9am to 5pm

The course

This six day course offers participants the opportunity to use green wood working skills to make their own Windsor Chair. Participants will learn to make a chair from a freshly felled tree using only traditional hand tools. The turned parts of the chair are made from green ash which is cleft, roughed out on a shaving horse and turned on a traditional 'bodgers' pole lathe.  The finished turnings are seasoned in a simple kiln, fired by off cuts.

The curved elements of the chair, the hoops bows and combs, are  made from green ash boards or laths. These are planed to shape and steam bent. After an hour in a steam box they are bent in simple jigs or around a former before being allowed to cool and set.

A deep saddle is carved into each seat using traditional  chairmakers tools - adzes, scorps and inshaves before they are finished  with cabinet scrapers.

Finally the different elements of the chair are brought together and assembled or 'framed'. Accurate tenons are cut on to the seasoned turnings, and mortices are bored at exactly the angles required to create a strong and well proportioned chair.

The unconventional 'green woodworking techniques used in chair making make it as suitable for the novice as it is for the more experienced wood worker. First time chair makers will be able to complete a bow or comb back kitchen chair while those with some experience may be able to make a bigger 'double bow' or armchair.

The tutor

Paul Hayden has been makng chairs for more than twenty years. He has been a regular contributor to Good Woodworking Magazine and has designed hand tools and jigs for chair making which are in use around the world.

Paul's chair making courses have been running for fifteen years. For the last ten years they have been held at the National Arboretum Westonbirt where they have become more and more popular.  We are delighted to be able to bring him to Singleton. If numbers require it Paul will be joined by Peter Murray. In addition to having completed a Coppice Skills Apprenticeship, Pete is a talented chair maker. He has been teaching alongside Paul for three years.

More information about Paul's courses and a gallery of photos of the courses he has been running are available on his website: www.greenwoodcourses.co.uk 

Participant information

All tools and materials are provided but if you have tools of your own feel free to bring them. You will be based outside (under cover) so please bring appropriate clothing.

Fee

£300 per person, to include all tuition, courses materials, tea and coffee. The Museum café will be open or you can bring your own packed lunch.

The Museum

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits.  It is also home to the award winning and innovative Downland Gridshell, which houses a conservation workshop and artefact store, and is also used for many practical courses.  The Museum runs a full programme of courses in historic building conservation and traditional rural trades and crafts, along with MSc programmes in Building Conservation and Timber Building Conservation validated by Bournemouth University. Please telephone for further details.

To book, download a form here.  Alternatively, fill in the booking request below.

Make a Booking Request

 
This is an initial booking request form, and does not guarantee a place on the course. The Adult Learning Team will check the availability of the course, and reply to you as soon as possible - usually within one working day.