Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from the workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; front view

This chair turned up in a south Lincolnshire auction in October 2020: even were it not stamped 'MARSH', there are several features which point to Thomas Marsh and his son James. That linked post, which has more biographical details about Thomas (1777 or 1779-1844) and James (1803 - 1870) shows a stamped side chair with the 6 bobbin stretcher. Marsh is the only workshop stamp that has been found with such a stretcher.

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; 3/4 view

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; side view

The small chamfer at the end of the terminals of the arm bow is another characteristic Marsh workshop feature. The circular scribe line just visible on the side stretchers to mark the junction point with the cross stretchers is another Marsh workshop habit.

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; rear view

Another Marsh workshop practice was to pin some of the long sticks with small square wooden pins from the rear of the bows: this chair has two such pins to secure 2nd and 7th long sticks to the back bow, 3 sets of holes for two more, missing the pins, on the 3rd and 6th long sticks (1st at the top in the back bow, 2nd in the arm bow and 3rd in the seat), two more, still with pins, to secure the back bow to the arm bow, and finally 4 more holes, two in the back bow and two in the seat, which appear to have been drilled in the wrong place as they do not align with any of the long sticks, unlike their companions. A momentary lapse of concentration on a Friday afternoon, perhaps.

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; view from above

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; detail of arm turning

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; view from below with detail of leg turnings and stretchers

 

Lincolnshire bow back stick back Windsor armchair, 8 long sticks, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, ring and cove turned front legs with lower ring, H stretcher with 6 round bobbins, stamped MARSH, from workshop of MARSH SLEAFORD; detail of stamp.

The top part of each letter of 'MARSH' is just visible at the back of the seat. There does not appear to be any sign of the 'SLEAFORD' stamp that appears on some Marsh chairs. A pair of side chairs, one of which was exhibited at the exhibition in Alford in 2019 has 'MARSH' stamped on one seat and 'SLEAFORD' on the other. All parts of this chair are of ash.

© Julian Parker 2021

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped WILSON GRANTHAM, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, 3/4 view

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, view from above

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, detail of arm turning 

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, side view

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, rear view

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back armchair stamped Wilson Grantham, with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts, stamp

For a short piece about John Wilson (1779 - 1837) see this post.

© Julian Parker 2021

A Lincolnshire comb back Windsor armchair, with turned stiles, 7 long spindles, 6 short, straight seat sides, turned front legs with ball turning and lower ring, plain back legs, and H stretcher, possibly by James Taylor of Stamford

A Lincolnshire comb back in Kettle's Yard in Cambridge with notes provided by William Sergeant.

A Lincolnshire comb back Windsor armchair, with turned stiles, 7 long spindles, 6 short, straight seat sides, turned front legs with ball turning and lower ring, plain back legs, and H stretcher, possibly by James Taylor of Stamford

Lincolnshire comb back armchair by Marsh Sleaford, with curved crest rail, with 8 long spindles, the outer of which are turned stiles above the arm bow, which is chamfered at its ends, 6 short spindles, turned underarms, straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts WS 208

Lincolnshire comb back armchair by Marsh Sleaford, with curved crest rail, with 8 long spindles, the outer of which are turned stiles above the arm bow, which is chamfered at its ends, 6 short spindles, turned underarms straight seat sides, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher with darts WS 208

This comb back Lincolnshire armchair is from the wonderful collection of former Regional Furniture Society member, James Drake. I was delighted when he said that I could include it here, as it's so important and you all will be able to appreciate it. It has an impressed name stamp towards the rear of the upper surface of the seat which reads MARSH, so from the workshop of father and son, Thomas and James Marsh of Sleaford. The legs and underarm turned supports are typical of their patterns but the chair is of overall compact proportions, the like of which I have never seen before. The particular pleasing feature are the two outside long back support spindles (stiles), which start at the seat level and pass through the armbow the continue with the decorative turning up to the back comb, an elegant touch. This could easily become my favorite Lincolnshire armchair.

