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