Chard Museum

Chard Museum is housed in a thatched building constructed from four converted cottages and contains multiple gallery spaces. Visitors find local objects, historical machinery, and technical inventions displayed both inside the galleries and outside in the grounds.

The collection started in 1880 when Arthur Hull gathered local objects, which were later moved to Taunton. The museum was founded in 1970 to keep these items permanently in Chard and make them available to the public.

The exhibits highlight inventions by local figures like John Stringfellow, who developed powered flight machines, and James Gillingham, who created artificial limbs. These displays show how this town produced innovations that changed people's lives far beyond the region.

The building is easy to spot on Fore Street thanks to its distinctive thatched roof. It offers guided tours and educational programs, giving visitors a thorough way to explore the collections.

Margaret Bondfield, the first woman to serve in the British Cabinet, had strong ties to this town and is honored here. Her life and career show how this small town produced figures who shaped national politics.

Location: Chard Town

Inception: 1970

Address: Godworthy House, High Street, Chard TA20 1QB

Phone: +44146065091

Email: info@chardmuseum.co.uk

Website: http://chardmuseum.co.uk/Home

GPS coordinates: 50.87261,-2.96924

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:22