© William Sergeant 2019

Thomas Simpson, Boston stamped high bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat, double pierced lower splat, crook underarm supports, 2 x 3 long spindles, 2 x 3 underarm spindles, ring and cove front leg turnings & plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 207

Thomas Simpson, Boston stamped high bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair with 5-piercing fleur de lys upper splat, double pierced lower splat, crook underarm supports, 2 x 3 long spindles, 2 x 3 underarm spindles, ring and cove front leg turnings with lower ring & plain back legs, crinoline stretcher WS 207

Another chair from the collection of James Drake, this time a yew wood chair with reduced legs, but stamped clearly on the edge of the seat: T SIMPSON & Co BOSTON. There is another Simpson Windsor armchair at WS 123, and if you compare the back splat of both, I think that you would agree with me that both were made from the same master pattern, with the main difference being that this chair has a crinoline stretcher whereas WS 123 has an H stretcher with darts.

© William Sergeant 2020

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped TAYLOR GRANTHAM, turned underarm supports, 8 long spindles, 2 x 3 underarm spindles, ring and cove front leg turnings with single lower ring & plain back legs, H stretcher with cross stretcher turned with darts WS 85

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped TAYLOR GRANTHAM, turned underarm supports, 9 long spindles, 2 x 4 underarm spindles, ring and cove front leg turnings with single lower ring & plain back legs, H stretcher with cross stretcher turned with darts WS 85

I happen to find this one at the Newark Antiques Fair and I was convinced it was made by Marsh of Sleaford but on close inspection there is a faint stamp on the rear of the seat which says TAYLOR GRANTHAM. Fortunately no one had noticed this maker's mark and it joined my collection for a very small fee. The underarm turnings are so similar to Marsh of Sleaford that only when they are stood next to each other can you spot the differences. Compare this chair with WS 29 and you will see what I mean.

Other differences are that Taylor has 8 long spindles and 6 short, whereas Marsh uses 9 long and 8 short; Marsh puts a slight chamfer on the underside of the end of the arm bow, absent from the Taylor chair. The ring on the front legs of the Taylor chair is slightly deeper than that on the Marsh.

© William Sergeant 2018 and Julian Parker 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

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

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped MARSH of Sleaford with 9 long spindles, 6 short, crook underarms, bell-shaped seat, ring and cove front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 105

Medium bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped MARSH of Sleaford with 9 long spindles, 6 short, crook underarms, bell-shaped seat, ring and cove front legs with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher WS 105

Many thanks to Michael Pashby Antiques in New York City for providing this wonderful image from his stock . It was available along with 9 side chairs by the same maker - all signed. The crook underarm support is the first I have ever seen by this father and son pair of makers - it probably was made by the father (Thomas) and fully deserves to be recorded here. See WS 101 & WS 29 for chairs by the same maker.

© William Sergeant 2013 and 2020

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back Windsor armchair stamped T SIMPSON BOSTON with 8 long spindles 6 short, crook underarm support, bell shaped seat with fantail and two angled spindles, ring and cove leg turnings with 1 lower ring x 4 with crinoline stretcher WS 130

Lincolnshire bow back spindle back Windsor armchair stamped T SIMPSON BOSTON with 8 long spindles 6 short, crook underarm support, bell shaped seat with fantail and two angled spindles, ring and cove leg turnings with 1 lower ring x 4 with crinoline stretcher WS 130

There are several outstanding features that make a Lincolnshire chair easily recognisable from a Thames Valley chair, one of which is that a Lincolnshire chair never has two spindles angled upwards from a fantail from the back of the seat. Well this chair completely disproves the rule!

Thank you to Mitch Mitchell for allowing me to record his chair here. I was allowed to make a brief inspection of this chair before photographing it and I am completely satisfied that it was made in Boston; the legs, spindles, bows and seat are exactly as you would expect so I have no doubt that it was made in the county. A further very rare feature in a Lincolnshire chair is the scribe line round the back bow: this feature is common in Nottinghamshire but almost never found in Lincolnshire.

