Course details:

The Welsh stick chair is the vernacular style of Windsor chair that evolved west of the border several hundred years ago. It’s a simple but beautiful design that will grace any hearth with a charismatic presence.

Over this seven-day course you’ll be taken through the process of crafting a Welsh stick chair from log to tree. You’ll fashion the legs, spindles and other components from locally sourced green ash using a range of simple tools, including drawknife and spokeshave. You’ll also use an adze and travisher to ‘bottom’ the chair seat to a comfortable form. A highlight of the course, apart from going away with your own heirloom, is the process of steam bending the graceful bow that forms the distinctive arm of the chair, and the comb that tops off its back. After delving into some joinery and assembly, you’ll have a beautiful chair to take away with you and enjoy for many years to come.

This is an intensive course but is suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge of chair making. More challenging variants on the Welsh stick theme may be possible for woodworkers with some existing skill.