Chard Museum
Encyclopedia
Chard Museum is a small local museum in Chard, Somerset
, England. It opened in 1970, in a converted 16th century listed building, with collections of exhibits about local history and displays related to the lives of notable local residents.
in Taunton
, before returning to the new museum in 1970.
The museum is housed in a 16th century thatched building which was originally four cottages. The building was converted and restored for use as a museum in 1970, and later incorporated the building next door which had been the New Inn public house
.
In 2010 doubts were raised about the ongoing funding of the museum.
and local lace mills. Outside there is a blacksmith
's forge
and display of farm machinery.
There are also displays on notable people with connections to the town.
John Stringfellow
and another local man William Samuel Henson
achieved the first powered flight, in 1848, in a disused lace factory, with a 10 foot (3 m), steam-driven flying machine.
James Gillingham pioneered the development of articulated artificial limbs, after working as a shoemaker in the town and seeing a man who had his arm so badly shattered in an accidental explosion of a cannon that it had to be amputated to the shoulder socket. The museum includes a representation of his consulting room, including several examples of his artificial limbs.
Corporal Samuel Vickery
who was awarded the VC
in 1897 for his actions during the attack on the Dargai Heights, Tirah, India during the Tirah Campaign
.
Margaret Bondfield
, who was an English Labour
politician and feminist, the first woman Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom and a member of the Congregational Church
.
Chard, Somerset
Chard is a town and civil parish in the Somerset county of England. It lies on the A30 road near the Devon border, south west of Yeovil. The parish has a population of approximately 12,000 and, at an elevation of , it is the southernmost and highest town in Somerset...
, England. It opened in 1970, in a converted 16th century listed building, with collections of exhibits about local history and displays related to the lives of notable local residents.
History
The basis of the collection dates from around 1880 when Arthur Hull collected ‘curiosities’. He left these to the town and in 1917 they were transferred to Somerset County MuseumSomerset County Museum
The Museum of Somerset is located in the 12th century great hall of Taunton Castle, in Taunton in the county of Somerset, England. The museum is run by Somerset County Council and includes objects initially collected by the Somerset Archaeological and Natural History Society who own the...
in Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
, before returning to the new museum in 1970.
The museum is housed in a 16th century thatched building which was originally four cottages. The building was converted and restored for use as a museum in 1970, and later incorporated the building next door which had been the New Inn public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
.
In 2010 doubts were raised about the ongoing funding of the museum.
Collection
Exhibits within the museum tell the story of the town and the local area including geology, the fire of 1577, the Monmouth RebellionMonmouth Rebellion
The Monmouth Rebellion,The Revolt of the West or The West Country rebellion of 1685, was an attempt to overthrow James II, who had become King of England, King of Scots and King of Ireland at the death of his elder brother Charles II on 6 February 1685. James II was a Roman Catholic, and some...
and local lace mills. Outside there is a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
's forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
and display of farm machinery.
There are also displays on notable people with connections to the town.
John Stringfellow
John Stringfellow
John Stringfellow was born in Sheffield, England and is known for his work on the Aerial Steam Carriage with William Samuel Henson....
and another local man William Samuel Henson
William Samuel Henson
William Samuel Henson was a pre-Wright brothers aviation engineer and inventor.Henson was born on 3 May 1812 , in Nottingham, England. Henson was involved in lace-making in Chard, which increasingly was mechanized at that time, and he obtained a patent on improved lace-making machines in 1835...
achieved the first powered flight, in 1848, in a disused lace factory, with a 10 foot (3 m), steam-driven flying machine.
James Gillingham pioneered the development of articulated artificial limbs, after working as a shoemaker in the town and seeing a man who had his arm so badly shattered in an accidental explosion of a cannon that it had to be amputated to the shoulder socket. The museum includes a representation of his consulting room, including several examples of his artificial limbs.
Corporal Samuel Vickery
Samuel Vickery
Samuel Vickery VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.-Details:...
who was awarded the VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in 1897 for his actions during the attack on the Dargai Heights, Tirah, India during the Tirah Campaign
Tirah Campaign
The Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:...
.
Margaret Bondfield
Margaret Bondfield
Margaret Grace Bondfield was an English Labour politician and feminist, the first woman Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom and one of the first three female Labour MPs...
, who was an English Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
politician and feminist, the first woman Cabinet minister in the United Kingdom and a member of the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
.