A TIMELINE OF CHARD, SOMERSET
By Tim Lambert
1066 In the Domesday Book Chard or Cerdre as it is called is a large village with a population of about 150
1234 The Bishop of Wells creates a new market town north of the village
1313 Chard is busy little town with a population of a few hundred
1394 Chard has a fulling mill where wool is cleaned and thickened. The wool in the little town prospers.
1577 Chard suffers severe damage in a fire
1600 Chard is a flourishing town with a grammar school
1663 Alsmhouses are built in Chard with money from a merchant named Richard Harvey
1685 The Duke of Monmouth leads a rebellion in Southwest England. Afterwards 12 men are executed in Chard.
1750 Chard is a small but prosperous market town
1801 Chard has a population of 2,800 and it is growing rapidly
1834 A Town Hall is built in Chard
1838 A workhouse is built in Chard
1842 Riots take place in Chard. A canal is built to Chard.
1851 Chard has a population of over 5,000. However its growth slows downs.
1860 Lace making is the main industry in Chard
1863 The railway reaches Chard
1874 A newspaper called the Chard and Ilminster News begins publication
1901 Chard has a population of over 6,000
1962 Chard railway station closes to passengers
1970 A museum opens in Chard
2011 Chard has a population of about 12,000