Lincolnshire rush-seated ladder back armchair inscribed 17 W*H 55 on the topmost of 5 domed ladders with downward double half-round shaping, straight back poles with finials, scroll arms morticed into turned front legs, missing rushing bars, with double stretchers all round, 1 of which is missing WS 202

Lincolnshire rush-seated ladder back armchair inscribed 17 W*H 55 on the topmost of 5 domed ladders with downward double half-round shaping, straight back poles with finials, scroll arms morticed into turned front legs, missing rushing bars, with double stretchers all round, 1 of which is missing WS 202

The top ladder of this chair is clearly incised with the date and initials "17 W*H 55": I am sure that they are contemporary with the making of the chair. Even more remarkably, I have a provenance to go with it, namely that it has been in the same house in northeast Lincolnshire for the last 65 years, having been purchased in a village hall house clearance sale in the south of the county in 1953. I had been aware of its presence for some while as the owner has several other examples of rush-seated Lincolnshire  chairs but only recently did I realise the significance. 

Detail of WS 202 inscription "17 W*H 55"

When I was looking through David Knell's English Country Furniture 1500 - 1900, (1st published 1992, 2nd edition 2000)  I came across two virtually identical chairs on p. 291, though they are dated 1742 and 1739. Of those chairs, Knell says: 

"Incised dates can occasionally be authenticated by subtle variations in the shape of numerals at different periods. The style certainly suggests contemporaneity in this case."

The style and positioning of the numerals on the 1739 chair shown at p. 291 is identical to that above and that chair has a six-pointed star in the middle as well, though no initials. 

Knell attributes these chairs to the north in general and possibly to Lincolnshire, but the one pictured above has a firm association with the county. It can be said with a fair degree of confidence that this chair is at least 264 years old. Even though the condition is very poor, with loose joints, broken rushing rail and some shortening of the legs, the ash wood used to make the chair is in sound condition.

The chair was in my house for some time, during which time I was able to assess and photograph it; on returning it to the owner, I stressed the importance of the preservation of this remarkable survivor and asked that it was not to be sat upon. Indeed I took another armchair along to take its place in the kitchen, so that this one could be positioned in the house where no one could use it.

© William Segeant 2019 and Julian Parker 2020

2 x Lincolnshire comb back Windsor side chairs by Marsh Sleaford with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning, H stretcher with darts WS 176

2 x Lincolnshire comb back Windsor side chairs by Marsh Sleaford with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning on left, H stretcher with darts on right, WS 176

Two complementary beautifully balanced Lincolnshire Windsor side chairs by Thomas or James Marsh of Sleaford. Their turning and proportions stand out amongst Lincolnshire makers.

Angled view of Lincolnshire comb back Windsor side chair by Marsh Sleaford with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning 

© William Sergeant and Julian Parker 2020 

John Amos, Grantham, Windsor chair maker WS 148

Stamp of Amos Grantham WS 148 

Those familiar with Lincolnshire Windsor chairs will probably be well acquainted with the name of John Amos, the chairmaker from Little Gonerby. Many pictures of his chairs appear in Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990) and other books on vernacular furniture. However, new research has revealed that he only changed to making chairs later in his life. His baptism has not been traced though he is recorded in the 1841 census as being aged 75 which suggests that he was born in about 1766. The marriage of John to Millicent Everitt took place at Wellingore on the 23rd December 1794.

The earliest mention of him can be found in an advertisement in the Stamford Mercury of October 1794 when he is seeking two journeymen wheelwrights and signs himself as JOHN AMOS wheelwright of Little Gonerby. Two years later in September 1796 a similar advertisement is placed in the same paper looking for two journeymen "and if they can make ploughs the more agreeable". An apprentice is also wanted "with which a Premium will be expected". This would mean that he was a Freeman of the Borough and by time served, probably as a wheelwright, was able to take on an apprentice .

At the start of the following year - 3rd Jan 1797 there is a baptism of John Amos, son of John and Melicent of Little Gonerby .

On the 1st March 1799 he again advertises for three journeymen wheelwrights followed in August 1800, when he is seeking two journeymen wheelwrights and another apprentice, signing himself both times as JOHN AMOS wheelwright of Little Gonerby. His next appearance in the paper is in May 1804 when he seeks the return of his apprentice John Branston and warning that anyone harbouring or employing him will be dealt with as the law directs but should he decide to return without any further trouble then he will be received; once again signing himself as a wheelwright of Little Gonerby.