That just leaves the extra spindles for a back support : well, perhaps this one was made as an experiment to see what was the extra expense and whether or not it made the chair more stable. It's certainly the only armchair that I have ever seen from the East Midlands with this configuration. If you look at the side chair in WS 118 you will see something similar but that chair was made in Nottinghamshire. Perhaps journeymen who had experience in Thames Valley workshops made both chairs.

© William Sergeant 2020

3 Lincolnshire bow back spindle back Windsor armchair by Taylor, Marsh and Hubbard with 8, 9 and 9 long spindles, 6, 8 and 6 short, turned underarm x 2 crook underarm x 1 straight seat sides x 2 bell shaped seat x 1, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher x 3 darts x 2 WS 114

3 Lincolnshire bow back spindle back Windsor armchairs by Taylor, Marsh and Hubbard with 8, 9 and 9 long spindles, 6, 8 and 6 short, turned underarm x 2 crook underarm x 1 straight seat sides x 2 bell shaped seat x 1, ring and cove front leg turnings with 1 lower ring, plain back legs, H stretcher x 3 darts x 2 WS 114

These three chairs are all signed by their maker: left, Taylor of Grantham; middle, Marsh of Sleaford; right, Hubbard of Grantham. They just go to show how popular these spindle back chairs were in Lincolnshire. There are many similarities, namely: all have ring and cove front leg turnings and plain back legs, they are made out of ash except two outside ones which have elm for their seats.

© William Sergeant 2020

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair, with 3 piercing fleur de lys and teardrop pierced upper splat, teardrop pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, 2 ring front leg turning with vase feet, plain back legs with lower ring, H stretcher

Lincolnshire high back bow back Windsor armchair, with 3 piercing fleur de lys and teardrop pierced upper splat, teardrop pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, 2 ring front leg turning with vase feet, plain back legs with lower ring, H stretcher WS 26

Although there is no maker's name stamped on this chair it is similar to other George Wilson chairs. This type are referred to as a high back bow back or hoop back Windsor: whereas one such as this chair by George Wilson is referred to as a low back bow back Windsor.

© William Sergeant 2012 and 2020

Lincolnshire comb back Windsor armchair with curved crest rail, turned stiles, 7 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, 2 ring front leg turnings with vase feet, rear legs plain with vase feet, H stretcher, attributed to the workshop of Samuel Wood of Grantham

Lincolnshire comb back Windsor armchair with curved crest rail and turned stiles

I had just published yesterday's post on the chairs of Samuel Wood of Grantham, in which three chairs with turned underarm supports, believed to be unique to that maker's workshop, are featured, when I thought I might just check again whether there were any other stamped "Wood Grantham" chairs hiding on the web anywhere. I spent a few minutes checking my usual sources amongst auction houses, antiques dealers, and all other material for chair-fans published on the web: nothing emerged. I have a comprehensive private digital database of every known stamped Lincolnshire chair and checked that to make sure I hadn't overlooked one that was already known about. Nothing.

I went for a walk around the garden to get a breath of fresh air in these sad days of self-isolation. I had a chat, from a distance, with one of my wonderful neighbours, decided I was getting a little chilly, and went back to my laptop which is currently set up on the dining room table so I can watch the world go by through the windows.

As I sat down I glanced at one of my chairs that sits around the table and did a double take. I was looking at a front leg absolutely identical to the lower chair in yesterday's post, WS 175. I cautiously looked up and realised that I was now looking at an identical underarm turning. The back legs, plain but with vase feet are the same as WS 175 too. 

The long spindles all are thicker below the arm bow and thinner above the arm bow, which is also true of the upper chair in yesterday's post, WS 173. The ends of the arm bow are finished in the same way. The rear legs and H stretcher, the centre part of which, unusually amongst Lincolnshire chairs, is almost of the same girth as the legs, are the same as WS 173. The front chamfer on the sides and front of the seats are the same. The whole seat shape is very similar.  This comb back, which I bought last year because of its pleasing proportions, can now be attributed to the workshop of Samuel Wood of Grantham.

