirit of Carnival”
     It's a fun night out for all the family and you can help raise funds for charities or the clubs for the next year's entry. Thousands attend the carnival, so watch out as parking can get very limited on carnival nights and the town centre can often be cut off to traffic during the carnival.

    2nd October (Sat) Float at Ilminster
                                        carnival 7:15pm South Somerset FC
    Mere
    A popular annual event started in 1928 when Mere Carnival was founded.
    18th September (Sat) 7:00pm Wessex GP
    Midsomer Norton   [route/map]
    A very enjoyable Carnival which has been running since 1948
    11th November (Thur)

    http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/object2/1399/70/n112129545473735_1405.jpg

    7:15pm
    North Petherton   [route/map]

    North Petherton Guy Fawkes Carnival, was formed in 1948, and joined the Somerset County Guy Fawkes Carnival Association in 1952,and is regarded by many of our thousands of spectators, as the family carnival. This is due mainly to the fact that it held on a Saturday night, which allows the youngsters to stay up a little later than normal. The other reason is that is runs straight through the town of North Petherton, Somerset, with no awkward turns, causing unnecessary hold ups.  As with thousands of visitors converged into our small town emergencies will always happen and no amount of planning will not eliminatethis, please be patient as the emergency services will deal with theses as soon as possible, and allow the carnival to resume, if they need to be on the route.  North Petherton Guy Fawkes Carnival, offers ample viewing throughout the whole route, which allows even the youngest and eldest of our visitors, to watch this marvelous spectacle of light, sound and movement.  We do not charge for admission to one of the three, largest illuminated carnivals in the world, however a street collection will take place during the carnival itself, by numerous collectors and collecting vehicles, proceeds of which, go towards the running of the carnival, prize money and  finally the local  charities of which we support. We are always grateful for any amount we collect, however our collections have equated to only 30p a head. With over three hours of entertainment from the dedicated entrants and the cost for them to build these exquisite entries, we urge you to give at least  £3 per head from your group of friends or family, and secure the future of North Petherton Carnival for future generations, to marvel over.
    6th November (Sat) http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2044853940_70c83ed4fa.jpg?v=1195511091 7:00pm Somerset County GFCA
    Shaftesbury
    Shaftesbury Carnival is an annual event that has become part of Shaftesbury’s history. This year will be the 133rd Carnival, a great achievement that involves hundreds of people to make it such a great success. A lot of people give their time voluntarily including people driving Courtesy cars for our Mayor and retiring royal family, collecting vehicles who turn out year after year, the many marshals that walk miles back and forth, the owners of the land at our assembly areas, who are always most helpful and of course, our sponsors for their continued financial support, without which the Carnival could not survive. There are more too numerous to mention, so thank you, thank you, thank you all.
    2nd October (Sat) http://www.getusonline.co.uk/dorset/images/com_sobi2/clients/259_img.jpg 7:00pm Wessex GP
    Shepton Mallet   [route/map]
    The origins of Shepton Mallet’s carnival are some what unique. It all began because the town needed a community centre. In the early 1960s the Shepton Mallet Community Association was inaugurated to raise funds for the project.Organisations from across the town and surrounding villages pulled together and it was agreed that bringing carnival to Shepton Mallet was one way to draw in much needed funds.A Carnival committee was set up in 1965 and carnival came to Shepton Mallet. Over the following decades, thousands of pounds have been raised for local charities, unfortunately donations to the community centre fund were stopped when it was realised that for various reasons the centre would not be set up.Mr Bob Kerslake and Mrs Maura Kerslake were amongst the founder members with Mr Lionel Edwards as chairman an office he held for thirty years this he handed over to Don Clifford who remains as chairman at the present time. In the years that followed, from 1965 the sponsorship raised by the carnival queens and princesses has done much to cover the running costs, with street collections making up the balance to cover costs and make donations yearly to local clubs and charities.Over the years the carnival grew and in 1978 there were a record 151 entries. It was at this stage that the decision was made to no longer plough money into the community centre fund, there still being no visible progress on that project. In fact Shepton Mallet 30 years later still does not have a community hall.
    10th November (Wed) Mary Poppins 2008 7:30pm Somerset County GFCA
    Sturminster Newton

    EVENTS start on Sunday in the run-up to Sturminster Newton Carnival with a church service, a walk round Broad Oak, and skittles at the Bull. On Monday there is a jumble sale, on Tuesday a pet show and darts at the Royal British Legion, on Wednesday a quiz, and on Thursday the fun fair will open and the Dorset Doddlers carnival fun run will take place. Bingo on Friday, August 20, is followed by carnival day itself. Sir Thomas Tyldesley's Regiment of Foote will be at Durrant re-enacting the battles of the English Civil war. In the afternoon there will be children's fancy dress, and an evening parade celebrating the carnival's 60th anniversary. The day will end with a firework spectacular.
    21st August (Sat) http://www.sturminsternewtonrotary.co.uk/images/carn2008cap/carn011cap.png 7:15pm Wessex GP
    Taunton
    The Taunton Carnival is over a 1.5 mile long route and features stunning illuminated floats and walking entries with lights, glitz and glam.BUSINESS administration apprentice Lizzy Grigg was crowned Miss Taunton 2010 at a ceremony at Taunton’s Albemarle Centre. Lizzy will head the Taunton carnival parade in October.
    16th October (Sat) Miss Taunton 2010
                                        result 7:00pm South Somerset FC
    Trowbridge
    Come along to the town carnival. Leaves Canal Road at 7pm, and makes its way through the town centre before finishing at Cradle Bridge (by the library)
    Entry forms and a route map are available form our website or the town council offices at 10/12 Fore Street.

    23rd October (Sat) 7:00pm Wessex GP
    Warminster
    carnival floats, bands & Masqueraders - 6:45pm from Boreham Road

    30th October (Sat) Warminster Carnival 2006 7:00pm Wessex GP
    Wellington
     WELLINGTON Carnival, which was under threat because of a demand for £1,500 from the Performing Rights Society, has been given a reprieve following intervention by Taunton MP Jeremy Browne. The society wanted to claim the money under a new law. But carnival chairperson Josephine Chave was able to negotiate a substantial reduction after Mr Browne took up the cause. The carnival is set to go ahead as planned on September 25th
    25th September (Sat) Wellington Carnival 2006
                                        (Andy Jones) 7:30pm South Somerset FC
    Wells   [route/map]
    The Wells Carnival is a spectacle not to be missed. It is said be the biggest illuminated carnival in the world. These huge floats make their way slowly through the medieval streets intertwined with street performers with highly inventive and stunning costumes. As it is dark at this time of year the blaze of colourful lights, music, dancing and beautifully tailored costumes on these floats creates a unique and exciting atmosphere. The tableau floats usually depict a scene with all the performers in a fixed pose effectively creating a living picture.
    The carnival is Free to see and all these floats are created by enthusiasts who are raising money for Charity.
    The 2010 Wells carnival is scheduled to take place on Friday 12th November at 7.00pm and is a must see for anyone planning to come to the area.  There is also a fun fair in the market place.
    12th November (Fri) Wells Carnival (12th
                                        November 2010) 7:00pm Somerset County GFCA
    Weston-super-Mare   NEW ROUTE - [route/map]
    WESTON-SUPER-MARE ILLUMINATED CARNIVAL, A SPECTACLE OF LIGHT, MUSIC & COLOUR The earliest newspaper records concerning Weston super Mare November Carnival go back to 1871.  In those days it was usual for the Parade to start at the Knightstone Island and after wending its way through almost every street in the town, it dispersed on the beach, where bonfires were lit and effigies burned.  These were not only Guy Fawkes, but any unpopular figure of local disdain or even international infamy.This year approximately 100,000 spectators are expected to line the route around the town. There will be around 130 entries, of which 50 will be large illuminated floats up to 100 feet long and up to 17 feet high.
    15th November (Mon) 7:15pm Somerset County GFCA
    Wincanton (23rd October cancelled ?) Wincanton Carnival 2006
                                        (photo: Jo Merritt) 7:00pm Wessex GP
    Yeovil unknown


    List of carnival clubs
    The following is a list of major carnival clubs and their home town locations:

     

    Guy Fawkes, The
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    ATTRACTION

    PICTURE
    ADDRESS & CLICK
    Tel/Fax
     Chard (Cerdre, Cherdre, Cherde)
    was commercial in origin, being a trade centre near the Roman road to the west. There are two Roman villas in the parish. There was a British camp at Neroche in the neighbourhood. Chard is situated on the highest ground between the Bristol and English Channels, on the border of Devonshire, and was anciently spelt Cerde, or Cherde. - the royal house of Cerdic. Because of it's position being the highest ground it was strategically in the best position to defend and is more obviously "Camelot" than other such claimants. Today it is the southermost Market Town in Somerset. Market Day is Saturday.
    Guildhall

    Tourist Info

    Guildhall ,Fore Street,Chard,TA20 1PP  
     Email: chardtic@chard.gov.uk 
     Open: Easter - end October Monday - Friday 10am - 4.30pm, Saturday 10am - 1pm (all year)        November - Easter Monday - Friday 11am - 4pm
    CHARD CLICK
    Tel : 01460 65710
    BARLEYMOW FARM SHOP

    A new & exciting splendid farm shop with home reared meats, fresh fruit and veg, dairy produce, deli, preserves, cidery & wines, organic produce, gifts and crafts.