These advertisements clearly show him and his business as dedicated to manufacturing wheels and ploughs, employing several people and apprentices. At the age of about 30 he has a wife and two children (daughter Melicent was baptised on 28th July 1800) and there is no mention of chairmaking. However, as Little Gonerby is such a small place and part of Grantham township he must have known Roger Taylor, John Wilson and Richard Hubbard who all had established Windsor chair making businesses. It seems very likely that he realised the demand for these chairs was greater than the supply as after the baptism of his second son Everitt in August 1806, he proceeds to call himself a Windsor chair maker. Once again with the help of the Stamford Mercury, an advertisement by him in June 1809, seeks two journeymen immediately, one who understands the Turnery and Fancy business, the other needs to be a plain Windsor chair maker. This is just signed JOHN AMOS with no indication of his trade. His change of direction in his business is re-inforced by another advertisement which appears in November 1823 when two journeymen are sought, one Windsor and one Turnpin chairmaker who can bottom, again just signed JOHN AMOS Grantham. In the meantime he and his wife have two more daughters - Mary baptised March 1810 and Louisa Ann in February 1814.

The only other time the word chairmaker appears after his name is in the announcement of the death of his wife in the paper in May 1837 aged 68. Ironically he probably would have known John Wilson, chairmaker of Little Gonerby who died the same week aged 58. Later that same year there is recorded the burial of his son Everitt aged 31.

In his will, made in 1838, he gives his occupation as chairmaker and mentions his son John, who is a butcher in Grantham; his son-in-law John Long who married his daughter Cassandra and his other daughter Louisa. He also mentions his two messuages or tenements in Little Gonerby along with their shops, sheds and yards which fronted on to North Parade and extended all the way back to New Street. These were built by him upon land formerly belonging to Peter Vere Esq. and his wife Elizabeth.

The majority of the houses facing out on to North Parade are fine four storey late Georgian terrace houses and the distance back to New Street is simiply huge, but recently built on. John Amos must have been very successful in his business to afford to build two houses here. Further investigation is needed to establish which ones were built and belonged to him.

© William Sergeant 2014 and 2020

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat with lower diamond, double pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 8 short, no underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with1 lower ring x 4, crinoline stretcher WS 153 & WS 152

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat with lower diamond, double pierced lower splat WS 153

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat with lower diamond, double pierced lower splat WS 153b

Another Windsor chair of little value, mainly due to the huge fracture in the armbow (which can not be seen in these pictures) and the missing underarm supports. However, it is not without some interesting points even though the maker did not stamp it. The seat is made from ash while the rest of the chair is made from yew wood. Every feature would suggest a Grantham maker but without the underarm supports for some design clues it is difficult to work out who made this chair. However, one of the benefits of keeping pictures of stamped chairs is that they make a hugely important reference library.

If you have read my few lines under picture WS 131 you will have noted that I normally take no notice of the design of the cut out fret work on back splats. However the only exception to that rule is a tiny feature that appears on several AMOS stamped chairs. Compare this back splat to the signed chair in picture WS 132 and I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

© William Sergeant 2015 and 2020.

John Amos, Grantham Windsor armchair, front leg turning with multiple rings above the cove and lower rings WS 133

John Amos, Grantham Windsor armchair, front leg turning with multiple rings above the cove and lower rings WS 133

John Amos is one of a very small group of makers who occasionally put multiple rings on his leg turnings. It makes a distinctive statement that says that this chair is just that little bit more special than the run-of-the-mill Lincolnshire Windsor armchair.  Normally there is a Tulip shaped turning to go with this design but on this one there is a single cove .

This chair is not the same as WS 131, an Amos chair which also features multiple rings but the idea of including the leg turning design features here is to highlight the slight differences that this maker incorporated into his yew wood chairs. The side and cross stretchers are replacements and the legs have been reduced.

© William Sergeant 2014 and 2020

North Parade, Grantham: houses of John Amos, Windsor chair maker of Little Gonerby WS 149

North Parade, Grantham: houses of John Amos, Windsor chair maker of Little Gonerby WS 149

Little Gonerby is closely associated with the early Windsor chair makers of Lincolnshire but if you study any recent map of the Grantham area then you will not find no mention of it. However what you will find is the village of Great Gonerby which straddles the Great North Road about two miles north of Grantham. There is sometimes the name of Gonerby Hill Foot which is even closer to Grantham but nowhere will you find Little Gonerby. So where is this often mentioned place?   John Amos lived there, amongst others. My curiosity was aroused even more when I discovered in his will (written 1838 ) that he intended to leave two houses that he had built on North Parade and that he was living there at the time of the 1841 census under the heading of Little Gonerby.

My research has turned up the fact that in the eighteenth century the town of Grantham consisted of three areas: Spittlegate to the south, Grantham itself around the church of St.Wulfram and Little Gonerby to the north, all three joined together with no clear demarcation, to make up Grantham itself.

