chairmaking courses - The Windsor Workshop

5-day Courses: Monday to Friday
Booking:
Mon - Thur: 8.30 am - 6.00 pm
Friday:
8.30 am - 4.00 pm
2-day courses: Saturday & Sunday
Saturday:
Sunday:
8.30 am - 6.00 pm
8.30 am - 4.00 pm
Details of a wide range of local
accommodation are available via
the website or by post.
All tools and materials are supplied
(no extra charges), however students are
encouraged to bring their own tools
if they wish to use them.
A deposit of £225 for a 5-day course, or
£50 for a 2-day course, is payable to
secure a place.
CHAIRMAKING COURSES
2015
Payment can be made via the website
or by cheque (payable to The Windsor
Workshop). This will be acknowledged
and the booking confirmed. The balance
is payable at the start of the course.
Booking conditions viewable on website.
English double bow
sack back
continuous arm
(American double bow)
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
5-DAY: Students begin the week by steam-bending ash to make their arm and
bow. Next the spindles are shaved by hand from green ash using a drawknife and
spokeshaves. Strategies for turning sets of legs are demonstrated before shaping
the seat with adze, spokeshaves and travisher. Holes are drilled at compound angles and the chair is assembled. Alternative finishing strategies are discussed and
the course finishes at around 4.00 pm on Friday.
2-DAY: Students turn their legs and carve the seat with hand tools on
Saturday and then assemble the stool and apply a simple finish on Sunday,
finishing at around 4.00 pm.
Visit the website for:
 Specialist chairmaking tools
 Current and past newsletters
 Up to date course dates
James Mursell
rocking chair
child’s armchair
2- and 5-day courses with professional
chairmaker James Mursell
Everything provided including food and drink
Suitable for all levels of experience
The Windsor Workshop
Churchfield Farm, West Chiltington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2JW
(01798) 815 925
settee
Purpose-built workshop on a farm in West Sussex
james@thewindsorworkshop.co.uk
www.thewindsorworkshop.co.uk
www.thewindsorworkshop.co.uk
COURSE DATES 2015
DO I NEED PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE?
Making Windsor chairs is one of the most accessible forms of woodworking and courses
at The Windsor Workshop are suitable for anyone over 18 who is keen to make a chair or
stool. Over the past 11 years James Mursell has taught everyone from complete
beginners to expert cabinetmakers. All have been challenged and succeeded!
WHAT CAN I MAKE?
Choosing a Course
Decide which course you wish to take and choose dates
from the table. Phone or email James Mursell to check
availability of places.
January
2-DAYS: Over a weekend you can make an attractive and comfortable
12 - 16
Sack back (American double bow)
26 - 30
Continuous arm
Course Prices
2-day: stool
4-legged stool. Being the same height as a normal chair, it will be useful
anywhere in the house. This course is a great introduction to Windsor
chair making and students gain experience in many techniques such as
turning, shaping, drilling and finishing.
February
9 - 13
English double bow
child’s armchair
£545
16 - 20
Sack back (American double bow)
sack back
£575
30 - Apr 3
Settee (previous course required)
continuous arm
£575
English double bow
£575
rocking chair
£605
settee
£655
March
5-DAYS: If you are coming to The Windsor Workshop for your first 5-day course you have a
choice of four chairs: sack back (American double bow); continuous-arm; English double bow;
and child’s armchair.
April
£255
20 - 24
English double bow
11 - 15
Sack back (American double bow)
25 - 29
Child’s armchair
5-day:
(All prices are inclusive of VAT)
May
Choice of Woods
June
sack back
(American double bow)
continuous arm
6-7
Weekend stool course
15 - 19
Rocking chair (previous course
required)
29 - July 3
Continuous arm
The standard course chairs
are made from locally
sourced English ash with
tulip wood seats.
Alternative seat woods are
usually available at an
additional cost of about £50
James Mursell
English double bow
child’s armchair
Making these iconic designs involves all of the fundamental chair making techniques and includes
the use of green wood. Most of the work is done with hand tools using traditional techniques
developed in the 18th century; and great emphasis is put on creating an elegant and attractive
chair.
Returning students can make a different armchair or, for a greater challenge, a rocking chair or
settee. Other options exist and these can be seen during the first course.
is a full-time Windsor chair maker and teacher. He set up The Windsor
Workshop eleven years ago to offer chair making courses. He also makes
and sells specialist chairmaking tools, has written for a number of woodworking magazines, and has written a book - Windsor
Chairmaking. He teaches regularly at West Dean College; and his workshop is based on his farm with views across the fields to the South
Downs, just four miles away. He is a member of the Sussex Guild.
www.thewindsorworkshop.co.uk