    Barleymow

    Snowdon Hill Farm,
    Chard, TA20
    Just half a mile west of Chard on the A30 towards Honiton

    BARLEYMOW FARM SHOP CLICK

    Tel : 01460 62130
    Fax : 01460 62132
    BARRINGTON COURT GARDENS (NATIONAL TRUST)
    Was laid out in the 1920s to designs by architects Forbes and Tate for the Lyle family who used basket-weave bick paths & fine masonary in walls & outhouses. In season produce is tended in the walled kitchen garden & used in the Strode House restaurant.
    Barrington Court Barrington, Nr Ilminster, Somerset
    BARRINGTON COURT CLICK
    Tel :01460 241938
    Fax : 01460 242614
    CHARD ANTIQUES FAIR
    This is held every Thursday in the Guildhall
    Guildhall ,
    Fore Street,
    Chard,TA20 1PP 

    CHARD CRICKET CLUB

    George Fields  TA20
    CHARD CRICKET CLUB CLICK
    01460 63829
    CHARD MAIN CARNIVAL 2008 is on OCTOBER 11th.

    Chard holds two magnificent carnivals each year. People flock to Chard for these carnivals.  Somerset Carnivals have been in existence for over 400 years & are considered as some of the finest in the world. See our  Wessex Index page for dates of other Wessex carnivals.
    Carnival05 A Circuit around Chard
    from 7.30pm


    CHARD HOCKEY CLUB
    Chard Hockey Club was established in 1907 it now runs 4 Men's & 3 Ladies sides.
    hockeyteam Pitch Holyrood School, Zembard Lane, Chard, Somerset TA20 1JL
    Email :chardhockeyclub@
    cornerview.co.uk

     CHARD HOCKEY CLUB CLICK
    tel:01460 62147
    CHARD MARKET
     is open every Saturday. It is centred round the newly renovated magnificent Guildhall.

    People come in from all over the area to buy local produce. Mouth-watering fresh local food can be bought including Bread, Cheeses, Fish, Fruit, Meat and Vegetables.Bargains in clothes, flowers, shoes, hardware, plants, videos, tapes, electrical goods and animal foods are also available. Get there early to get the bargains. There are also large multiple outlets of Tesco,  Lidl, Focus, Co-Operative, and Somerfield  open all hours here as well as many interesting shops to browse around.  These are listed in Chardnet's directory of businesses and trades. 

     Fore Street,Chard,TA20 1PP 

    CHARD NATURE RESERVOIR

    The reservoir provides an exciting opportunity to observe wildlife. Over 150 species of birds. A two mile marked walk is in this nature reserve.
    Chard Nature Reserve Oaklands Road,
    Chard

    CHARD RUGBY CLUB
    Chard Rugby Football Club was founded initially in 1876 and reformed after the Second World War. It is affiliated to both the Rugby Football Union and the Somerset RFU.
    The Park,
     Essex Close,
     TA20 1RH
     CHARD RUGBY CLUB CLICK
    tel :01460 62495
    CHARD TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
    SCREWFIX DIRECT WESTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION
    Dening Sports Fields,
    Zembard Lane,
    Chard TA20 1JL


     CHARD TOWN CLICK
    01460 61402
    THE COTLEY HUNT on Boxing Day ( December 26th)
    The Cotley Hunt sets out from the centre of Chard on Boxing day
    Cotley Hunt
    Meets outside the Phoenix Hotel
    Fore Street,
    Chard,
    TA20 1PH

     CRESTA LEISURE CENTRE & KINGFISHER SWIMMING POOL

    The Chard leisure centre, which saw champion Matthew Clay train there in his younger days, has continued to improve its facilities over the past four years, focusing more on fitness for the younger generation, and spending a massive £100,000 on refurbishment and new equipment. With fit and active clubs targeted at the eight to 15 age group, and GP referrals directed to the centre, the facility is key to the health and fitness of the people of Chard.With two squash courts, an indoor sports hall, swimming pool, fitness room, and a wide selection of activities to choose from, there is something on offer for everybody.Mr Patterson said: "We aim to get young people to enjoy sport. If they enjoy sport then the health benefits come naturally. Adults using the gym get to work out with a variety of age groups."

    Cresta Leisure  Holyrood Community School,
     Zembard Lane, TA20 1JL
    01460 64084

    CRICKET ST.THOMAS WILDLIFE PARK

    Enjoy a full day out in the scenic grounds & experience the thrill of seeing over 500 animals, some rare & endangered species, including a pair of Amur leopards.
    Wildlife Park

    Cricket St.Thomas, Nr Chard
    The Wildlife Park is located 3 miles east of Chard on the A30. Off junction 24 off the M5

    CRICKET ST.THOMAS WILDLIFE CLICK

    Tel :01460 30111

    FERNE ANIMAL SANCTUARY

    Visit the animal enclosures, Nature Trail, Picnic and Conservation areas. Tea Room & Gift Shop Opens March 24th - September 29th. Weds, Sat., Sun., & Bank Holidays 2.00-4.45pm
    URGENT SHREDDED PAPER REQUIRED FOR ANIMAL BEDDING. PLEASE DELIVER TO THE SANCTUARY OR OUR SHOPS IN EITHER BRIDPORT OR TAUNTON.  Our second and third shops were opened at 16 East Street, Bridport on 1st October 2012 and at 1 Crown Walk, Taunton on Monday 15th October 2012 by Freddy Ferne.
      Thay have both got off to a great start with many customers saying how much they like the layouts.
    Ferne Animal Sanctuary

    Wambrook, Nr Chard

    FERNE ANIMAL SANCTUARY CLICK 

    Tel :01460 65214

    FORDE ABBEY & GARDENS

    "One of the Top Ten Gardens in England" Maginficent 12th Century house, 30 acres of gardens, plant centre, gift shop, tea room, pottery exhibition, forge. Gardens open daily throughout the year 10.00-4.30. House open 1.00pm to 4.30pm on Tues to Fri,Sun & Bank hols. 26th March to end October.
    Forde Abbey & Gardens

    Nr Chard
    Signposted from A30 between Chard & Crewkerne and from the A358 between Chard & Axminster

    FORDE ABBEY CLICK

    Tel :01460 221290
    PERRYS CIDER WORKS
     Traditional cider mills with museum of farming bygones. Take a nostalgic look at old country life. Cider sampling in the farm shop.
    Perrys Cider Museum Dowlish Wake, Nr Ilminster, Somerset
    Set in an attractive village with a packhorse bridge. Follow the Cider Mill & Cart signs.
     PERRYS CIDER CLICK
    Tel :01460 52681
    Fax : 01460 54992
     PHOENIX FITNESS

    Phoenix fitness, now in it’s 7th year is a well established gym located in Chard, Somerset. The proprietor Simon Lunn has overseen the gym’s development from the out set.Phoenix Fitness was originally based at Millfield Industrial Estate (from 2001-2007) and has recently moved to a new larger premises which is located at Fore Street.The new gym is a purpose built gymnasium comprising of 2 floors, downstairs hosting a fitness suite, and a ladies only suite, Upstairs is host to fully equipped free weights gym, studio floor, changing rooms and showers all of which are fully air conditioned.
    Phoenix fitness caters for everyone from beginners to advanced, with male and female trainers on floor and always available.Phoenix fitness specialise in weight management, nutritional advice, rehabilitation, training support and motivation. We also cater for physiotherapy and chiropractic referrals.Personal trainers are on hand and are free.

    Phoenix
                        Fitness Fore Street, TA20
    next to Chard Ford
     PHOENIX FITNESS CLICK
    01460 64144
    SOMERSET JEWISH SOCIAL & CULTURAL GROUP

    We are a growing group. We've been together for about one year and there are approximately 30 people in the group -of all ages, singles, couples, and some with partners of other faiths. We vary in our levels of observance, but we all 'click' very well, and we love to welcome new members -I guarantee you'll have a great time! Our aim appears to be socialising, nosh and talks from group members.

