Chairmaking Workshops with Rotary Planes at Urchfont Manor, Wiltshire

Make a Chair
with
Peter Hindle of Ashem Crafts

6 Day Course At Urchfont Manor Wiltshire

Shaker rocker chair
Shaker settee
Shaker Elder's chair
Comb back Windsor
Double Bow Stickback Windsor Chair
Gimson ladderback
Continuous armchair
Fred Lambert Rocker
Splat back windsor

URCHFONT MANOR
Urchfont
Devizes
Wiltshire
SN10 4RG

Proposed dates for 2012 courses are April 23-28 and June 25-30. There may be further courses in September.

Please contact Ashem Crafts direct to register your interest any of these courses.

All courses start with lunch on Monday and finish after lunch on Saturday.

Participants can choose from 9 alternative chairs (see pictures above) either Windsor style, Shaker chairs or English ladder backs. The cost of the timber is not included within the course fee. Participants can, if they wish and after consultation with the tutor, provide their own good quality timber.

To book a course please contact Urchfont Manor:

Website : http://www.urchfontmanor.co.uk/
Tel : 01380 840 495
Email : urchfontmanor@wiltshire.gov.uk

This course is for anyone interested in making either a Windsor style or English or American ladderback chair. With the use of Ashem rotary planes and allied equipment, each student should complete the component parts for a chair of their choice within the six day workshop. Everyone will have the use of the rounders and Ashem equipment. Each participant will have the opportunity to steam bend parts of their own individual chair using the windlass and forming jigs.

Choose the chair you would like to make from the selection at the top of the page.

Urchfont Manor is set in 10 acres of beautiful parkland in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside a few miles south of the historic market town of Devizes. The grounds include a walled garden, orchards, croquet lawns and magnificent mature trees. The manor lies on the edge of the picturesque village of Urchfont with its thatched cottages, duck pond and village greens - an oasis of calm.

Urchfont offers credit card facilities so bookings can be made between the hours of 11.00 & 16.00 on weekdays by calling 01380 840495.

About the Tutor

The course tutor, Peter Hindle, has been making and using rotary planes for over twenty five years. He has been involved in adult education and has been a craft teacher in schools and colleges for over thirty five years. He has demonstrated the techniques of making a Shaker chair and run workshops at the Shaker Art of Craftsmanship Exhibition at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. For the past 18 years he has been taking Shaker chair workshops in the USA and Windsor and stick-back chair workshops in England.

For more information click here.




Barbara's "Fred Lambert" Rocker (2010)

Hi Peter & Patricia,

I enclose a picture of my finished chair which has been greatly admired by everyone who has seen it. I could have sold it several times. My friends assume that my husband made it! I finished the chair with three coats of Danish oil.

I am tempted to come on another course and make a Shaker chair, John's rocker was very unusual.

Regards Barbara

I had a wonderful week at Urchfont in July. Although I done a little woodwork years ago, I hardly came into the 'experienced'category, but with the help of the tutors, I was able to make my first ever chair, and am very pleased and proud of the end result.