What has made research easier, however, was the fact that the area of Little Gonerby was just inside the southern most boundary of Lord Brownlow's estate based at Belton House. Maps survive of this part of Grantham with the Nottingham road dividing it off from the rest of the settlement. An early map, which is frustratingly undated but I guess is about 1750 and in the Brownlow depositions at the Lincoln Archives, shows no more than 15 houses. The most useful map is in the Enclosure Award for 1808 which shows the fields, roads and houses, which have grown to about 25 in total. Intriguingly it shows the names of some of the existing owner-occupiers, which include Richard Hubbard, Thomas Wilson and William Allen. Unfortunately the fold of this ancient document goes right through the settlement and as a consequence it is impossible to see who occupied which property. What makes this more galling is the fact that it is perfectly possible to walk around this part of Grantham and identify these substantial houses easily today.

John Amos would have lived in one of these houses before he brought some land off Peter Vere and built two houses on North Parade. As nearly all the houses remain on this fine terrace of late Georgian houses, I set about to see if I could locate his two. On looking through the 1841 census online I was frustrated as the photographic reproduction was so poor and the handwritting so faint that I had to go to the Lincoln Library to view it on their microfiche. Much of it was barely legible but I did find John Amoss (75) living with Louisa Amoss (25). His occupation was given as a chairmaker. Louisa was his youngest daughter born 1814 (the ages in the 1841 census are rounded to within 5 years. There were two female servants living there as well, both aged 15.

North Parade is a long row of terrace houses on the east ide of the old A1 road as it leaves Grantham and opposite there is mainly 1930s houses, so I supposed that the census taker would have started at one end of the terrace and worked his way to the other end. From the census return I counted 17 houses on one side of Amos and 18 to the other. So I went to Grantham and started at the end of North Parade closest to the town and counted 17 houses and found a pair of handed houses ( pictured above with Green and Red doors with a passage way door in between). Then I counted a further 18 houses which brought me to the end of the row. While this does not prove that these were the two houses built by Amos, there is a good chance they are, but more research needs to be done.

More evidence may still turn up as there is a large amount of documents deposited with the Lincoln archives from the Brownlow Estate which have yet to be catalogued.

© William Sergeant 2014 and 2020

Lincolnshire comb back rocking side chair with turned stiles, 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 93

Lincolnshire comb back side rocking side chair WS 93

From the collection of Steven Voyt. This the first Lincolnshire side chair on rockers that I have ever seen. On close inspection it appears to be all original and genuine. Although it is unstamped,  just compare the turned back supports with WS 90, which is stamped Camm Grantham.  I think the two chairs are near enough identical to say that they were made in the same workshop. The major difference between the two is in the front leg design: while this one has two rings WS 90 has a ring and a cove; this would indicate a subtle change with time: the two ring design being recognised as coming later than the ring and cove.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Mother Hubbard's Windsor Chair with her Dog about to sip Ale 1819

Readers will know by now that I will stop at nothing in my fervent researches to bring them more Windsor chairs. So you will be delighted at my latest discovery, stumbled across whilst doing some other research, which is Mother Hubbard's dog's Windsor chair. Could be West Country from the look of that continuous arm bow and those front leg turnings. As the
drawings are so splendid, I have included all the pages. They are utterly charming. The V&A thinks the illustrations may be by Robert Branston (1778-1827).

© Julian Parker 2020

Lincolnshire comb back side chair stamped Camm Grantham with turned stiles, 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 90

Lincolnshire comb back side chair stamped Camm Grantham with turned stiles, 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 90

Whilst visiting other peoples houses I have poor manners. I pay far too much attention to their furniture, particularly their chairs. On a previous visit to a house in the village of Navenby, I had spotted what looked like some Lincolnshire side chairs nestling under the kitchen table. On my most recent visit (2013) I was allowed closer inspection of the same and to my surprise and joy one of them was impressed with the maker's name : CAMM GRANTHAM. What a find! As far as I am aware there has been no record of a stamped comb back side chair by this maker although a quick search of Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990) shows a near identical chair stamped  J HILL (figures NE 104 and NE 105 on p. 134 ). Where is Navenby? It's north of Grantham on the road to Lincoln.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Medium bow back Windsor armchair stamped Camm Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 95

Medium bow back Windsor armchair stamped Camm Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 95

In the collection of Steven Voyt. Purchased in Grantham, this bow back spindle back Windsor armchair  probably has never travelled far, as it was made in Grantham. Two more chairs made by Camm can be seen at WS 12 and WS 13, the underarm supports and legs of which could be swapped with this chair and no one would spot the difference, which reinforces the fact that individual makers had their own design features and reproduced them over and over again.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Comb back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair probably Camm Grantham with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 8 long spindles 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring & cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, H stretcher WS 12