    Somerset Jewish Social & Cultural
                          Group Contact : Jane Warner, 
     email
    janecarolewarner@hotmail.com
     Tel  No 01823 289085
    VIRGIN HOT AIR BALOONING
    lminster provides the perfect launch site for your Virgin hot air balloon ride in the countryside of south Somerset. This charming market town lies half way between Yeovil and Taunton, close to the A303, and takes its name from the 15th Century Minster church and the nearby River Ile. Well known for its striking architecture, Ilminster’s church is one of the most noticeable of all. Its perpendicular structural design and ornate stained glass make it a beautiful building which stands tall above the market squares medieval patterned streets. Described as Ileminstre meaning 'The church on the River Isle', the town is noted in the Doomsday book of 1086, although records of Ilminster date as far back as 725. What passes beneath your basket will depend on the wind. It may be south west to Herne Hill which offers extensive views over the charming market town and the Ile valley or north of the Minster Church lays a collection of mellow ham stone buildings known as Court Barton. This architectural album consists of the Chantry, Cross House and the old Grammar School founded in 1459. Flying from Ilminster and seeing Somerset form the sky guarantees you a truly memorable flight and a warm welcome in this beautiful and historic town.
    http://www.virginballoonflights.co.uk/gallery/full/002.jpg Ilminster launch site:-

    The Eagle Tavern
    Buckland St. Mary
    Chard
     TA20 3JE
    The Eagle Tavern can be found on the right hand side of the A303 after approximately 3.5 miles heading west from the Ilminster roundabout (where the A358 joins the A303).
    The pub can be seen clearly from both directions by the junction for Buckland St Mary.
    NB: Beware of the speed camera on the junction.
    VIRGIN HOT AIR BALOONING CLICK
    Phone
    01952 212750
    WINDWISTLE GOLF,SQUASH & COUNTRY CLUB
    Located in the beautiful Somerset countryside with outstanding elevated views in all directions. Windwhistle Golf Club extends a warm welcome to all.
    Windwistle Golf Club Cricket St.Thomas
    TA20 4DG
    WINDWISTLE GOLF CLUB CLICK
    01460 30231
    CREWKERNE
    crewkerne tc
                          arms
    An important town since before the Norman Conquest with many fine old buildings and a magnificent 15th century church.  A most attractive old stone-built country town set in the beautiful South Somerset hills, near the Dorset border and within easy reach of the coast. Thought it possesses modern industries, which contribute to the busy and lively atmosphere, these do not intrude on the old part of the town. Crewkerne is justly proud of its heritage, having its origins in Saxon times, over a thousand years ago. Discover its history in the Heritage Centre or explore its antiques and bookshops.Swim or workout in the new fitness suite at the Crewkerne Aqua Centre or visit Bincombe Beeches nature reserve.
    Crewkerne


    ART BENATTAR CRAFT
    Art and craft. Work from 100 artists in every media displayed in five rooms.  Cafe.
     
    31 Market Square, Crewkerne , TA18 7LP
    NO WEBSITE
    Tel:
    01460 77780

    CLAPTON MILL

    Historic watermill with a host of unique features including hydro generation. Tearoom, mill tours. Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 5pm.

     

    Clapton Mill
    Clapton, Crewkerne
    TA18 8PU
    CLAPTON MILL CLICK
    Tel: 01460 72142
    CREWKERNE AQUA CENTRE
    Crewkerne Aqua
                          Centre


    CREWKERNE MUSEUM
    Crewkerne has a long and interesting history - its status as a Saxon royal Mint, its importance as a stopping place for travellers, and its prosperity based on the textile industry. The ancient Roman hill fort of Ham Hill is a few miles distant, and the town's more important buildings were constructed of stone quarried from the hill. There were some well-known personalities associated with the town. Admiral Hardy was educated a few hundred yards from the museum, and sail cloth for his fleet, including the Victory, were manufactured in the town. Founded in 1988, the Museum illustrates these things, but equally shows how ordinary local people lived and worked at various periods. Some of the latest graphic techniques are used to enliven the displays. Many aspects of local history are explored - industries, commerce, religion, education and domestic life. Of particular interest is the display regarding the history of Bryants' Bakery, (new in 2008) the model of Admiral Hardy and the traditional kitchen. We hope children will enjoy the St. Bartholomew's Church puzzle, puzzles and weaving, the prisoner in his cell and the quiz. Changing displays of photographs and other items from our collection or on loan are on view in the exhibition room. An important activity in the museum is the ongoing conservation and storage of artefacts. Volunteers have carried out a complete audit of the museum collection. items are numbered, their condition and any marks noted, and probably most importantly their location recorded. With over 2000 items in the collection, it was fast becoming a headache to recall where everything was, and the items not currently needed for display are carefully re-packed.
     
    Crewkerne Museum
    Market Square,
    Crewkerne TA18 8AL
    CREWKERNE MUSEUM CLICK
    Tel: 01460 77079
    ILMINSTER




    BARRINGTON COURT GARDENS (NATIONAL TRUST)
    Was laid out in the 1920s to designs by architects Forbes and Tate for the Lyle family who used basket-weave bick paths & fine masonary in walls & outhouses. In season produce is tended in the walled kitchen garden & used in the Strode House restaurant.
    Barrington Court
                          Gardens Barrington, Nr Ilminster, Somerset
    Map
    BARRINGTON COURT CLICK
    Tel :01460 241938
    Fax : 01460 242614

    DILLINGTON HOUSE

    Dillington House hosts a number of taster days and residential courses including silk painting, photography, creative writing, family history, music appreciation, and many more.

     

    Dillington House
    Ilminster TA19 9DT
    Dillington House
    Tel: 01460 52427
    EAST LAMBROOK COUNTRY GARDEN
    This internationally famous Grade1 listed English Cottage Garden was designed by the late gardening icon, Margery Fish. Houses the National Collection of Geraniums.. The 17th century malthouse has homemade lunches, teas, art gallery & specialist plant sales.
    East Lambrook
                          Gardens Nr South Pemberton, Somerset
     EAST LAMBROOK CLICK
    Tel :01460 240328
    Fax : 01460 242344
    PERRYS CIDER WORKS
     Traditional cider mills with museum of farming bygones. Take a nostalgic look at old country life. Cider sampling in the farm shop.
    Perrys Cider
                          Works
    Dowlish Wake, Nr Ilminster, Somerset
    Set in an attractive village with a packhorse bridge. Follow the Cider Mill & Cart signs.
     PERRYS CIDER CLICK
    Tel :01460 52681
    Fax : 01460 54992





    TimeTeam at Whitestaunton Manor
    Whitestaunton Manor, near Chard, was the setting for a TimeTeam investigation carried out in 2003.
    The manor itself dates from the 16th century but some remains in its grounds were believed to be the site of a Roman bath house which might have been associated with a villa.
    Pond digging
    This pond in the grounds of Whitestaunton
    Manor  is close by, and above
    the level of, the excavations
    The site of the excavations was an overgrown muddy depression
     a few yards from the pond with a stream running nearby.
     The first task was to remove the vegetation, a task being carried out here by
    a man with an excavator and Phil Harding with a shovel.
    As usual, Stewart Ainsworth spent
     much time studying the landscape
    of the area for clues to
     its possible use in the past
    It didn’t take long for parts
    of the cleared area to reveal
    signs of building.
    Here Phil Harding is
     discussing the significance of
     what seemed to be a paved floor.
    The discussions soon
    attracted the
     interest of Tony Robinson a
    nd a cameraman.

    The general shape of the structure with several dividing walls and paved floors soon started to appear. The full extent of the floor can be seen on the right. The pools on the floor show the waterlogged nature of the site. Another view of the excavations. Some of the vegetation which originally covered the whole site is visible in the foreground. At the extreme right of the picture can be seen a small curved wall creating an apse-like shape. Traces of Roman tesserae were found here indicating it once had a mosaic floor. The plank walkways were essential for wheelbarrows and advisable for people.
    The mud was wet, deep and sticky.
    In another part of the gardens a team was busy making a small scale recreation of a Roman hypocaust. The heat from the fire travelled along the flue, under the floor of the hypocaust and up chimneys in what would have been the walls of the room.
    The chimneys are visible here as is a small area of mosaic which was laid on part of the floor to make it more realistic. Two of the diggers are testing the temperature of the floor. Within a few hours it was comfortably warm to walk on.
    At the end of the dig the team was able to confirm that the building had originally been a Roman bath house. However, the walls contained material apparently brought from other areas and documentary research suggested it had been rebuilt as an Edwardian ‘folly’ early in the 20th century by the owner at that time.

    The Time Team investigators suspected the original bath house would have been associated with a nearby villa but the location of that villa remains a mystery.

    Index Page
    Click for Wessex Index
      Click Here to Return to Chard Index
    RESTAURANTS IN THE CHARD AREA
    Tea for two Mr Miles, Taunton Never Mind The Calories
    Coffe Cup
                                    BeansWelcome to Mr Miles.
    Just opened in Taunton High Street. The world renowned coffee & tea merchants D.J.Miles of Porlock & Minehead have opened a magnificent new Coffee House and Tea Rooms. Is this Taunton's answer to Betty's of Harrogate?  After two days open there are queues waiting to get a table. How lovely to have the lovely aroma of coffee roasting. We are sure this will become a mecca for not only ladies who lunch but also the visitors and tourists to Taunton. Relaxed and sipping the wonderful array of coffees and teas- pinkies in the air. It is also a shop to buy tea, coffee, chocolate and an array of gifts.This is a traditional family business based in the heart of Somerset.  Their unique business is devoted to rare and mouth-watering  exclusive coffees and fine teas, now available to buy online.
     Mr Miles Tearooms, 3-4 High Street, Taunton, TA1 3PG Tel: 01823 322288  Email: info@djmiles.co.uk
    Bridgwater Tourist Guide Mendip Tourist Guide
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    Bridgwater Restaurants Chard Restaurants Cheddar Restaurants Dulverton Restaurants Dunster Restaurants Exmoor Restaurants
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    Taunton Restaurants Wells Restaurants Yeovil  Restaurants


