CHARD Museum will be turning into a TV set when it features on BBC show Bargain Hunt in the spring.

Volunteers at the museum were thrilled to be invited to appear on the programme and had the opportunity to showcase Chard’s famous engineer James Gillingham.

James, who was a boot maker by trade, ran the Golden Boot in Chard while living in Prospect House on Combe Street.

In 1863, Will Singleton was disabled whilst priming a cannon which exploded, resulting in the complete amputation of his right arm. Due to the amputation being at his shoulder, the technology was not available to fit a prosthetic limb, seriously hampering Will’s future life chances.

Calling into the Golden Boot, he met James Gillingham who offered to make a limb for no cost.

Amanda Broom, who represented the museum on the show, said: “Most people in Chard know the story of James Gillingham, the Victorian engineer and entrepreneur, and this is something we are proud to have in our town’s history.

“The important points we wanted to get across in the show were how compassionate James was. He would not turn anyone away, and treated each case as an individual to meet their needs.

“He worked tirelessly to not only fit limbs, but to make attachments for the limbs which would enable the patient to carry on with life with as little difficulty as possible, after facing many awful injuries.”

Mr Gillingham used secret and new technology, and crucially leather which he moulded ahead of fitting to the amputated limb.

This meant that the limb was not only much lighter than the wooden ones available, but it was more durable and a lot stronger.

Once Will’s had been fitted, he was able to lift weights up to 700lbs, pick up a spade and wheel a barrow, which meant he could return to his occupation of groundskeeper.

The show will be aired by the BBC in spring next year.