Comb back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair probably Camm Grantham with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 8 long spindles 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring & cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, H stretcher WS 12

An unstamped comb back Windsor armchair from Grantham, identical to this stamped chair by Thomas Camm of Grantham. I had missed the stamped one at the auction in Buckinghamshire but I had taken many pictures for my own records so when this little beauty turned up at a Cambridgeshire auction unstamped and unloved I was certain who made it. I compared individual turnings side by side on the computer - they could have been made the same week from the Grantham workshop of Thomas Camm. It came home with me for a very reasonable price!

© William Sergeant 2012 and 2020

Comb back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped Camm Grantham with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 8 long spindles 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring & cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, H stretcher WS 13

Comb back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped Camm Grantham with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 8 long spindles 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring & cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, H stretcher WS 13

A comb back Windsor chair, stamped on the seat edge: Camm Grantham. This identifies the maker's workshop as Thomas Camm of Grantham, working about 1825.  This one turned up in an evening auction in Buckinghamshire and I travelled down to view: it was from a house clearance and in excellent condition. When the auction got under way there were very few people in the room and the auctioneer struggled to get bids on anything. The moment arrived for this lot. My hopes were sky high and heart beating fast: I started the bidding at a low amount and outbid a couple in the room; it was going to be mine for a modest sum; then came the moment I was fearful of: an anonymous phone bidder. Well, dear reader, you can imagine what happened next: I continued bidding but every time the phone outbid me. I went way over my limit to several hundred pounds but in the end I let it go. What disappointment! After that the auctioneer stopped the auction and asked me "What was that all about?" I explained that the chair really was the essence of Lincolnshire chairmaking and design, stamped by a maker who did not work for long in Grantham. He told me that the person on the phone was a London dealer who was known to him but had never shown an interest in chairs before. Well, he certainly had to pay a lot of money for it and good luck to him.

William Sergeant 2011 and 2020

Will of Timothy Carter, chairmaker of Hammersmith, 1768-1821

A full transcription of this will has never been published before.

This is the last Will and testament of me Timothy Carter of Hammersmith in the county of Middlesex Chair maker which I make and publish in manner following that is to say I do appoint my dear wife Hannah Carter and my ffriend Mr Robert Simpson of Hammersmith aforesaid gentleman to be executrix and executor of this my will and also guardians to my children I direct that my trade of a victualler and also my trade of chair maker here carried on by me at Hammersmith aforesaid be continued by my Executrix and Executor for the benefit of my said wife and children but in case my said Executrix and Executor shall meet with a favourable opportunity of disposing of the said trades and businesses or either of them and it shall in their judgement be most advantageous for my Estate to sell and dispose of the same and the Lease of the premises in which either of them is now carried on then I do hereby authorise and empower them to sell and dispose of the same according and I do give and devise my copyhold Messuage and Land situate at Warfield in the county of Berks to my said wife for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease I give and devise the same to my three children Mary Susanna and Joan as tenants in common and not as joint tenants I also give and bequeath all my Leasehold Messuages or Tenements and Premises situate at Hammersmith aforesaid and all other my Estate and Effects whatsoever to my said wife for her life as aforesaid and direct that she do and shall pay and apply a sufficient part of the Rents Issues and Profits thereof and also of my said Copyhold Estate and of the Income Interest or proceeds of other the clear residue of my Estate and Effects after payment of my just debts ffuneral and testamentary expenses in and for the maintenance and support of my said three children during their minority and for their advancement in the world and I direct that my said Executrix and Executor shall not be answerable or responsible the one for the other of them or the Acts or Deeds of the other but each for herself and himself only nor for any more of my Estate and Effects than shall be actually received by them respectively nor for any involuntarily loss or diminution thereof and that they do and shall satisfy and reimburse themselves all and every costs charges and expenses which they or either of them shall pay expend or be put unto in or about the execution of this my will ( + and I give to the said Robert Simpson the sum of ten pounds as a token of respect of his trouble in the execution of this my will) and I declare that the receipt or receipts of my said Executors shall be good and effectual discharges to the Purchaser or Purchasers of any part of my Estates or Effects which may be sold or disposed of under this my will and that such Purchaser or Purchasers shall not be bound to see to the application of such purchase money or accountable for the misapplication or non-application thereof and hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made I declare this only to be and contain my last Will and testament in witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one

Timothy Carter

Signed Sealed published and declared by the said Testator Timothy Carter as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto the interlineations in the third line of the first side and also between the second and third lines of this last side being first made

Samuel Naylor Great Newport Street
Thomas Saunders Hammersmith
James Saunders Hammersmith

Proved at London 22 April 1822 before the worshipful Charles Coote Doctor of Laws & Sworn by the oath of Hannah Carter Widow the Relict and Robert Simpson Executors to whom Administration was granted having been first sworn DULY to administer.

