Chard, mun. bor., market town, and par. with r. sta., W. Somerset, on border of co., 14½ miles SE. of Taunton and 143 miles SW. of London -- par., 5449 ac., pop. 5682; mun. bor., pop. 2411; P.O., T.O., 2 Banks, 2 newspapers. Market-days, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday; was at one time a parl. bor., returning 2 members, a privilege of which it was deprived in the reign of Edward III. C., which is a well-built town, standing on an eminence, has mfrs. of lace and woollen goods, and iron and brass wares.

(John Bartholomew, Gazetteer of the British Isles (1887))