    RESTAURANTS IN CHARD AREA
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Comment
    Union flag
      Restaurants in and near Chard +  "Bunters"
     For orgasmic gourmet click here  onto Restaurants with Michelin Stars in Wessex
     
     
     
     Click here to contact us
    Bath House 
    Restaurant
    Oriental Aroma Chinese

    Oriental Aroma
    Holyrood Street  Chard, TA20 2AH
    01460 67575
    01460 64106

    Chinese & Thai food & takeaway   A bustling Chinese & Thai restaurant. We have had varying reports ranging from excellant down to average. However all say staff were friendly and helpful.
    Bellplot House
    Restaurant
    High Street, Chard,   TA20 1QB
    01460 62600
    01460 62600
     bellplothouse
    hotel
    @talk21.com 
    No reports as always full when we tried to book a table
    Candlelight Inn
    Silly Steaks- Sunday Roasts & Salads- Light Luncheons
    Bishopwood  TA20 3RS 
    01460 234476 
     
     
    No reports
    Billy Bunter
    Chan's Chinese Restaurant
    Peking & Cantonese Cuisine
    Chan's Chinese
    Old Brewery House,
     21 High Street,
    Chard, TA20 1QF
    01460 261882


    Eat in or Take-Away
    New to Chard. Very tasty Chinese meal in pleasant ambience
    Dolphin Inn Pub 
    Fore Street, Chard,   TA20
    01460 63424


    No reports received
    Billy Bunter Billy Bunter Billy Bunter Billy Bunter
    The Gallery
    Art Gallery/ Restaurant

    A new and different restaurant in the centre of Chard. Behind "Hooked on Books" bookshop. Good Jazz and other evenings. Book early. David Barnes. the Chef< and John Hook will make you feel ats if you are enjoying a real gourmet meal in your own home. If you are in the area this is a rear not to be missed. Be sure to book first

    4 Hollyrood Street
    Chard,TA20 2AH
    01460 61010


     The meal was well cooked and presented well by the excellant hosts John Wood and David Barnes.
    The Haselbury Mill Ltd
    Mill House,
    Haselbury Plucknett,
    Crewkerne.
    Somerset.TA18 7NY. 
    01460 77095


    No reports
    Billy Bunter Billy Bunter Billy Bunter
    Hornsbury Mill
    Restaurant
    www.
    hornsburymill.co.uk
    Probably the most beautiful setting in the South West. A tranquil lakeside,river and garden location set in 14 acres. From a quiet pint to a 500 guest function.

    Eleighwater, Chard, TA20 3AQ
    01460 63317
    01460 63317
    info@
    hornsburymill.co.uk
      The atmosphere looking at the old mill wheel turning was as good as an excellant meal. The service was good and attentive.
    HR Select Cafe & Restaurant

    A lively coffee shop and licensed bar is at the heart of the cafe which also serves traditional English breakfasts, snacks and home-cooked european specialities. A separate seated restaurant area provides a more intimate setting for dinner.

    costabrava
    1-3 Fore Street  Chard, TA20 1PH 
    01460 66113 

    01460 66113 

     luis@
    hrselect
    solutions.
    co.uk

    Portuagese cuisine + Spanish Tapas & Pizzas. Also an hotel. Popular with local Portuagese workers
    Ips Palace
    Chinese Restaurant
     145 South St, Crewkerne, TA18 8AD
    01460 72385


    No reports
    Kempters Restaurant
    Lower Street,West Chinnock, Crewkerne, TA18 7PT
    01935 881768
    01935 881768

    No reports
    Billy Bunter
    Lordleaze Restaurant
     
    Forton Road, Chard,   TA20 2HW
    01460 61066
    01460 66468
    lordleaze@
    fsbdial.co.uk
      Our testers found the food very tasty and imaginative. Only they felt that their children were not very welcome.

    The Old Mexican Restaurant
    18a Lower Middle St
    Taunton
    Somerset
    TA1 1SH
    Tel: 01823 350291





    The Old Monmouth Restaurant
    12 Church St,
    Lyme Regis.
    Dorset. DT7 3BS. 
    01297 442456


    No reports
    Phoenix Hotel 
    Restaurant & Bar

     www.the- pheonixhotel
    .co.uk
    Weekend Roasts
    15 Fore Street, Chard,   TA20 1PH 
    01460 66444 
    01460 66692
    jenny@
    the-pheonix
    hotel.co.uk
    Typical Pub Meals
    Good value meals here. Especially Sunday Roast.
    Prince Of Bengal
    Indian Restaurant
    6 East Street, Crewkerne, TA18 7AB
    01460 271021


    No reports
      Rajpoot Tandori Balti House 

    12 Silver Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DJ
    01460 55150


    No reports received
    Chard Rani Indian
      Restaurant
    Chardrani
    3 High Street  Chard, TA20 1QF
    01460 68828


    Eat In or Take away.
    Get rid of that sickly green paint in the restaurant.
    Shrubbery Hotel  Restaurant
    www.shrubbery
    hotel.com

    Station Road
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AR
    01460 52108
    01460 53660
    stuart@shrubbery
    hotel.demon.co.uk
     
    No reports received
    Billy Bunter
    Gandhi Indian Restaurant
    Tandoori, Full Restaurant & Takeaway service. Fully Licensed. & Vegitarian Dishes

    38a Fore Street, Chard, TA20
    01460 61141


    Our Indian reporter was suitably impressed by the authentic and tasty cuisine. The restaurant is an old church which lacks a bit of atmosphere.
    Thatchers Licensed Restaurant
    Donyatt
    TA19 ORG
    01460 53210


    No reports received
    The George Hotel
     The current owner Frank Joyce, purchased the Hotel in 1994, and proudly continues the tradition whilst improving facilities to meet the requirements of the modern traveller.Our local chef makes all the home cooked food especially her mouth-watering sweets, using local produce where possible.
    George Hotel,
                          Crewkerne
     39 Market Square, Crewkerne, TA18 7LP
    01460 73650
     01460 72974
    georgecrewkerne
    @btconnect.com

    No reports received
    The George Hotel
    North Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DG
    01460 55515
         No reports received
    Tiger Chan
    1 Abbey St,
    Crewkerne.
    Somerset. TA18 7LF. 
    01460 72255


    No reports
    Warners
    Cricket St.Thomas Restaurant

    www.warnerholidays.
    co.uk

    Cricket St.Thomas Chard,TA20 4DB
    01460  30111
    01460 30817

    No reports received
    White Lion Carvery
     North St, Crewkerne, Haselbury Plucknett, TA18 7RJ
    01460 78873


    No reports received

    Bridgwater Tourist Guide Taunton Tourist Guide Yeovil Tourist Guide
    CAFE'S IN CHARD AREA
    Union flag

     
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Comments
    Cafes
     
     
     
     

    Bilbys
    Cafe & Takeaway
    Sandwich Bar

    Stringfellows Gallery, Holyrood Street, TA20
    01460 66488
       
    *
    In a hurry ? Phone your order  by 11am and Bilbys will have it waiting for you. Unfortunately Bilby's meals are limited as cooking is not allowed on the premises so hot meals are madfe elsewhere & just heated .
    Burger King
    A303 Southfields Roundabout
    Horton Cross
    Ilminster
    01460 54699



    Cafe Girasol
    Cafe & Delicatessen
    www.mcaholdings.
    com.uk

    17 Fore Street
    Chard, TA20 1PP
    01460 68173
    0207 976 4320
    rdacosta@
    mcaholdings.com.uk
    Part of MCA services holdings ltd- other cafe Mocas in London's West End & St.Johns Wood
    Carolyn's Coffee Shop, Crewkerne.
    9 The George Shopping Centre,
    Crewkerne.
    Somerset.
    TA18 7LU. 
    01460 76965



     Hillside Cafe
    Ham Hill, Combe St.Nicholas,
    TA20
    01460 234467 
     
     
     
    Hurle House
    www.hurlehouse.co.uk
    /restaurant.htm

      9 West Street, Crewkerne, 
    TA18 8AX 
     01460 74860
    01460 74860
     jeff@
    hurlehouse.co.uk

    Julia's Café
    4a Ditton Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 OBQ
    01460 52231



     Mad Monkey Cafe
    12a Millfield, TA20 
    01460  68484 
     
     
    Meeting House 
    www.
    meetinghouse.
    co.uk
    East Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0AN
    01460 55783
     
    info@
    meeting
    house.co.uk 

    Minstrels
    Coffee Shop

    14 Silver Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DJ
    01460 57050

    steve@minstrels
    coffeeshop.
    fsnet.co.uk

    Mollies
    9 East St,
    Ilminster.
    Somerset.
    TA19 0AJ. 
    01460 55115



    Secret
    Garden Cafe 

    19 Holyrood Street  TA20
    01460 61864
       
    ***
    All food freshly prepared and cooked to order. Weekend roasts
    You may have to wait a while but is is worth it.
    Welcome Bap

    9 Holyrood Street, TA20
    01460 64447




    FISH & CHIP SHOPS
    Union flag

    Business
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Fish & Chip Shops
     
     
     
     
    Golden Ocean
    19 West Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AA
    01460 53431


     Lucky Fish Bar

     21 High Street
    Chard, TA20
    01460 68228 
     
     
    Vincents Fish Bar
    32 Ditton Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0BQ
    01460 52875