Transcribed from Timothy Carter’s will in the National Archives reference PROB-11-1655-364

© Julian Parker 2020

Lincolnshire hoop back Windsor side chair stamped Camm Grantham with 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 99 & WS 98

Lincolnshire hoop back Windsor side chair stamped Camm Grantham with 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 99

Lincolnshire hoop back Windsor side chair stamped Camm Grantham  WS 98

This is a exquisitely charming Grantham side chair of such dainty proportions. The way I got this chair really underlines how generous some people are: read on. This chair was advertised as a child's chair signed by CAMM by an auction house in Derbyshire.  I initially missed it in the net but a good friend kindly emailed me with the details. I realised that it was an previously unrecorded spindle back side chair from Thomas Camm of Grantham and would fit nicely in my collection. 

However, when the day came for the auction, the weather forecast was not good and even though I set off for the Peak District it soon became obvious that, with the snow, it was not sensible to carry on and I reluctantly turned back. When I got home it had been sold and for not very much: you can imagine my disappointment! 

At the beginning of the following week I contacted the auctioneers and asked then to pass my details on to the purchaser as I wished to at least try and record this chair for the benefit of all.  Just imagine my surprise when later in the day I got a phone call from Tracey in Burton saying that she had the chair and had viewed my website and was happy for me to collect it. What a treasure: both the chair and Tracey ! I travelled to Burton the following week and had pleasure of meeting Tracey.  I also took Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990) along and was able to identify the maker of a yew Windsor chair she also had. The little Camm chair exceeded all expectation and had obviously come from a very good home: I settled up and returned home really happy.

Many thanks to Euan for flagging up this chair; many thanks to Hansons Auctioneers for passing along my details and finally my heart felt appreciation to Tracey for her kindness. I don't usually include makers stamps on this site (so when I say a chair is signed you will just have to trust me that it is) but this is slightly unusual.  All the chairs that I have seen signed by Camm have the word Grantham below. There are several examples in The English Regional Chair (1990). This one is different in that the words are side by side which shows that he had one stamp for each word. OK, I know it's not an earth-shattering revelation but it all adds to the knowledge of their workshop practice.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Lincolnshire or Worksop Roman Windsor side chair stamped J.S with eared curved crest rail, turned stiles, 3 turned spindles, bell-shaped seat, elaborately turned legs with vase-shaped feet x 4, H stretcher with wide bobbin WS 33 & WS 32

Lincolnshire or Worksop Roman Windsor side chair stamped J.S with eared curved crest rail, turned stiles, 3 turned spindles, bell-shaped seat, elaborately turned legs with vase-shaped feet x 4, H stretcher with wide bobbin WS 33

Lincolnshire or Worksop Roman Windsor side chair stamped J.S  WS 32

This chair design is usually called a "Roman" chair and many were made by the big chairmakers at Worksop called Allsop. A chair of this type is also shown on Isaac Allsop's trade card at figure NE 270 p. 177 of Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990) An I Allsop & Sons example of this type, with a paper label affixed under the seat, appears at figures NE 260 and NE 261 on p. 175.

However, there is also a drawing in John Shadford's note book of this type of chair (on the 9th image down on that webpage). That image is also reproduced in The English Regional Chair (1990) at figure NE173 on p. 147. 

Intriguingly this chair has two letters tantalisingly impressed on the seat rear edge: J.S; who put then there? I have been told of a spindle back Caistor chair that also had the letters J S impressed on it: did John Shadford make both of them? This chair has many similarities to the chair in the drawing in the link above in which two tiny ears are hinted at on the under-ends of the crest rail.  So Shadford is one candidate.

The other is a maker who worked for Gillings for many years called John Stenton (1807-1863) He married Frances Gilling, aunt of Benjamin Gilling & William Gilling. Stenton was next door neighbour to Henry Gabbitass in the 1841 census, then described as Ag(ricultural) Lab(ourer) but by the 1851 census he is described as Chairmaker, ditto in the 1861. 

Henry Gabbitass took over the Gabbitass firm from Elizabeth Gabbitass, John Gabbitass's widow in 1844 when Elizabeth remarried Henry Thorpe. Henry Gabbitass & Benjamin Gilling were in partnership until 1854 when the dissolution is in the London Gazette on 18 July. 

