For many people, antique Windsor chairs are a defining image of English country living. Famous for its elegant spindles and eye-catching carved woods, these beautiful chairs seem born to catch the eye like few contemporary designs can manage.
However, there’s much more to Windsor chairs than their name suggests, with countless varieties of the English fixture created throughout its history. Join us in looking at how the Windsor chair evolved while remaining true to its fundamental values of beautiful shapes and brilliant craftsmanship.
Pictured: A Georgian Windsor Armchair made from Elm and Ash
What Makes a Windsor Chair?
Did you know that the term ‘Windsor chair’ doesn’t refer to a particular style but instead a form of construction?
A Windsor chair is a design that centres around the wooden ‘saddle’, or seat. Every other component – the various spindles making up the back, legs and occasionally arms – is designed to slot into pre-drilled holes around the seat to complete the chair.
You may be thinking “Isn’t every chair made like this?” Well, there is a simple test you can perform on any chair to determine whether it’s a Windsor: could you remove the back and use it as a stool without removing the legs?
In some chairs, the back and the legs are reliant on one another, usually formed by a continuous piece of wood. More common is the use of fixings like screws to keep various pieces in place.
Windsor chairs are deceptively simple in their design – consisting of pieces of wood carved and knocked into each other with specialist tools – meaning they’re incredibly tough and versatile. There’s a reason these chairs have been enjoyed for hundreds of years!
Pictured: A 19th Century Windsor rocking armchair
The History of Windsor Chairs
Perhaps because the Windsor chair has such a simple but effective design, there are countless origin stories for it across the world.
The Windsor chair as we know and love it today came into fashion in the 16th and 17th centuries. While it was made locally across the UK, it became famous for its style in the esteemed country houses around London.
Despite its name, the Windsor chair was never primarily made in its namesake town. Now famous for being a much-loved home for the British Royal Family, Windsor was historically a key market for selling wares into London from surrounding towns.
During its early popularity, the majority of Windsor chairs were actually being made in a nearby town called High Wycombe, a place still synonymous with the UK’s furniture industry today.
Popular Variations of Windsor Chairs
As discussed above, Windsor chairs can come in a whole host of design styles, from curved or straight backs to arms and their eye-catching splats (carved wooden planks at the centre of the back).
Historically, local craftspeople had different methods for constructing the Windsor inspired by different woodworking techniques and the quality of local materials. This led to style variations in places such as Wales and rural England compared to London.
Over time, as people moved and regions became more connected, makers would borrow techniques from each other and regional varieties blended. Nowadays, it’s just as common to see Windsor chairs grouped by style as by where they were crafted.
There’s a style of Windsor to suit every interior but here are some of the most popular.
Pictured: A set of antique Windsor hoop back dining chairs
Hoop Back Windsor Chair
Also known as a Bow Back, this Windsor is notable for a thick, bowed piece of wood that forms the edges of the backrest. The spindles that make up the back fix into the seat at the bottom and the bow at the top.
This style strikes a fantastic balance between traditional tastes and modern sophistication, with clean, elegant lines that can complement both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Fan Back Windsor Chair
The defining feature of a Fan Back Windsor is the spindles moving outwards from a narrow point on the seat, creating a fan-like effect. The spindles will usually slot into a carved crest rail (the plank of wood running vertical at the top of the back), and this style will regularly not have arms to further accentuate the effect.
A Fan Back Windsor exudes elegance. Often incredibly sleek, it’s a style that benefits from minimalist rustic interiors that give it room to stand out.
Pictured: A pair of fan back Windsor dining chairs
Sack Back Windsor Chair
The Sack Back is very similar in style to the Hoop Back, with a long spindle back brought together with a bowed piece of wood. What makes Sack Backs different is their second bow running along the back’s midriff which forms the arms. This style is also called ‘Double Bow’ as a result.
Sack Backs are perhaps the most versatile form of Windsor chair for the modern home. They tend to be wider and offer excellent comfort, making them great as desk chairs, dining chairs or reading chairs.
Pictured: A 19th Century sack back Windsor armchair
Thames Valley Windsor Chair
Named after a region of England encompassing Windsor and other towns, Thames Valley Windsor chairs are often some of the oldest and most traditional styles available.
Thames Valley Windsor's are known for being double bows with lower arms and a wider seat than most varieties. This style makes for a great statement piece, with its size adding a sense of majesty to any interior space.
Welsh Windsor Chair
One of the most eye-catching traditional regional styles is the Welsh Windsor. Inspired by traditional stick chairs, a Welsh Windsor is usually a combination of double bow and fan, with a back bow forming the arms punctuated by fanning spindles to complete the backrest.
The Welsh Windsor is filled with playful charm, with thin spindles giving it a lightweight look that works brilliantly in contemporary countryside interiors.
Cornish Windsor Chair
A variety hailing from England’s south-west coast, Cornish Windsor chairs were traditionally double bows known for their slightly square shape. The seat would usually be less rounded than on other Windsor varieties, while the bow forming the back would be almost flat at the top.
Another feature of Cornish Windsor's was the use of paler woods, such as ash or beech. This makes antique Cornish Windsor chairs look beautifully weathered, adding more natural charm.
With hundreds of years of craftsmanship behind them, the truth is that all Windsor chairs have their unique charm. If you’re fortunate enough to enjoy an antique Windsor chair in your home, it can make for a wonderful statement piece brimming with the delights of the English countryside lifestyle.