    Webbers
    Victoria Avenue
    Chard, TA20
    01460 63693

     
    West Street Fish & Chip Shop
    6 West Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AA
    01460 52743


    Whites Fish & Chip Shop 
    Eat In or Takeaway

    Boden Street Chard, TA20
     01460 63150



    TAKE-AWAYS
    Union flag

    Business
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Food Take-away
     
     
     
     
    BFC Chicken

    19 High Street  TA20
    01460 67198

     
    Bonners The Butchers
    For a quick lunch why not try one of our famous sandwiches, baguettes or granary rolls, fresh every day
    37 Silver Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DW
    01460 52465
    01460 52465
    capsbonner@msn.com
     Boss Hogs
    Free delivery  ( min order :£4.95) pizzas,jacket potatoes, Burgers, Baps,  Soft drinks & Gateaux.
     www.bosshogspizza.co.uk


     6 Willoughby Place,Millfield,TA20
     01460 66767
     
     
     Mayflower Chinese 

    5 High Street  TA20 
     01460 68008
     
     
    Punar Kebab

    19 High Street  TA20
    01460 67198
       
    Raj Poot
    12 Millfield Industrial Estate,
    TA20
    01460 66776


     Chard Rani Indian
    chardrani
    3 High Street  TA20 1QF
    01460 68828

     
    Sara's Dairy
    Takeaway sandwiches, made to order (both hot and cold) with a help yourself salad bar.
    5 Silver Street
    Ilminster
    01460 52502
    01460 52629


    PUBLIC HOUSES
    Business
    Union flag
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Public Houses 
     
     
     
     
    Bell & Crown Inn
    Good Food
    Good Beer
    Good Company
     Combe Street , Chard, TA20 1JP
     01460 62470 
     
     
    The Bell at Winsham
    A good village pub offering 4 real ales and fine wines in a traditional Cosy atmosphere
    Winsham, Chard,TA20
    01460 30677


    The Bell Inn
    www.the-bell-inn-
    broadway.com
    Steaks,chops, Sunday lunches- music nights.
    Broadway
    TA19 9RG
    01460 52343
    01460 52343
    gknight55@
    hotmail.com
    The Bell Inn
    High Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AW
    01460 52538


    Candlelight Inn
    Silly Steaks- Sunday Roasts & Salads- Light Luncheons
    Bishopwood  TA20 3RS 
    01460 234476 
     
     
    Chough's 
    Pub

    High Street, Chard,  TA20
    01460 63266


    The Crown Inn
    West Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AB
    01460 52782


    The Dolphin

    22 Silver Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DR
    01460 57904


    Dolphin Inn Pub 

    Fore Street, Chard,   TA20
    01460 63424


    The Duke of York
    North Street
    Shepton Beauchamp
    TA19 0LW
    01460 240314


    Eagle Tavern 
    Buckland St Mary,  Chard,  TA203JE
     01460234292


    The Five Dials Inn
    Goose Lane
    Horton
    TA19 9QQ
    01460 55359


    The Furnham Inn
    Furnham Road,
    Chard, TA20
    01460 62415


    The George Hotel
    North Street
    Ilminster
    TA19 0DG
    01460 55515


    The George Inn
    Come & relax in our snug restaurant
    Chardstock, TA20
    01460 220241
       
    The George Inn
    Chard Road
    Donyatt
    TA19 0RW
    01460 52849


    Golden Fleece
    Perry Street, Nr Tatworth, TA20
    01460 220285


    Billy Bunter Happy Return
    Food is served Monday-Sunday 12.00pm-2.00pm & 7.00pm-9.30pm Average cost of a main course is between £5 & £10. here is a non smoking section of the dining area. Credit Card payments are accepted.  
    Winner of Pie of the Century in 1996. A must for pie lovers
     East Street , Chard  TA201EP 
    0146063152
    01460
    63152

    Haymaker Inn 
     Wadeford, Chard,  TA20
     01460 64161
     01460 64395
     
    Kings Head 
    Church Street, Chard,  TA20 
    01460 63200 
     
     
    Lord Poulett Arms
    Food is served Tuesday-Saturday 12.00pm-2.00pm & 7.00pm-9.00pm
    Sunday 12.00pm-2.00pm
    Average cost of a main course is between £5 & £10
    Credit Card payments are accepted




    High St, Hinton St George Nr Crewkerne TA17 8SE




    01460 73149



    The Lord Nelson Inn
    120 Station Road
    Ilminster
    TA19 9BL
    01460 52532


    New Farm Restaurant
    Over Stratton
    South Petherton
    TA13 5LQ
    01460 240584
     
    newfarm@
    supanet.com
    More Details New Inn
    Food is served Monday-Saturday 12.00pm-2.30pm & 6.30pm-9.30pm
    Sunday 12.00pm-2.30pm
    Average cost of a main course is between £5 & £10. Credit Card payments are accepted


    Dowlish Wake, Ilminster TA19 ONZ



    01460 52413



    The Old Barn Owl Inn
    www.theoldbarn
    owl.co.uk
    A country inn where you can relax & enjoy good food & fine wine in convivial company

    Westport
    Ilminster
    TA10 0BH
    01460 281391
    01460 281995
    birdmen2@aol.com
    Poppe Inn
     Just south of Chard, on the A358 Axminster road, you will come to The Poppe Inne on the right. This is a delightful old 15th century inn built in 1485 and is one of the oldest public houses in Somerset. It has a fine old skittle alley and lots of character.

      South Chard TA20 
     01460 220260 
     
     

    The Railway Tavern

    Railway Tavern
    South St, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 8AE




    01460 73270



    Royal Oak
    Barrington
    TA19 0JB
    01460 53455
       
    Royal Oak Inn
    The Cross
    Ilminster
    TA19 0EH
    01460 55657


    Ship Inn
    Furnham Road, Chard,   TA20
    01460 65485 
       
    Square & Compass
    Situated between Taunton and Ilminster, and within easy reach of both.Situated between Taunton and Ilminster, and within easy reach of both.The pub is a well-known destination for those seeking home cooked food and employs fully
    qualified chefs with an emphasis on quality in  a very relaxed atmosphere.

    www.squareandcompasspub.com/
    Square & Compass Inn
    Windmill Hill

    Ashill
    TA19 9NX
    01823 480467


    Squirrel Inn
    Laymore Nr Winsham, Chard, TA20 4NT
     01460 30298 


    Stagecoach Inn
    www.stagecoach
    -inn.co.uk/

    Station Road 
    Crewkerne 
    TA18 8AL 
     01460-72972 




     

     01460-77023 
     info@
    stagecoach-
    inn.co.uk
    The Swan Inn
    Swan Inn
    4 Church Street, Crewkerne, Somerset, TA18 7HR



    01460 74198



    Volunteer Inn

    A 200 year old pub, serving food 7 days a week from traditional to continental. Cask marquee approved real ales, B&B two en-suite rooms. Beer garden. Just off the main A303 trunk road near South Petherton and Ilminster. Ideal for the Jurassic Coast.
    volunteer Inn
    New Road, Seavington St.Michael

    TA19 0QE
    01460 240126

     info@thevolly.co.uk
    White Horse Inn

    9 Bay Hill
    Ilminster
    TA19 0AT
    01460 54616
    01460 259091
    twjewilliamson
    @supanet.com
    Billy
                                        Bunter
     Windwhistle Inn
    Tasty weekend carvery and a la carte restaurant. Inside and Outside.
    Food is served Monday-Saturday
    11.00-2.00 & 7.00-10.00
    Sunday 12.00-10.00  .Book a table in advance.
    Children are welcome if dining under responsible adult supervision. There is a childrens menu
    On A30 between Chard & Crewkerne
    There is Disabled access and toilet facilities

    Windwhistle Inn 
     Cricket St Thomas,

    Chard , TA204DQ
      0146030229

    A must for Sunday lunch - We have had many good reports about this restaurant.
    Wyndham Arms
    Ilton
    TA19 9EY
    01460 52164



    HOTELS IN CHARD AREA



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    Rip Van Winkle slept for 100 years. Now that needs a comfortable bed and the right atmosphere. So now we are awarding Rips for Hotels, Guest Houses and Bed & Breakfasts who give outstanding comfort for their guests.














































































































































































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    Union flag

    Business
    Pictures
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Hotels
    Stay inThe Ancient Capital of Wessex
    Chard , Crewkerne & Ilminster 
     
     
    rip
    Rips
     
    Bath House 
    Hotel & Restaurant
    A lovely Chinese restaurant with comfotable rooms
    www.s-h-systems.co.uk/hotels/bathhse.html 
     Holyrood Street, Chard,
     TA20 2AH
     01460 67575
     01460 64106 
     
