How were traditional Windsor chair parts made in the beech woods near High Wycombe?

In the beech woods near High Wycombe, traditional Windsor chair parts were crafted by specialized woodturners known as bodgers. Working in small huts directly within the woods, these craftsmen utilized the abundant local beech timber while it was still green, which made the wood significantly easier and faster to shape.12

The production process involved several key steps:

• Preparation: Bodgers felled the trees and cut the trunks and branches into suitable lengths, splitting them into sections appropriate for chair legs, uprights, and smaller rails.1
• Turning: Parts were shaped using a primitive pole lathe. A cord attached to a treadle was wrapped around the wood and connected to a springy sapling anchored outside the hut. The treadle provided the power to revolve the wood, while the sapling’s tension turned the work backward on the return stroke.1
• Efficiency: Using a turning gouge or chisel on the downward stroke, a skilled bodger could form curves, beads, and diameters for a complete chair leg in mere seconds.1

Once finished, these turned components were delivered to furniture firms for final assembly.1