WS 173, reversed, on the left; comb back on right

It is striking how well the comb back's 3 pairs of turned rings, graduated in descending size, cascading from top to bottom, i) on the stiles (vertical turned outer members); ii) on the turned underarm supports; and iii) on the front legs, bring the design of the chair together into a well-balanced harmonious whole. The craftsman who made this chair was very skilled indeed.

Sharp-eyed readers may notice considerable similarity to this chair by George Wilson.  George Wilson, was of course, Samuel Wood's master when the latter was apprenticed. There are tell-tale differences between the two chairs.

The Samuel Wood workshop went for two similarly-sized inverted isosceles trapezoid spaces either side of the 3 short spindles. This is a pleasingly harmonious method of resolving the angles which happen when the comb leans back and the underarm support, holding the arm bow in tension, leans forward (ditto for WS 173).  Four vase-shaped feet break up the otherwise straight line at the foot of the legs and mirror the turning at the top of the stiles.

The Wilson chair places the first short spindle each side below the arm bow further back, behind the mortice joint where the stile meets the arm bow. This leaves a larger asymmetric trapezoid space at the underarm support, which does not sit so elegantly with the upper obtuse trapezoid space between the last long spindle and the stile of the comb.  The single lower ring, which may be a slightly earlier Grantham trait than vase-shaped feet, has no counterpoint on the back legs. The result, for me at least, is that the Wood chair has a slightly more pleasing feel.

© Julian Parker 2020

A pair of Lincolnshire low bow back Windsor armchairs, one stamped WOOD GRANTHAM with 3-piercing fleur de lys splat, single-pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, straight seat sides, 2 ring turned legs with vase feet, front and back, H stretcher with extra rear stretcher on one chair

Lincolnshire low bow back Windsor armchair, stamped WOOD GRANTHAM WS 173, from the workshop of Samuel Wood Grantham 

Lincolnshire low bow back Windsor armchair WS 175, unstamped, with a bow back template cut to replicate that of WS 173, from the workshop of Samuel Wood Grantham

The lower chair WS 175 was given to my mother on her marriage in the 1940s by my grandmother - so it has been in my family for at least 75 years.  It is unsigned and obviously from Lincolnshire but only recently did I manage to verify who made it.

The upper chair WS 173,  is a signed "WOOD GRANTHAM" which I found locally in 2016: it is the first one that I have handled. When I compared the two chairs side by side they looked so similar but just to confirm I made a MDF cut-out of the shape of the back bow of the signed one and offered it up to the other - there was a perfect fit - like Cinderella after the Ball.

So this left me in no doubt that my family heirloom was made in the workshop of Samuel Wood of Grantham.

© William Sergeant 2020

A similar chair appears at figures NE64 and NE65 on p.125 of Dr B D Cotton's The English Regional Chair (1990), although that chair has a crinoline stretcher, rather than the H stretchers on the two chairs featuring in this post. Dr Cotton remarks of figure NE64 that the "turned underarm supports are specific to this maker".  Since all three chairs have identical arm turnings, that statement is confirmed. 

Valentine Samuel Wood was baptised at St Wulfram's Church, Grantham on 17 February 1821.

Samuel Woods aged 20 appears as apprentice in the Manthorpe Road household of George Wilson, chair maker in the 1841 census.  From that, one suspects that his apprenticeship would have started in 1835 or thereabouts. Valentine Samuel Wood married Jane Morris in Grantham in 1846. Samuel Wood appears separately from George Wilson under chair makers and turners in both the Post Office Directory and Pigot's Directory for 1849. Valentine Samuel Wood together with Jane and three children appear in Manthorpe Road in the 1851 census with his occupation given as Chair Manufacturer.