John & Fanny Stenton had three sons who also became chairmakers, John (1829-1883) & Richard (1838-1881) & Walter (1848-1926). By 1851 John junior is a chairmaker in Worksop. Ditto in 1861. John senior died in December 1863 in Sheffield. By the 1871 census both John junior & Richard are chairmakers in Sheffield Brightside. In the 1881 census John junior is chairmaker in Barnsley where he dies in 1883. Richard Stenton sets up Windsor chairmaking in Market Rasen in April 1865. In February 1865 Richard is sued for unpaid bills in Worksop: "John Thompson, draper, of Lincoln, sued Richard Stenton, chair maker, Market Rasen (late of Worksop), for the sum of £4 8s 11d., for goods sold and a balance, and obtained an order for 10s. per month." Richard's firm must have foundered as by the 1871 census he and John junior were living in the same house in Sheffield. In March 1872 "Richard Stenton, on bail, chair maker, was acquitted on a charge of stealing two chair frames, two stools, two chairs, other articles, property of his masters, Messrs. Hydes and Wigful, upholsterers, at Sheffield, on 9 December. Mr. Tennant prosecuted." In the 1881 census, Richard visited Walter, still chairmaking in Worksop, which he is already by the 1871 census. Richard died sometime after 1881. A Richard Stenton of the right age died in Manchester in 1887. Walter in the 1891 census is described as Chairmaker & shopkeeper. In the 1901 he is still chairmaker in Worksop but by the 1911 he is "formerly chairmaker unoccupied thro ill health". Walter died in Grimsby in 1926. 

So "J.S" on that chair could also be either John Stenton senior (chairmaking some time after 1841 until 1856 or John Stenton junior who made chairs in Worksop from 1851 to 1861 and probably for longer.

PS John Stenton (probably junior) batted at No 7 for Messrs. Gabbitass & Hoggard's Windsor Chair Makers' XI in their game against Messrs. Garside & Sons (Timber Merchants) played at Worksop Manor Park on 16 September 1850. Stenton scored 2* out of a paltry 42 all out in the first innings and 5 out of an even more lamentable 33 in the second innings. 40 wickets fell that day for only 211 runs. The wicket must have been a cabbage patch. Or perhaps they were using chair legs for bats! Stenton caught no catches and took no wickets. Messrs. Garside's XI contained no less than 6 men bearing that name. They all enjoyed the beers afterwards at The Boundary Inn owned by Mr B Garside.

© William Sergeant 2012 and Julian Parker 2020

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped Brand Marsh Sleaford with 9 long spindles, 8 short, crook underarm supports, bell-shaped seat, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 164 & WS 163

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped Brand Marsh Sleaford with 9 long spindles, 8 short, crook underarm supports, bell-shaped seat, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 164 

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped Brand Marsh Sleaford  WS 163

Many thanks to Robert Williams, a fellow collector of vernacular furniture, for alerting me to the sale of this chair in Bury St. Edmunds. I had missed the pre-auction advertisement and if it not had been for the diligence of Robert this chair could have slipped back into oblivion for ever! What makes this chair so special is that it is stamped BRAND MARSH SLEAFORD, which was fortunately mentioned in the auction notes on this lot. The Sleaford chairmakers John Brand and Thomas Marsh are well known, with chairs stamped by them individually having been recorded, but this is the very first time that one has turned up with both names, indicating that they worked together in partnership for a while.  

Both appear in Pigot's Directory for 1822, John Brand as 'turner & chair maker', Thos. Marsh as 'Windsor chair maker'. Marsh died in April 1844 aged 67 and Brand on 26 March 1850 'advanced in years', according to the Stamford Mercury.  John Brand is shown in the 1841 census as then aged 55, although ages in that census are often not accurate. He seems to have been baptised in 1785 or 1786 and was thus a handful of years younger than Thomas Marsh.

I got in touch with the auction house after the sale and asked for my details to be passed on to the purchaser. In due course we made contact and I travelled to Suffolk to meet the new owner, who now appreciates the significance of this chair and will be a good custodian. I set up an improvised photographic studio in the kitchen and the result can seen above.

Description: thick elm seat with chamfered under-edges grain running from front to back. Bell shaped in plan. Cherry spindles, 8 short and 9 long, one of which is broken. Very delicate bent underarm supports secured by screw underneath. Yew wood front legs with ring and cove decoration. Plain back legs, one of yew and one with an inappropriate later replacement. Yew crinoline stretcher with two ash short connecting stretchers to back legs. There are no securing pins in the top of the back bow unlike Marsh signed chairs were they are always present. 4 pins in the armbow, two to secure the backbow and two to secure the frontmost spindles. Seat dimensions : 19 5/8 by 15 3/16 inches. A fine example of an early Lincolnshire Windsor chair.

