Windsor Chairs - A Guide and History

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(Above - Pair Windsor chairs - it doesn't get more rustic farmhouse than this?)

The Windsor family tradition (not just in the Royal family...)

The Windsor chair is another English design classic that has endured for many centuries. Still today they look great as part of various interiors schemes, particularly if you are going for that cosy rustic / farmhouse look. They are also very comfortable to sit at around a kitchen table - again as with refectory tables, Windsor chairs are a something I have grown up with as part of the family kitchen dining experience. They are also very durable and great for withstanding the vigours of daily family life.

It is not well documented where the first Windsor chairs were made - they probably evolved from Irish, Welsh and Welsh country stick-back chairs dating from the 16th century. These early chairs emerged after wheelwrights started making spindles for chairs as they would spokes for a wheel. The term 'Windsor' comes from the town of Windsor to the West of London in Berkshire (and home to the Queen's residence Windsor Castle). It's thought the chairs were not originally made here but rather a main centre of production was High Wycombe in neighbouring home county Buckinghamshire.

High Wycombe... or Windsor?

(Above - Windsor Castle, just 25 minutes West of London in Berkshire)

The chairs were transported from High Wycombe to Windsor as the town became the centre of trade between the manufacturers and London dealers. At first the chairs were of the straight comb back variety and then evolved in the 18th century to the bow back after the technique of steam bending the wood developed. The classic Windsor chair would have been made from yew - although today oak and pine chairs are more common.

(Above - Pair of bow back Windsor chairs - rustic country look)

The Windsor moves to the United States of America...

The early English settlers introduced the Windsor chair to the United States in the 1700s and various American designs have since evolved on this classic chair. The main types of windsor chair include sack back, hoopback, comb-back, continuous arm, low back, rod back and fan back. We also carry a Windsor rocking chair (and a bar stool) which is very popular, comfortable and looks great.

A well crafted Windsor will be tight and sturdy and hence will offer many years use and service. The seat is a very important part of the chair - often you will find the English versions of the Windsor chair will have a thinner seat typically made of elm. American seats also commonly have a deeper saddle as they are frequently made from softer woods. The spindles to the seat back and sides will be driven into the wedge and tenon hence making them very sturdy. On some versions of Windsor chairs you can see the top of the spindle through the arm (although obviously sanded down and flush).

Classic set of Windsor dining chairs

The Windsor chairs is an enduring design classic - built to centuries old traditions it will supply years of happy service and will increase in value and beauty hence making them a good investment. We have various styles of Windsor chairs so please make an appointment at our Hertfordshire showroom. We also specialise in farmhouse dining sets so we can match up Windsor chairs to the large range of matching refectory tables we have. A typical Windsor chairs set would be six side chairs and two arm chairs which go at either end of the table - or the head of the table in formal speak. We can source larger sets of Windsors so just let us know how many you need.

(Above - Set of oak Windsors around a matching refectory table with barley twist legs)

Doing it for the kids..

We also do a great childs mini Windsor chair - my two sons have used their little Windsors every day since they could sit up for themselves. Sadly at ages 7 and 9 they are fast growing up to be too big for them but I like to think they will keep them, perhaps for their offspring to use. I still have my own mini-Captains chair I used to sit on as a child. It was an antique when I had it as a small boy, so I dread to think what that makes it now! That's the great thing about these chair which seem to form their own personalities and you become quite attached to them.

(Above - Pair of children's Windsors. This very pair are still used by my sons)