On 12 March 1852 there appears in the Stamford Mercury a Freehold estates sale at the Three Crowns Inn in Little Gonerby which begins as follows: 

"To be SOLD by AUCTION, by Mr. Joseph Roberts, At the Three Crowns Inn in Little Gonerby, near Grantham, on Friday the 26th day of March instant, Six o'clock in the Evening, SEVERAL Freehold MESSUAGES, and Pieces or Parcels of BUILDING GROUND, situate and being in Little Gonerby aforesaid, in the following or such other lots as may be then determined upon:— Lot 1. All that well-accustomed Public-bouse, called the Three Crowns, tbe tenure or occupation of George Newton, his under-tenants or assigns, with a small Garden and Yard contiguous (as staked out), and also a Stable, Shed, and small Yard detached. Lot 2. A Messuage or Tenement, lately occupied by Edward North; together with a Cottage and Stable the back thereof, occupied by Samuel Wood; and a Piece or Parcel of Land or Ground, containing 920 Square Yards or thereabouts; being very desirable situation for carrying on an extensive Business, or for erecting Tenements, having a Frontage of 50 Feet towards the Street, with access to two convenient Roads the back."

Edward North, also mentioned in Lot 2, was a fellow Grantham chair maker. 

On 21 July 1860 at the Grantham Temperance Gala and Flower show, Samuel Wood of Little Gonerby is recorded, whilst unplaced, as having won one of 8 special prizes of 2s each awarded by the judges of "Class 13 Potatoes, Kidney ... the entries all being so very good." 

In the Stamford Mercury of 4 January 1861 there appeared the following letter:

"Christ's Hospital, Lincoln, 1st Jan., 1861. 
Mr. Editor, 
SIR,— The accompanying paper would have been read by the Rev. the Chancellor at the distribution of Prizes the above School on St. Thomas' last, had not that Rev. Gentleman been under the impression that he had forgot to bring it with him. As its publication would tend to show the public the nature of the situations to which my boys generally go, and also to wipe away the slanderous aspersions which have recently been so liberally showered upon them, I should feel obliged by its insertion in your widely-circulated and highly-respectable journal. Although the subjoined list contains, it would at once be presumed and admitted by any intelligent and candid mind, the names of boys widely differing in intellectual power and moral worth, yet in no single instance have I had, up the present moment, complaint preferred to me against any one of them by a master. I am, Mr. Editor, your obedient Servant, W. DALTON."

The subjoined list shows four columns: Name of Boy, Situation, Master, and Residence and 25 boys, the eighth entry of which reads "Geo. Harding, Chair maker, Samuel Wood, Little Gonerby".


And so, in the April 1861 census Samuel Wood Chair maker, appears at 23 Manthorpe Road, with Jane and 4 children, including 13 year old Robert, ditto as chair maker, though presumably like the aforementioned 14 year old member of the household, George Harding, Robert would have been, as Harding is described, a chair maker's apprentice.  Robert's baptism was at St Wulfram's Grantham on 5 December 1847, son of Samuel, Chair maker, and Jane.

The Lincolnshire Chronicle on 11 April 1862 records:

"SPITTLEGATE and LITTLE GONERBY, LINCOLNSHIRE. MR. JOSEPH ROBERTS will offer for SALE AUCTION, at the Angel Hotel, in Grantham, on Tuesday, April 22nd, 1862, at six for seven o'clock in the evening precisely, subject to conditions of sale to be then produced, and the following, or such other lots, as shall be determined on, the following valuable FREEHOLD ESTATES. [...] IN LITTLE GONERBY : - 

Lot 3. All that Piece or Parcel of Land now occupied as Garden Allotments, containing 4,100 square yards or thereabouts, bounded on or towards the north by land belonging to the vicar of Grantham, on or towards the south lot 4, on or towards the east land of the Earl Brownlow, and on or towards the west land of Robert Azlack White, Esq., and now in the occupation of Samuel Woods and others. 

Lot. 4. All those two cottages or tenements with the outbuildings and gardens and land in front of the same, containing 1,140 square yards thereabouts, in the tenure or occupation of Mr. Samuel Woods, bounded on or towards the north by lot 3, on or towards the south by property of Mr. John Collingwood, Mr. Smith, Mr. Garret, and others, on or towards the east road or way dividing this lot from lot 5, and on or towards the west by property of Robert Azlack White, Esq. 