    Bellplot House Hotel

    WWW   MAP  
    BOOK ONLINE
    Beautiful Grade II listed Georgian townhouse. Only Hotel in the centre of Chard with own private carpark & WIFI. Relax & enjoy elegant surroundings, friendly service, AA Rosette food, award winning Breakfasts 'Taste of the West'
    High Street, Chard,
     TA20 1QB
    01460 62600
     01460 62600
    rip
     

    info@
    bellplothouse.co.uk
    Warners
    Cricket St.Thomas Hotel
    WWW   MAP
     BOOK ONLINE
    Cricket St Thomas is a splendid example of 18th century architecture. This Grade II listed building is set among the scenic and tranquil countryside of Somerset.
    Cricket St.Thomas,
    Chard,
    TA20 4DB
     01460  30111
    bookings: 0870 601 6012
     01460 30817
      rip
    Dolphin Inn
     A friendly pub with reasonable accomodation in the centre of Chard
    Fore Street,
    Chard,  TA20 
    01460 63424 
     
     
    George Hotel
    A famous coaching inn with an intresting history. Quality and frindly service, well furnished rooms and home cooked food. Special breaks available all year. All major credit cards accepted.
    Market Square Crewkerne  TA18 7LP  
    01460 73650

    01460 72974

    Hornsbury Mill
    Welcome to Hornsbury Mill, a charming 19th Century watermill set deep in the heart of Somerset, where contemporary capability blends effortlessly with tradition. Five acres of beautiful informally landscaped water gardens form the perfect backdrop to the delightful Mill.
    www.hornsburymill.co.uk
    Eleighwater,
    Chard,
    TA20 3AQ
    01460 63317
    01460 63317
    info@
    hornsburymill.co.uk
    HR Select Hotel
    A Friendly Hotel in the centre of Chard run by a delightful Portugese family. You don't have to go to the Algarve to sample Portugese hospitality. Continental cuisine
    www.hrselectsolutions.co.uk
     1-3 Fore Street ,
    Chard,
    TA20 1PH 
    01460 66113 
     01460 66113
     luis@
    hrselect
    solutions.
    co.uk
    Lordleaze Hotel
    WWW   MAP  
    BOOK ONLINE
    The Lordleaze Hotel is a delightfully converted 18th century farmhouse set in rural surroundings. The secluded surroundings of Lordleaze Hotel is a perfect location for those seeking peace and tranquility.
    www.lordleazehotel.co.uk
      Forton Road ,
    Chard,
    TA20 2HW 
     01460 61066 
    01460 66468 
    rip
     lordleaze@
    fsbdial.co.uk
    The Manor Arms
    WWW   MAP  
    BOOK ONLINE
    The Manor Arms has been lovingly restored, retaining much of its old world character. The Manor Arms is renowned for its excellent cuisine, comfort and ambience.

    North Perrott, Crewkerne, 
    TA18 7SG
     01460 72901

    rip
    Phoenix Hotel 
    Large family run public house/Hotel in Chard Town centre. Value for money home made food available 10am - 8.30pm every day. Large main bar with live music every Thursday and some Friday nights. Victorian Ballroom now housing a state of the art Disco on friday and saturday nights, complete with laser show

    15 Fore Street,
    Chard,
    TA20 1PH 
    01460 66444 
      01460 66692
    jenny@
    the-phoenix
    hotel.co.uk
    Shrubbery Hotel
    WWW   MAP  
    BOOK ONLINE

    The Best Western Shrubbery hotel in South Somersetis an elegant Victorian hotel owned and run by the Shepherd family for over 40 years. The building with many fascinating feactures stands in over 2 acres of lawns and shrubberies and a 25 metre outdoor heated pool.
    www.shrubberyhotel.com
    Station Road
    Ilminster
    TA19 9AR
    01460 52108
    01460 53660
    stuart@
    shrubbery
    hotel.
    demon.co.uk 
    Travelodge
    In addition to our standard facilities, this hotel features:
        Little Chef   &     Burger King
    A303 Southfields Roundabout
    Horton Cross
    Ilminster
    TA19 9PT
    01460 53748
    01460 53748

    Bridgwater Tourist Guide Taunton Tourist Guide Yeovil Tourist Guide
    GUEST HOUSES IN THE CHARD AREA
    Business
    Picture
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    Union flag

    Guest Houses and B&Bs
    Stay inThe Ancient
     Capital of Wessex
     
     
     
     
    Ammonite Lodge 
    & Tea Rooms
    Come and enjoy 300 years of ambience and character at our Grade II listed guest house. Awarded Four Stars under VisitBritain National Quality Assurance Standard we are able to offer guests a very high standard of accommodation and cleanliness. Allison and David look forward to being able to welcome you to our lovely home making your stay both comfortable and enjoyable.
    rip

     43 High Street  TA20 1QL
    01460 63839 
     
      info@
    At Home @ 
    Glebelands
    "A home from home"
    Vegetarians Welcome
    Non- Smoking
    rip
    1 Forton Road,
    TA20 2HJ
    01460 62028

    wizoz@
    onetel.net.uk
    Barns Owl Cottage

    Chardstock
    EX13 7BY
     01460 220475 
       
    Beaconhill Cottage

      Chardstock 
    EX13 7LB
    01460 220065 
    01460 220065
     katrina_felgate
    @btinternet.com
    Bere Farm

    Pets Welcome!

    rip

     Bere Farm Winsham TA20
    01460 30207
     
    John@berefarm.
    freeserve.co.uk
    Berryfields 

    6 Forton  TA20 
     01460 68894 
       
    Crawley Farm
     
    rip

    Crawley Farm, Yarcombe,
    Honiton, 
    Devon EX14 9AY
    01460 64760

     
    Green Dragon
     
    Combe St Nicholas,
    TA20 3NG
    01460 63311
     
    heltrev@AOL.com
    The Firs

    www.4tourism.com/uk/
    chard.html
    #01460234226
    Crewkerne Road, Cricket St Thomas,  TA20 4BU
     01460 65646
     01460 65646

    Harvey

    22 Ashfield, 
    Forton Road,  TA20 2HP


     
    Hawthorne House

    rip

    Bishopswood,  TA20 3RS
    01460 234482
    01460 234482
    roger-sarah@
    supmnet.com
    Haymaker
     
     Wadeford,  TA20 3AP
    01460 64161


    Higher Beetham Farm
    (No children)

     Whitestaunton TA20 
     01460 234460 
    01460 234450
     
    Hillcrest Farm

      Eleighwater TA20
    01460 65515
       
    Hillside 

    www.theaa.co.uk/
    region8 /103591.html
    Buckland St.Mary TA20 3TQ
     01460 234599 
     
     royandmarge@
    hillsidesm.
    freeserve.co.uk
    Home Farm

    Hornsby Hill  TA20 3DB
    01460 63731 
       
    Howley Tavern

     Howley, TA20 3NG
    01460 62157


    Keymer Cottage
    (No children)

    www.4tourism.com/uk/
    hotels/ keymer.html
     Buckland St.Mary TA20 3JF
    01460 234226
     
     
    Leigh House
    Self-catering

    rip

     Winsham TA20
    01460 30318
    01460 30798
     
    Manor Farm
     
    rip

     Dunsham Lane, Wayford, Nr Crewkerne, TA18 8QL
    01460 78865 
     01460 78865 
     
    The Lord Poulett Arms


         Hinton St. George, 
      Near Crewkerne, 
       Somerset, TA17 8SE
    01460 73149
    01460 73149
    lordpoulett
    @aol.com
    Pulleys Barn
    Self catering barn 
    accommodation.
     
    Higher Wambrook,  TA20 3DF
     01460 62583
     
    Tudor House,
    Doss House,

    Groups Welcome
     in Stable Area

    Group holidays

    16b High Street,TA20 1QB




    wessexshitstirrer@
    excite.com

    Wambrook Farm

    www.4tourism.com
    /uk/
    chard.html
    #01460234226
    Wambrook Farm Wambrook TA20 3DF 
     01460 62371

    warnbrookfarm@
    aol.com
    Watermead Guest House
     

    83 High Street  TA20 1QT 
    01460 62834 
     01460 67448
    trudy@
    watermead
    guesthouse
    .co.uk
    Woodview

    Woodview Wambrook TA20
    01460 65368 


    Yew Tree Cottage 

    rip

     Hornsbury Hill  TA20 3DB
    01460 64735 
    01460 66163

    CAMPING IN THE CHARD AREA
    Business
    Address
    Tel No
    Fax
    Email
    CAMPING SITES & CARAVAN PARKS
     Near Chard
     
     
     
     Alpine Group Touring Park
    www.alpinegroup
    touringpark.com
    Alpine Grove
    Forton. TA20 4HD 
    01460 63479 
    01460 239187 
    stay@
    alpinegrove
    touringpark.com
     South Somerset Holiday Park

    Turnpike Cravan Site, Howley, TA20 
    01460 62221 
     
    01460 66246
     

    Somerset apple

    LOCAL TRANSPORT . ALL ROADS LEAD TO CHARD.
    Trains, Planes, Ships, Taxis, Car Rental, Coaches, & Buses
    Wessex Tourist Board

     To plan your journey by car or public transport click on to the Door-to-Door Journey Planner
    Road planner
    Tickets are also available from: Chard Tourist Information Centre,
    Guildhall ,Fore Street,Chard,TA20 1PP Telephone : 01460 65710 
    Email: chardtic@chard.gov.uk Website: www.chard.gov.uk


     
    Transport 
    click on blue to visit the sites
    Conveyance
    Address Telephone
    email
    A-B Travel Taxis
    Taxi
    Dale Farm, 8-12 Silver Street,Chard,TA20
    Tel : 01460 63033

