The school is located on the site of the former Chard Grammar School.
History
The school was originally a private residence, built for John Symes of Poundsford in 1583. Later in 1671, his son, William Symes, handed the property over to twelve trustees for conversion into a grammar school.[1][2] It later became a public boarding school in 1890.[3]
The current independent preparatory school, known as Chard School, was established in 1972,[3] and still incorporates the original grammar school building. The 16th-century building has been Grade II* listed since 1950.[1] It is also on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register, where it is described as being in poor condition.[4]
Architecture
The two-storey flint building has hamstone dressings, a tiled roof and brick chimney stacks. The front of the building has a three-room range and a projecting three-storey porch. Many of the rooms have fireplaces, panelling and decorations from the 16th to 19th centuries.[1] In the 18th century a staircase was added giving access to the adjacent Monmouth House which was built between 1770 and 1790.[5]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chard School.