© William Sergeant 2015 and Julian Parker 2020

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair by Amos Grantham with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat with lower diamond, double pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 8 short, crook underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with1 lower ring, plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 132

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair by Amos Grantham with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat with lower diamond piercing, double pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 8 short, crook underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with1 lower ring, plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 132

This superbly photographed chair is in the collection of Tom Wells and he kindly sent this picture and gave me permission to reproduce it here.

Please note that this chair has the maker's name stamped on the seat edge which is not very common amongst for these Grantham makers who tend to favour the upper rear of the seat in the centre just below the lower splat.

© Tom Wells and William Sergeant 2013 and 2020 

Lincolnshire comb back Windsor side chair stamped CAMM GRANTHAM with turned stiles, 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ball turning and thin cove front legs, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 94

Lincolnshire comb back Windsor side chair with turned stiles, 6 long spindles, straight seat sides, ball turning and thin cove front legs, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 94

From a private collection. The story behind this chair is that it was rescued from a skip, with a split seat and a broken stile (outer back support). It has been skillfully repaired and a replacement turned back support made. This stamped Grantham chair was way too good to be discarded and has now been recorded for all to enjoy and for academic research. Stamped with a bold impression on the seat edge: CAMM GRANTHAM.

© William Sergeant 2013

2 x Lincolnshire and a Beverley Windsor side chair, with curved crest rails, turned stiles, 6 , 7 and 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretchers, 2 with darts WS 124

2 x Lincolnshire and a Beverley Windsor side chair, with curved crest rails, turned stiles, 6 , 7 and 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretchers, 2 with darts WS 124

Take a good look at the three chairs above. Many of you will recognise the right-hand chair as a splendidly crafted chair from Sleaford and stamped by Marsh, with 5 spindles across the back. The left-hand unstamped chair is of a similar date and is what you may expect to have been made in Grantham, with 6 spindles across the back. Now study the middle chair: it is such a mystery!

I happened across this chair at the Newark Antique fair at the beginning of April 2014. From a distance it was instantly recognisable as a Lincolnshire side chair but on closer inspection there were many aspects that I had not seen before. The row of 7 spindles was a first for me and the design turnery of the two outside spindles (stiles) is quite different from anything previously recorded . The elm seat is wider and deeper than the standard small seat you would expect and although the chair had been well used it is quite evident it was made by a very competent workshop. It appears to have been reduced in height in the past (hence the ramekin plinths!) and the seat has twisted to give a slightly distorted appearance.

I quizzed the dealer as to the history of this chair and was told that it came from a house clearance in Beverley, Yorkshire, East Riding. It was then that I remembered that I had spoken to the same person last year when he had 3 other chairs of the same design. Foolishly I had not photographed them and he told me they had been purchased by an American dealer, so there is little chance of ever seeing those again. I secured the purchase of this single chair so I could record it here, calling it a Beverley chair for want of a better name or until I discover who made it. The dealer also told me that he had had other similar chairs through his business in the past . Any other information on this design would be welcome: it may well be that there is a previously unrecorded maker from the East Riding of Yorkshire who was responsible for these lookalike Lincolnshire side chairs.

© William Sergeant 2014 and 2020

3 x Lincolnshire Windsor side chairs by Marsh of Sleaford, with curved crest rail with turned stiles and 5 long spindles x 1, hoop back x 2 with 7 & 6 long spindles, 1 straight sided and 2 bell-shaped seats, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts x 2 H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning x 1 WS 116

3 x Lincolnshire Windsor side chairs by Marsh of Sleaford, with curved crest rail with turned stiles and 5 long spindles x 1, hoop back x 2 with 7 & 6 long spindles, 1 straight sided and 2 bell-shaped seats, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts x 2 H stretcher with 6 bobbin turning x 1 WS 116

All three chairs bear the maker's stamp on the rear of the upper seat: MARSH SLEAFORD. The middle chair is the same as WS 115. These chairs illustrate the beautiful balanced designs of side chairs that these father and son chair turners made. The earliest reference to Thomas Marsh being in Sleaford is 1810 (when his daughter Anne was baptised there) and his son James was still there making chairs in 1870 - a span of at least 60 years!

