Lincolnshire Windsor & Rush seated chairs, including a catalogue of the Lincolnshire Chairs exhibition held at Alford Manor April to October 2019.
Text & pictures by William Sergeant & Julian Parker. Some chairs from other regions are covered either to distinguish them from Lincolnshire chairs or for their inherent beauty. Occasional posts on other subjects happen from time to time.
William Sergeant's talks about the chairs may be found in the Useful Links
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
1980s faithful copy of original Lincs rush seated, ladder back armchair, by Rob Ley, who lived in Spilsby at that time. This chair is downstairs at Alford, not in the main exhibition room.
b. 1676. m.(1) Ann or Anne Mapletoft b.1672 , All Saints, Fenton, 2 November 1701, 2d, 3s. m.(2) Elizabeth b. 1680. d. 1752 buried 1 December 1752 aged 76, carpenter.
Joseph Newton has the distinction of having placed the earliest known advertisement for Windsor chairs in an English newpaper, the Stamford Mercury, on 1 July 1725.
"This is to give Notice to all Gentlemen and others that have desire to furnish themselves with New-fashion'd Windsor Chairs of the best sort, may be furnished by Joseph Newton, the Maker, living at Fenton in the Parish of Beckingham, Lincolnshire, for Miles from Newark upon Trent in Nottinghamshire, and there is a chair to be seen at the White Hart in Newark for a Sample, and one at the Angel in Grantham; He proposes to deliver them at these Places at 7s. 6d. per Chair, and at Lincoln at 8s. and with as much speed as possible, after Notice given."
In 1727 John Brown advertised 'At the 3 Chairs and Walnut Tree at St. Paul's Churchyard all sorts of Windsor garden chairs of all sizes painted green or in the wood' (A. Heal, London Furniture makers 1660 1840, Batsford, London (1953).
Joseph Newton placed a further advertisement in the Stamford Mercury on 8 May 1729.
"This is to give Notice, That Joseph Newton of Fenton in the County of Lincoln, 4 Miles distant from Newark upon Trent, maketh all sorts of Windsor Chairs, the Price of the single Chairs 7s. 6d. a Piece, the Seat-two's, Seat-three's and four's all 7s per Seat and are to be sold at Mr. John Fox's Gunsmith in Grantham, at Mr Taylor's at the Reign'd Deer, and at Mr John Farrow's both in Newark, and at Mr John Shakelton's in Nottingham, and Gentlemen that has a Desire of any of the said Chairs, may be furnish'd at any of the above said Places they may go by Water from Newark to Nottingham, Gainsborough or Lincoln for Three-pence a Seat. I have furnished a great many Gentlemen, Gardeners with them, and they are esteem'd above those that come from London both for Ease and Fashion."
No further advertisements are known before 13 July 1754 (and weekly for 6 more weeks), when William Partridge of Banbury advertised his new shop.
"NOTICE is hereby given, THAT WILLIAM PARTRIDGE Hath opened a SHOP near the White Lion in Banbury, with all Sorts of the most fashionable Furniture in the Cabinet Way:
AS Chairs, Drawers, Tables, Bureau's, Glasses, Stands, Waiter, &c. where (or at his House in Adderbury) all Gentlemen and others that please to favour him with their Commands, may depend upon being serv'd at the lowest Prices, as well as in any Part of this Kingdom, By,
Their very humble Servant
WILLIAM PARTRIDGE.
Likewise all Sorts of Carpentry, Joiners Work, and Carvings; viz. Brackets, Umbrello’s, Temples, Pavilions, Pallisadoes, Fences, Garden Seats, Windsor and Forrest Chairs and Stools in the Modern Gothic, and Chinese taste; and all other Things made in Wood that are not to be had in this Part of the Country of any Person but himself."
