Testimonials from past students
James Mursell set up The Windsor Workshop in 2004 to teach the art of chairmaking and to help to keep the craft alive.
The courses are designed to give an enjoyable and fulfilling experience, available to all. Absolutely no previous experience is required to take a course and this has been proved time and again by scores of students over the past seven years.
Making a Windsor chair is quite unlike most other branches of woodworking, with the emphasis being on shaping wood more than absolute precision. Each person can expect to take a completed chair/stool away with them at the end of their course along with the skills to make more on their own at home.
Great emphasis is put on making attractive pieces of furniture that are soundly constructed using traditional techniques that have stood the test of time. On the 5-day courses the use of green wood is essential in order to make the finest possible chairs and this wet wood is fully dried before being incorporated into the chair.
Almost the whole course is based around the use of hand tools such as: spokeshaves, travisher, drawknife, adze, brace and bit and others. The legs and stretchers are turned on power lathes and full instruction is given in their safe use.
Students come on these courses for a number of reasons – just to have a go and to gain the satisfaction of making an attractive an useful piece of furniture, or in the hope of finding a new hobby or career. Whatever your motivation, why not give it a go? You will be guaranteed an action packed week learning a wide range of new techniques.
A wide range of local accommodation is available for those that live too far away to commute daily.
