Villages That Surround Chard - Nice?

[EViS]

What are the villages like to live in that immediately surround Chard? Tatworth (and South Chard) is one that has peaked our interest but being so close to Chard is disconcerting. However, our opinion is purely based on online advice to keep well away from Chard. Is much of this opinion likely to be based upon the reputation Chard seemed to have built itself in the 70's but is no longer justified? Or is it still fairly dodgy and that would include the most immediate surrounding villages (i.e. live there if you must, but there are far nicer villages further out)?

[mkjess123]

Agree with you about Chard. Villages outside though are ok, and one within half a mile of Chard had Johnny Depp as a resident for a few years (his kids went to the local primary school).

You could look a couple of miles further south towards Axminster. A better town than Chard.

We live in a village just outside Axminster and as far as we are concerned, it's one of the best parts of the country.

[helix402]

As mentioned, avoid Chard itself. It’s set in beautiful countryside and the surrounding villages are usually great. It’s also close to the A303 which is nice.

[EViS]

Thanks for the replies. Any opinions on South Chard / Tatworth itself? The village seems nice and is 1.5 miles south from Chard town, then another 4.5 miles to Axminster. However, in sharing the same name, does it also share similar downsides / reputation quirks as it's northerly town?

[JRC1]

EViS said:

Thanks for the replies. Any opinions on South Chard / Tatworth itself? The village seems nice and is 1.5 miles south from Chard town, then another 4.5 miles to Axminster. However, in sharing the same name, does it also share similar downsides / reputation quirks as it's northerly town?

South Chard and Tatworth aren't that great. I worked in Chard for a bit, lived in Crewkerne and commuted in. Crewkerne is nicer.
Chard isn't horrendous, parts of it are...like anywhere really... but there are lovely villages on the outskirts. Hinton St George to the east, Tytherleigh and Chardstock to the south, Broadway to the north, etc.

The surrounding villages are always going to be nicer, but obviously Chard has more amenities. The Somerset countryside is some of the best in the UK and the Chard area is a great base for being close-ish to the coast too.

[mkjess123]

Although I've already criticised Chard and it isn't my cup of tea, it's not too bad. Compare it to most bigger towns and it's actually ok. Compared with other towns in the area then it doesn't score too highly.

A bigger Somerset town is Bridgwater. There is a saying locally NFB (normal for Bridgwater) and it's very true. I understand that 150 years ago or so, a large number of Bridgwater residents were moved to Chard as it had a large engineering industry and that still shows to this day and I'm not talking about the engineering! There were also very large numbers of foreign manual workers employed at the now closed Oscar Mayer food factory.

The main school in Chard is rated quite well.

Tatworth and South Chard are ok

If you don't mind me asking, what are your reasons for moving to the area, work, retirement, kids?

[EViS]

JRC1 said:

South Chard and Tatworth aren't that great..

mkjess123 said:

Tatworth and South Chard are ok

That's pretty clear then .

Thanks for the replies both. The reason I'm specifically homing in with a query on South Chard & Tatworth is due to a particular property that has caught our attention whilst searching the Dorset area plus a c. 5 mile radius. Otherwise, we wouldn't be so fixated on this particular sprawling village and do recognise that others have much more to offer, especially south of the county border. Northern Somerset, and especially around Bridgwater doesn't interest us very much but appreciate that Chard town is likely going to be compared to other Somerset towns as opposed to neighbouring towns in East Devon and Dorset.

mkjess123 said:

If you don't mind me asking, what are your reasons for moving to the area, work, retirement, kids?

Maybe a slightly peculiar reason to some, we're not committed to living anywhere and fancy a new adventure. Therefore uprooting ourselves to a change of scenery and an excuse to explore another part of the UK with relative ease, as opposed to long weekends away, seems like fun. We can always move back or elsewhere if we decide to. I do appreciate that most people would choose to rent at first... that's not for us though. We'd rather go all in, but with a personal sense of having compiled sufficient research first.

Edited by EViS on Monday 10th April 21:51

[JRC1]

Fair enough if you don't want to rent first, but I'd at least find an Airbnb in South Chard/Tatworth for a few nights to see what you think. You'll get a good feel of the area, Chard itself and be able to decide quite quickly I'd have thought as to whether it's the village for you or not. It's ok to ask on here but as you've seen, you'll get different opinions, even from just two different posters! For me, I'd rather choose a nicer village and wait for the right property, rather than the other way around, because you can't change where your property is!

As said, the surrounding area is stunning and you really are spoilt for choice when it comes to nice villages with a local pub and amazing countryside, so if this particular area doesn't work out I'm sure you'll find another village nearby that works. Best of luck.

[parakitaMol.]

Make sure you know exactly where the caravan club locations are.

[mkjess123]

Hello EVis.

How did you get on regarding the property?

[Squadrone Rosso]

Got family living down there since 1990. Think Hot Fuzz.

[Olds124]

We live between Chard and Axminster. There is much more in Chard, though I can see why one might say Axminster is nicer (losing River Cottage canteen from the centre of the town was unhelpful, but the Ale Way at the railway station is a plus). Tatworth/South Chard have a couple of pubs and a post office/shop, which is more than can be said for our village. But picturesque Somerset villages these are not. Chard itself has some great buildings (e.g., Chard School) which indicate its past affluence. Now the street named “Crimchard” is more suggestive, perhaps. If we had our time over again, we would move to somewhere much closer to a more substantial and lively town, e.g., Bridport or Exeter. Taunton and, in particular, Yeovil, are very mixed. Chard has no railway station so you will be using Axminster, Crewkerne or Taunton if you need the train. Big plus for us, and our children, has been the proximity to the coast at Lyme Regis.