    B & W Taxis
    Taxi
    62 Beeching Close,
    Chard, TA20
    Tel : 01460 68400 or
    01460 66680
     
    berrys
    for London , Yeovil & Taunton.
    from Ilminster
    www.berrys
    coaches.co.uk
    berrys
    Cornishway West, New Wellington Road, Taunton, TA1 5NA
    Ilminster is 5 miles from Chard
    Tel : 01823 331356
    Fax : 01823 331356
    info@berryscoaches.co.uk
    Bristol
                                      Airport
    Bristol International
    Airport
    www.bristol
    airport.co.uk
    airport
    FROM NORTH M5  Leave the M5 at junction 18 (signposted A4 Bristol & Airport). Take  the A4 towards Bristol following signs  for the airport. Go past Bristol City Football ground and connect with the A38 towards Taunton, the airport is  situated 8 miles South of Bristol on the A38.
      Bristol is 56 miles from Chard
    Tel : 0870 121 2747
    FROM SOUTH M5  Leave the M5 at Junction 22, at  roundabout take 3rd exit signposted  A38. At East Brent roundabout joining  the A370 take 2nd exit signposted A38 & airport. Continue on this road for approx 11 miles, airport is on the  left.
    British
                                      Ferries
    Poole to Cherbourg
    Plymouth to Roscoff & Santander
    www.brittany-
    ferries.co.uk
    Brittany
                                      Ferries
     Poole is 55 miles from Chard
    Plymouth is 76 miles from Chard
    Tel : 08705 360 360

    Condor
     Weymouth to St.Malo & Channel Islands
    www.condor
    ferries.co.uk
    Ferry
    Ferry Terminal, The Quay, Weymouth, Dorset

    Weymouth is 37 miles from Chard

    Tel : 0845 345 2000

    Exeter
                                      Airport
    www.eclipse.co.uk/
    exeterair
    Airport
    Exeter International Airport is situated off the A30, five miles from the City of Exeter. From the M5 motorway junction 29, travel 1 mile eastbound on the A30.  Exeter is 33 miles from Chard.
    Tel : 01392 367433

    1st Choice
    Car & Van Rental
    Trucks
    Motocross House, Mill Lane,
    Chard, TA20
    Tel : 01460 67000

    fgw
    Taunton Station
    Paddington(London)  to Plymouth Line
    www.firstgreat
    western.co.uk
    Trains
    Po.Box 313,
    Plymouth,
    PL4 6YD

    Taunton is 13 miles from Chard

    Tel Bookings:
    08457 000 125
    Tel : Enquiries: 
    08457 48 49 50
    Fax : 0845 600 8363
    customer.relations@
    firstgroup.com
    Buses
    First Southern National
     Bus Company
    run buses in Somerset and Dorset
    www.firstsouthern
    national.
    co.uk
    berrys
    Taunton Bus Station
    Tower Street, Taunton
    Tel : 01823 272033  
    Kings Taxis
    Taxi
    Beechings Close, Chard,
    TA20
    Tel : 01460 63743
     
    National ExpressCoaches to Taunton 
    or Yeovil
    www.gobycoach.com
    berrys
    4 Vicarage Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3ES 
    Taunton is 13 miles from Chard
    Yeovil is 20 miles from Chard
    Tel : 0870 580 8080
     
    National
                                      rail
    National Rail Enquiries
    Trains
     
    Tel : 08457 48 49 50
     
    South West
                                      Trains
    to Crewkerne
    Waterloo(London)
    to Exeter Line
    www.southwest
    trains.co.uk
    Trains
    Overline House,Blechynden Terrace,Southampton,
    SO15 1GW
    Crewkerne is 7 miles from Chard
    Customer services Centre
    tel:0845 6000 650 or 0845 6050 441
    Fax : 023 8072 8187 
    customerrelations@
    swtrains.co.uk
    Trainline
    Trainline
    LOCAL BUS SERVICES TO & FROM CHARD.
    Bold destinations offer access to express coach or train services.
    Click on a place name for details of how to get there by local bus:
        Ashill
     Axminster
     Bishopwood
     Broadway
     Buckland St Mary
     Cannonsgrove
     Chard
     Churchinford
     Clapton
     Bridgwater, College
     Combe St Nicholas
     Coombe
     Corfe
     Corscombe
     Crewkerne
     Cricket St Thomas
     Dorchester
     Drimpton
     East Chinnock
     Forde Abbey
     Forton
     Frampton
     Grimstone
     Hatch Beauchamp
     Hazelbury Plucknett
     Henlade
     Hinton St George
     Horton
     Ilminster
     Ilton
     Langport
     Lopen
     Lyme Regis
     Maiden Newton
     Merriott
     Misterton
     Taunton, Musgrove Park Hospital
     North Perrott
     Seavington St Mary
     Seavington St Michael
     Shoreditch
     South Perrott
     Staple Fitzpaine
     Staplehay
     Stratton
     Tatworth
     Taunton
     Thorncombe
     Trull
     Wellington
     West Coker
     Winsham
     Yeovil


    Map of Wessex

    Wessex is the name of the former kingdom which originated in south-central England and expanded to cover the whole of the south west. The Encyclopaedia Britannica lists Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset and Dorset as the "permanent nucleus" of Wessex.
    Wessex began with the landing of Cerdic Von Wessex in Southampton Water in 495AD.
    *Some experts believe that Cerdic was another name for King Arthur and that Camelot was in the area.

    Don't let it be forgot,That once there was a spot, For one brief, shining moment that was known as Camelot

    Camelot

      THE KINGS of WESSEX
    Wessex Rule

    Cerdic  519-534
    Cynric (son of Cerdic)  534-560
    Ceawlin (son of Cynric) 560-591
     Ceol (son of Cutha) 591-97
    Ceolwulf (son of Cutha)  597-611
    Cynegils (son of Ceol)  611-643
    Cenwalh (son of Cynegils)  643-645
    Under Mercian Rule 645-648

    Cenwalh (again)   648-672
    Seaxburh (Queen of Cenwalh)  672-674
    Cenfus(line of Ceolwulf) 674
    Aescwine (son of Cenfus)  674-676
    Centwine (son of Cynegils)  676-685
    Caedwalla (line of Ceawlin) 685-688
    Ine (line of Ceawlin)   688-726
    Aethelheard (brother-in-law of Ine) 726-740
    Cuthred (kinsman of Aethelheard) 740-756
    Sigeberht   756-757
    Cynewulf  757-786
    Beorhtric 786-802
    Wessex Rule claimants to the title, 'King of the English'
    Egbert  802-839
    Aethelwulf 839-858
    Aethelbald 858-860
    Aethelbert  860-865
    Aethelred I 865-871
    Alfred the Great 871-884


    CERDIC VON WESSEX (d. 534),
    Cerdi Von
                                  Wessex

    At the end of Roman Times , there were lots of Saxon Mercenaries ( hired soldiers) living in Britain. The Roman government had paid them to protect many of the towns.

    Archaeologists have dug up many graves from this time. Some of the skeletons were wearing special belts and carrying spears. They are thought to be Saxon Mercenaries because similar objects have been found in Saxon graves in Europe.

    The Saxons were a large and powerful Germanic people located in what is now northwestern Germany and the eastern Netherlands (but, interestingly not in the area that is today known as Saxony). They are first mentioned by the geographer Ptolemy as a people of southern Jutland and present-day Schleswig-Holstein, from which they appear subsequently to have expanded to the south and west. The word 'Saxon' derives from the word 'Sax' which means "one-edged sword". Many germanic tribes took names from their weapons, such as the Langobard tribe.

    Some Saxons, along with Angles, Jutes and Frisians, invaded Britain in the early Middle Ages, giving their names to the kingdoms of Essex, Sussex and Wessex (the lands respectively of the East, South and West Saxons), which with the shorter-lived Middlesex eventually became part of the kingdom of England.

    We know of some Saxons who had British names, The most famous was Cerdic, the first King of Wessex. In Brythonic ( the British Language) his name is Ceredig.

    Old documents say that, like other Saxons, he came to Britain from Germany or Denmark. However, Cerdic was probably born in Britain. His father was probably a Saxon Mercenary in Winchester ( in Hampshire) and his mother was a local Briton.
    When the Roman Army left Britain, Cerdic would have been a respected officer in the mercenary army. He would have easily been able to make himself into a local ruler or King. He probably called for his Saxon friends and relatives from Germany and Denmark to join him
    .

    They set up the Saxon Kingdom of Wessex and made Chard their capital. Cerdic is described as an ealdorman who in 495 landed with his son Cynric in Hampshire, where he was attacked at once by the Britons. Nothing more is heard of him until 508, when he defeated the Britons with great slaughter.

     

    Strengthened by fresh arrivals of Saxons, he gained another victory in 519 at Certicesford, a spot which has been identified with the modern Charford, and in this year took the title of king. Turning westward, Cerdic appears to have been defeated by the Britons in 520 at Badbury or Mount Badon, in Dorset, and in 527 yet another fight with the Britons is recorded. His last work was the conquest of the Isle of Wight, probably in the interest of some Jutish allies.