Lot 5. All those four tenements or cottages, blacksmith's shop, stable and outbuildings the respective occupations of Robert Spick, Darins Deacon, W. Singleton, and W. Morris, bounded on or towards the north by land formerly used as a burial ground, on or towards the south the high road leading from Grantham to Manthorpe, and on the west the said road or way dividing the lot from lot 4. All the above lots are tithe and land tax free. Further particulars may be had on application to the Auctioneer, or HENRY BEAUMONT, Solicitor, Grantham. At whose office plan of lots 3, 4, and 5 may be seen. Grantham, April 5th, 1862."

The allotments were doubtless where the prize potatoes were lovingly raised. 

In the Grantham Journal of 24 January 1863 a sign of possible financial strain appears:

"POLICE INTELLIGENCE. GRANTHAM, Monday, January 19.—Before the Mayor, Ex-Mayor, Dr. Eaton, and Messrs. Shipman, Ridge, and Jeans. [...] Mr. George White, smith, Little Gonerby, was also summoned for refusing to pay 1s 6½d., church-rate. Mr. Cooper, vestry clerk, proved the rate. Defendant at first said that he should reserve his defence for a future period; but afterwards stated that part of the rate was applied to defraying the expenses consequent on the "ringing of the church bells," which he objected to pay, and considered a valid objection. He had been three times called upon for the rate. Their worships made an order for payment within one week, or a distress warrant to be issued. The same order was also made against Abraham Clarke and Samuel Wood, chair maker, who did not appear in court."

 From The Grantham Journal of 16 July 1864: 

"The annual Gala in connection with the Temperance movement in Grantham, and the Flower Show, were held on Tuesday, in the grounds ot Arnold Field House, the residence of W. Ostler, Esq. The weather was exceedingly favourable, and a large number of people assembled, and were entertained in various manners. "Dicky Horne," of course, commanded a fair share of attention, and there were other gentlemen on the platform who advocated the desirability of all becoming total abstainers. In other parts of the ground the band of the Robin Hood Rifles,  conducted by Mr. Turpin, and quadrille band, also from Nottingham, discoursed good music in excellent style. There performances formed the principal features of the Gala, and to the latter dancing was entered into in a spirited manner. The Swiss wonder Piping Bullfinch was again to be viewed and listened to for twopence per head, but did not receive so large a share of patronage as on the former occasion. Refreshments were provided by Mr. J. M. Edwards, who was well patronised. [...] COTTAGERS' DEPARTMENT [...] Class 7. Strawberries, dish of. 5s. to David Pyle Spittlegate; 3s. to Samuel Wood, Little Gonerby. 4 entries."

Samuel Wood seems to have turned his back upon the temperance movement: a sad notice in The Grantham Journal of 3 October 1868:

"THE BANKRUPTCY ACT. 1861. IN the County Court of Lincolnshire, holden at Grantham. SAMUEL WOOD, of High Street, Spittlegate, Grantham, in the County of Lincoln, Beerhouse-keeper, and late of Little Gonerby, in the County of Lincoln aforesaid Chair Maker having been adjudged Bankrupt on the 31st day of August, 1868, a Public Sitting for the said Bankrupt to pass his Last Examination, and make application for his Discharge, will be held at the said Court, at the Guildhall, on the 19th day of October, at half-part Eleven o'clock in the forenoon precisely, the day last aforesaid being the day limited for the said Bankrupt to surrender. The Registrar of the Court is the Official Assignee, and Mr. George Belk, of 6, High Pavement, Nottingham, is the Solicitor acting in the Bankruptcy. JNO. G. THOMPSON, Registrar. "

A notice in the Stamford Mercury of 23 October 1868 states 

"The BANKRUPTCY ACT, 1861. In tbe COUNTY COURT LINCOLNSHIRE holden at GRANTHAM. In the Matter of SAMUEL WOOD, of High-street, Spittlegate, Grantham, in the county of Lincoln, beerhousekeeper, and late of Little Gonerby, in the county of Lincoln aforesaid, chair-maker, adjudged Bankrupt on the 29th day of August, 1868. AN Order of Discharge will be delivered to the Bankrupt after the expiration of Thirty Days from this date, unless an Appeal be duly entered against the Judgment of the Court, notice thereof be given to the Court—Dated this Nineteenth day of October, 1868. JNO. G. THOMPSON, Registrar."

