The Guildhall, Chard

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The Guildhall, Chard

The Guildhall is a town hall and community building in Chard, Somerset. It was built in 1834–35 to replace the old 16th‑century guildhall and market house, whose location was inconvenient. The foundation stone was laid on 20 December 1834. Local architect Richard Carver designed it in the Classical style. It originally housed a town hall, market house and butchery, and cost over £3,000. The building also served as the corn exchange and opened on 21 September 1835. A clock by A. Payne was added in 1837 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s accession; it sounds the hours and chimes the quarters on two bells.

The Guildhall is built of Hamstone from Ham Hill with slate roofs. It is a two‑storey, T‑shaped building with a Doric portico and a double row of Tuscan columns at ground level, and Doric columns on the first floor. A domed cupola with clock faces on three sides sits on top of the pediment. Inside, the council chamber and mayor’s parlour survive unaltered.

In 1950, the building became Grade II* listed. The interior was remodelled around 1970, and a major renovation took place from 1998 to 2003. The weather vane on top is 7 feet tall and weighs about 450 kg; it was restored in 2002 by a local blacksmith. The clock mechanism, about 200 kg, was removed during renovation and returned fully restored in 2008.

The Guildhall was the meeting place of Chard’s municipal borough. It ceased to be the local government seat in 1974 when South Somerset Council was formed. Since 2009, it has housed Chard Town Council offices and is used by local community groups.