     "ALFRED THE GREAT   (848?-899).

    Alfred The Great

    The course of English history would have been very different had it not been for King Alfred. He won renown both as a statesman and as a warrior and is justly called "the Great." 
       The England of Alfred's time was a country of four small Saxon kingdoms. The strongest was Wessex, in the south. Born in about 848, Alfred was the youngest son of Ethelwulf, king of WessexEach of Alfred's three older brothers, in turn, ruled the kingdom. Alfred was by temperament a scholar, and his health was never robust. 
    Nevertheless in his early youth he fought with his brother Ethelred against Danish invaders. Alfred was 23 when Ethelred died, but he had already won the confidence of the army and was at once acclaimed king in 871. By this time the Danes, or Vikings, had penetrated to all parts of the island. Three of the Saxon Kingdoms: (Northumbria, Mercia, and East Anglia) had one after another fallen to the Danish invaders. 
       Under Alfred's leadership, the Saxons again found courage. The worst crisis came in the winter of 877, when the Danish king, Guthrum, invaded Wessex with his army. In 878 Alfred was defeated at Chippenham, where he was celebrating Christmas, and was forced to go into hiding. 
       A few months later he forced Guthrum to surrender at Chippenham. The Danes agreed to make the Thames River and the old Roman road called Watling Street the boundary between Alfred's kingdom and the Danish lands to the north. The treaty, however, did not assure permanent peace. The Danes assaulted London and the coast towns repeatedly. In about 896 they finally admitted defeat and ceased their struggle for a foothold in southern England. 
       Alfred was much more than the defender of his country. He took a keen interest in law and order and was concerned with the improvement of the cultural standards of his people. He encouraged industries of all kinds and rebuilt London, which had been partly destroyed by the Danes. He collected and revised the old laws of the kingdom. He invited learned men from other countries to instruct the people because even the clergy of Wessex no longer knew Latin, the international language of the church. He established a school similar to the Palace School of Charlemagne. 

    The "books most necessary for all men to know" were translated from Latin into English so that the people might read them. Alfred himself took a part in preparing the translations. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' was probably begun under his direction. 
       Alfred died at the age of about 51 in 899. He was in no sense a true king of England, for he ruled less than half of the island.

    After his death, however, his capable son, Edward the Elder, and his grandsons extended their rule over all of England." 

    *From Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia Deluxe © 1998 The Learning Company, Inc.

    All the sovereigns of England, except Canute, Hardicanute, the two Harolds and William the Conqueror, are said to be descended from Cerdic.

    The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle states that the kingdom expanded  from south to north . 
    In the 9th Century, Wessex rose to become the dominant power in a newly united England, which led to its distinctive identity being subsumed into the larger kingdom. 

    However, when Canute became king in 1016, he revived the names of the former English kingdoms and applied them to the newly created office of Earl. Canute originally kept the Earldom of Wessex for himself, but later awarded it to Godwin, who became the most powerful private citizen in England as a result. He was succeeded by his son, Harold Godwinson, later to become king Harold II of England. 

    When the Normans invaded in 1066, one of their first acts was to abolish the Earldoms in favour of the more manageable shires as the largest units of sub-national government, fearful of the threat that powerful regional government posed to their centralising authority.

    The office of Earl of Wessex remained dormant until our own time, when Prince Edward, the third son of Queen Elisabeth II,  became the 3rd Earl upon the occasion of his marriage to Sophie Rhys -Jones.

    Therefore once more bonding the Royal connection to Wessex. We congratulate them on the recent birth of their daughter Louise.

    By 1066, Harold Godwinson's earldom of Wessex had expanded to include all the above counties, plus Cornwall, Sussex and his original territory of Herefordshire.  The Wyvern, the mythical symbol of the ancient kingdom of Wessex still appears on many county crests in the region today. The Wyvern emblem was carried at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 .

    Wyvern
                                emblem
    Chard (Cerdre, Cherdre, Cherde) was commercial in origin, being a trade centre near the Roman road to the west. There are two Roman villas in the parish. There was a British camp at Neroche in the neighbourhood. Chard is situated on the highest ground between the Bristol and English Channels, on the border of Devonshire, and was anciently spelt Cerde, or Cherde. - the royal house of Cerdic. 

    Because of it's position being the highest ground it was strategically in the best position to defend and is more obviously "Camelot" than other such claimants.

    In the Doomsday Survey it is called Cerdre, at which time the manor belonged to the Bishop of Wells.

    The bishop of Bath held Chard in 1086.  Bishop Jocelyn, of Bath and Wells, incorporated this borough 1234, and gave the land from his manor of Chard for the building of the town, previous to which it is supposed to have constituted what is now known as the old town.   He made Chard a free borough, each burgage paying a rent of f 2d. Trade in hides was forbidden to non-burgesses. 

    This charter was confirmed in 1253, 1280 and 1285. Chard is said to have been incorporated by Elizabeth, as the corporation seal dates from 1570, but no Elizabethan charter can be found. It was incorporated by grant of Charles I. in 1642, and Charles II. gave a charter in 1683. 

    Chard was a mesne borough, the first overlord being Bishop Joceline, whose successors held it (with a brief interval from 1545 to 1552) until 1601, when it was sold to Earl Poulett. 
    Parliamentary representation began in 1312, and was lost in 1328 by the neglect of the freemen.
    A market on Monday and fair on the 25th of July were granted in 1253, and confirmed in 1642 and 1683, when two more fair days were added (November 2 and May 3), the market being changed to Tuesday. The market day is now Saturday, fairs being held on the first Wednesday in May, August and November, for corn and cattle only, their medieval importance as centres of the cloth trade having departed.

    Chard was therefore a town of great significance in the past. 

    Charles 1 of England

    In Stuart times it was from Chard that Charles I of England tried to sue for peace with Oliver Cromwell. It was refused and Charles was soon defeated and ultimately beheaded.

    James
                              Scott Duke of Monmouth
    Duke of Monmouth Crowned King in Chard 1685

    Then in the reign of James II it was at the epicentre of the uprising against the King.  The final major turmoil for 17th-century Chard came in 1685 when the Duke of Monmouth landed at Lyme Regis on June 11 and recruited 3,000 volunteers as part of his famous rebellion. He marched into Somerset, was crowned king in Chard and was the subject of more coronations in Taunton and Bridgwater, where more local rebels swelled his army to 7,000 men.After a series of skirmishes near Bristol and Bath, the rebels returned to Bridgwater from where Monmouth led them into the famous Battle of Sedgemoor against James II's Royalist army, which was encamped at Westonzoyland.It was the last land battle on English soil and it ended in defeat for Monmouth who was later beheaded at the Tower of London.  The locals who had joined the uprising were severely dealt with by the infamous "hanging" Judge Jeffries at both Dorchester and Taunton Assizes.* See list of those executed below

    The town was also very much at the centre of the industrial revolution. 

    chard plane
    Camelot
    One of Judge Jeffries' victims kept in the stocks for 320 years!
    In 1843, some 50+ years before the Wright brothers, the first powered flight aeroplane was made and took to the air in Chard. The inventor was John Stringfellow. It was also the place where the first artificial limbs were made. Full descriptions and models can be viewed at the Chard Museum.
    READ ABOUT THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE LIFE OF CERDIC &  KING ARTHUR - Click HERE or *Ref: Arthur, Cerdic, and the Formation of Wessex By: John C. Rudmin, 864 Chicago Av, Harrisonburg, VA, 22801  Joseph W. Rudmin, Physics Dept., James Madison Univ., Harrisonburg, VA, 22807 (First submitted for publication in Oct 1993) http://camelot.celtic-twilight.com/ rudmin/   Also view: http://www.jmu.edu/montpelier/summer97/arthur.html

    King Cerdic
    Conscience of the King by Alfred Duggan
    A thoroughly entertaining and convincing new take on the last days of the Roman Empire in Britain.   
    "Cerdic Elesing, King of Wessex and ancestor of all subsequent British monarchs, narrates in this fictional biography how he murdered, cheated, looted and lied his way to the great position he ultimately held -- and in the process served with the great Roman leader Ambrosius and the Saxon warlord Aella, and was the foe Arthur defeated at Mount Badon."
    £7.99    Paperback  240 pages   198 x 129 mm   ISBN: 0304366463   Publication: July 2005    Orion Publishing Group, Orion House, 5 Upper St Martin's Lane, London, WC2H 9EA tel: 020 7240 3444  www.orionbooks.co.uk
    email contacts : enquiries@hookedonbooks.co.uk or available from Hooked On Books in Holyrood Street,Chard,


    PEOPLE OF CHARD EXECUTED AFTER THE MONMOUTH REBELLION
    CROSS, SIMON
    EASTERBROOK, HENRY
    HITCHCOCK, HUMPHREY
    PILL, ABRAHAM
    DAVY, WILLIAM
    FOOTE, EDWARD
    JERVIS, JOHN
    WARREN, EDWARD
    DENNETT, JAMES
    GODFREY, WILLIAM
    KNIGHT, JOHN
    WILLIAMS, WILLIAM

    Only three years later the Protestant William of Orange landed in Brixham, Devon & became King of England


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