In the 1871 census Samuel Wood with Jane and 2 children is at 14 London Road (Ale house), occupation "Wood Turner + Publican".  In White's Directory for 1872 he appears at a beer house at London Road Grantham. In the 1881 census, still with Jane at 24 London Road, he is merely Beer house keeper. In the 1891 census still at no 24, still a beer house keeper but widowed and living with his daughter Emma Watts and her husband Charles, a master tailor. The Probate entry of Valentine Samuel Wood of 24 London Road, Grantham, beerhouse keeper died 8 December 1891, is granted Administration (with Will) on 19 February 1892 to Emma Watts (wife of Charles Watts). Effects £25.

Samuel and Jane's son Robert appears at 59 Norton St Grantham in the 1871 census, with wife Ann Elizabeth neé Wright, whom he had married at the Independent Chapel, Grantham on 10 June 1867, and daughter both called Ann, occupation 'Joiner'. Thereafter there seems to be no trace.

© Julian Parker 2020

Lincolnshire bowback spindleback Windsor armchair by Taylor, Grantham in ash with 8 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarm supports, ring and cove front legs, plain rear legs H stretcher with extra rear stretcher

WS 160 Lincolnshire bowback spindleback Windsor armchair stamped TAYLOR GRANTHAM

Every component is made from ash wood, straight sided seat with the grain running from front to back. Steam bent armbow with turned underarm supports. Six short spindles and eight long spindles. Single ring and cove decorated front legs with plain back legs. Plain H-stretcher with extra one joining the back legs .

This is a superbly crafted early chair from the workshop of Roger and Sophia Taylor of Grantham (c. 1802 to 1811), being light in weight and delicate in construction. The underarm supports are let through the top of the arm bow and wedged: a relatively rare technique on a Lincolnshire chair:

WS 159 underarm support through-mortised and wedged into the top of the arm bow 

Square pins have been driven through from the back but not seen from the front; two on the back bow and four on the arm bow. Weight 10.8 lbs .

From the collection of Brian Gray.

© William Sergeant 2020

Low bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped G Wilson Grantham with 3-piercing fleur de lys upper splat, single pierced lower splat, 6 long spindles, 6 short, turned underarms, straight seat sides, 2 ring legs with vase feet, H stretcher with darts,

Low bow back Lincolnshire Windsor armchair stamped G Wilson Grantham WS 27 

No doubt where this chair was made: G WILSON GRANTHAM is impressed at the rear of the seat and for good measure very similar to NE 69 on p. 126 of Dr B D Cotton’s The English Regional Chair (1990), though that chair has 4 short spindles either side rather than three.  Where Manthorpe Road stops at the traffic lights next to King's School Grantham there is a fuel station; this where the building stood in which this chair was made: the row of cottages opposite is where the men employed by Wilson lived. It was a big concern which made many chairs of various shapes and sizes, which explains why Wilson chairs are the most common of all Grantham chairs.

© William Sergeant 2020

Another possible Joseph Newton chair restored

Before restoration the whole comb back was warped by the old wrought iron rods (the threads of which are an engineering glory in themselves), but the nuts were very heavily tightened. pic.twitter.com/tm9GdaRqfR

— Julian Parker (@jhjparker) February 19, 2020

Wonderful creation by Rob Ley

William Sergeant and I have written here and elsewhere about Joseph Newton of Fenton in Lincolnshire being the earliest known maker of Windsor chairs and the likelihood that some of these chairs can now be identified.  Rob Ley has now made a beautiful modern version:

The chair on the left is attributed to Joseph Newton of Fenton Lincolnshire.currently he’s the earliest recorded Windsor chair maker in Britain. We reckon the chair was made in 1720s or 30s. On the right I made this without power tools. From tree to finish. pic.twitter.com/CirK1dtzJm

— Robert Ley (@rob1952rl) February 13, 2020

The early stages of Rob's work on this magnificent chair can be seen here. Congratulations to Rob.

P.S.  if you'd like one, I'm sure Rob would make one for you!

© Julian Parker 2020