Remains of Town Wall Behind Nos 21, 21a and 23 High Street

The remains of a town wall stand behind numbers 21, 21A and 23 High Street in Chard. Originally constructed around 1210, with some detail likely dating to the early 19th century, the wall is built of flint and rubble with stone coping. The visible section extends approximately 26 metres. The left end of the wall rises to a broken top at a height of about 1.2 metres and then disappears into an embankment. Following this, a section rises to a concrete coping at about 2 metres high. This rises further with a swept stone coping to a height of around 2.75 metres for a length of approximately 4 metres, incorporating a blocked pointed arch with flush jamb stones and voussoirs. To the right, after a lowering of the coping, the wall continues for roughly 14 metres until a boundary is reached, the coping reaching approximately 2.3 metres in height, but thereafter standing at about 2 metres. A second blocked pointed arch is present, much of the arch still visible above the wall, with the voussoirs forming the outer edge. A low section of concrete or rendered retaining wall, approximately 5 metres long, is located at this end.

The wall is considered an important survival, possibly representing the original boundary of the New Town, founded in 1206. While some of the fabric may date from this time, the arched openings appear to be of a later date.