News & Events

Ilminster-Chard Cycle Track gets HLF funding

(Ilminster)

Over the last year and a half a small group, with representatives from Ilminster, Donyatt, Knowle St Giles and Chard, have been working on a project to enhance the 5-mile stretch of cycle track between Ilminster and Chard.   Their grant application to the Heritage Lottery Fund has been successful work will begin in the summer.  Julie Cooper, Acting Head of the South West Region, said, “The project will help to generate local pride and give a sense of place and identity”.

The group came together as a direct result of the community plans produced in each area that highlighted a variety of issues that will be addressed by this project – improving health and well being; improving prosperity; lack of information on the area to name but a few.

The project involves:

  • Placing various forms of seating along the track to allow young and old to rest from time to time as they walk or ride along the track
  • Sign posting footpaths and other attractions to be found along the route
  • Giving details of the wild life to be found
  • Telling the history of the area.

Ilminster cycle track project

Information on the wild life and the history of the area will be done using interpretation boards erected at six different points along the cycle track.   Wild life boards will be found in the Donyatt ‘cutting’ and at the Chard Reservoir.

The project group decided to focus on three strands history all of which either lie close to the track or along its length.  

The cycle track, for most if this particular stretch, travels the length of the old railway line and the history of the railway will be told using old photographs, maps, and diagrams.   There are still people who remember flagging down a train at Knowle St Giles.

Lying not too far from the old railway line are to be found remnants of the old Chard Canal.   In Ilminster the lower pound can be found at the western edge of Recreation Ground – now the haunt of fishermen.   Just to the south is all that remains of the steep incline that took the tub boats up the slope to a tunnel crossed the area behind West Crescent before emerging north of New Buildings at Dowlish Ford. 

Finally the story of the WWII Stop Line, a defensive system of pillboxes, gun emplacements and tank traps designed to slow down if not stop any invading German Forces, will be told.   Along the Stop Line, which followed rivers and railway tracks between the Bristol and English Channels, were seven heavily defended towns – two of which were Ilminster and Chard. 

Created on July 1st 2008

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