Right, I hope you are sitting comfortably as what you are about to read has never been published before: it's about Thomas Marsh. He was baptised in Bilborough, Nottinghamshire on 20th August 1779* to parents Hugh and Helen Marsh. I believe he had an older brother Joseph, who was baptised in Strelley, Notts in 1776 and another older brother Hugh who was baptised in 1771 at St. Michael's, Derby. He went on to marry in St Wulfram's, Grantham (which was quite usual for people from Little Gonerby) on 26th July 1802. His bride on that day was Helen Thompson who had been born at Londonthorpe (a tiny village about a mile northeast of Grantham) and on their marriage register they were both noted as living in Little Gonerby. At the time of their wedding Thomas was 22 and Helen 21. Their wedding must have been a slightly sad affair as his mother-in-law had died just the month before and had been buried in Grantham (as she had been a resident of Little Gonerby) on the 21st June 1802. Their union was soon blessed with a child as on 19th August 1803 James was baptised in St. Marys, Nottingham. The next reference that I found for them was at Little Gonerby again when the baptism of their daughter Jane was recorded on the 21st Feb 1808. At some stage they moved to Sleaford as they had a daughter Ann baptised on 11th July 1810 at Quarrington (which is often referred to as Old Sleaford).

This has left me wondering what he was doing living in Little Gonerby, marrying a local girl and then going back to Nottingham. It could be explained if he had gone to do an apprenticeship with a Master as there is a history of chairmakers there. He met and fell in love with Helen but as is usual, he was not allowed to marry until he had finished his time, and then went back to his former home with his new bride. The intrigue does not stop there as the marriage was witnessed by Richard Hubbard and his wife Elizabeth. Richard Hubbard was a chair maker in Grantham - it would be no great surprise if he turned out to have been Thomas Marsh's Master.

Thomas appears to have been a chair maker all his life, eventually being buried at Sleaford on 25th April 1844 at the age of 67.** James was died in September 1870.

Here is a short video on Marsh chairs.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

* and ** This would indicate that he was born in 1777: the baptism at Bilborough in August 1779 is the only Thomas Marsh baptised in the vicinity of Nottingham at around the relevant time.

3 x Lincolnshire Windsor chairs by Marsh of Sleaford, one high back bow back, one hoop back side chair, and one medium bow back, with 9, 7 and 9 long spindles, bell shaped seats, turned underarms x 2, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts WS 115

3 x Lincolnshire Windsor chairs by Marsh of Sleaford, one high back bow back, one hoop back side chair, and one medium bow back, with 9, 7 and 9 long spindles, bell-shaped seats, turned underarms x 2, ring and cove turned front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts WS 115

All three chairs bear the maker's stamp on the rear upper part of the seat: MARSH SLEAFORD. This picture demonstrates the interchangeability of component parts: the legs are all identical (accepting that the chair on the left has been reduced in height some time ago). Thomas and James Marsh developed an elegant and balanced turned leg and they stuck by it faithfully through out many years and never went for the two ring motif on later chairs as other makers did.  The underarm turnings are consistent on the two armchairs and all three chairs have the same H stretcher with darts.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Lincolnshire hoop back side chair, 7 long spindles, bell-shaped seat, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts WS 15

Lincolnshire hoop back side chair WS 15

Unsigned side chair showing striking similarities to chair at figure NE55 on p. 123 of Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990). On that basis this chair is likely to have been made in the workshop of James Marsh of Sleaford (1803 - 1870 or that of his father Thomas (1779 - 1844).

© William Sergeant 2012 and 2020

Comb back Lincolnshire side chair by Marsh of Sleaford with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 5 long spindles, straight seat sides, ring and cove turnings on the front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs and H stretcher with darts WS 14

Comb back Lincolnshire side chair by Marsh of Sleaford WS 14

Side chair with MARSH SLEAFORD impressed on upper rear surface of seat - this may relate to James Marsh (baptised 19th August 1803) who lived and worked in Jermyn St. Sleaford as a chair maker for all his life. This chair is one of a set of three that were offered for sale in a Lincoln auction in March 2001 and no mention was made in the sale catalogue that all were signed to the rear of the seat. There equally a good chance that the father of James made these chairs: his name was Thomas . The parish register of St Denys Sleaford shows Thomas's burial aged 67 on 25 April 1844. No will has yet been tracked down.

As I have said elsewhere, Marsh made really good chairs and for a very good reason. On the front page of the newly started Sleaford Gazette in the summer of 1858 there was an advertisement by Mr Darlow's Upholstery Establishment which sold cottage furniture including Windsor chairs at 2 shillings each, on South Street, Sleaford. Also on Westgate, Sleaford there was Mr William Robinson selling London, Birmingham and Sheffield goods including Windsor chairs, wholesale and retail! Messrs. Marsh must have made really good chairs at competitive prices to compete with the shops in town.

© William Sergeant 2012 and 2020