T he Windsor Institute is the only school in the world dedicated to teaching Windsor Chair making.

• Current Class Schedule
• Class FAQ
• Building and Location
• Accomodations
• Tuition
• Tools
• Copyright Terms

We conduct five-day classes 2-3 times a month, year round. This large number of classes allows a student to choose a time that fits his or her schedule. The men and women who have taken our classes have ranged from 13 to 82 years old and include every skill level from rank novice to the very experienced.

Each student begins by taking the introductory sack back class which is held many times throughout the year. This class focuses on the chairmaking principles that are common to all Windsors. Seven advanced classes are held during the year (some only once). When taking one of these students can make the continuous arm, a side chair, a settee, a writing arm, a child’s chair, a rocker, or a large fan back. These advanced classes concentrate on advanced techniques. The basic principals are not repeated, and so our advanced classes are only open to people who have taken sack back with us.

The Institute is located in the historic seaside town of Hampton, NH, in a lovely rural setting just 1 ½ miles from town and 3 miles from the ocean. We are on 58 wooded acres about one mile from the intersection of Routes 101 and 95, the major east-west and north-south highways. This location makes it very easy to get here from any direction.

We work in a newly built, 2,400 square foot, state-of-the-art building that is heated and air conditioned and includes many other amenities. Its large, well-lighted classroom has 18 work stations.

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Students are responsible for their own rooms and meals. Hampton is a resort area and has dozens of motels, many within two miles of The Institute. Several of these offer our students their corporate rates. Motel recommendations are included in the packet students receive when they enroll. Hampton is well known for its restaurants, and choices for breakfast and supper are varied and plentiful. For lunch, most students choose to order from a nearby deli. The Institute also has a full kitchen for those who wish to prepare their own food.

Tuition for the sack back class is listed HERE.
A 50% deposit is required to hold a spot for you. We will bill you for the balance, which is due 30 days before the class begins. Of course you have the option of making full payment when you reserve your space.

We also accept Visa and Master Card. When using a credit card, we take full payment.

Classes are limited to 18 people. In addition to those 18, we also have audit positions. If for any reason you wish to take a class but not make a chair, inquire for details.

Any payments received are returned if a cancellation is made at least 60 days before the class begins. If a cancellation is made less than 60 days before the class begins, we will roll over any payments to another class for a period of one year, only if we are able to fill the original class. We will only roll over once. If we are not able to fill a space cancelled with less than 60 days, any balance will be due and payable.

Most students prefer to bring their own tools, as most of the tools we use are very common and are found in any woodworking shop. We do use some tools that are specific to Windsor chairmaking. These are listed (and sources given) on a tool list that is sent out when students enroll. The classroom is very well equipped and students who do not choose to acquire these specific tools are welcome to use ours.

To assist students in making chairs at home after their class, we carry a line of chairmaking supplies such as seat blanks and turnings for a variety of forms including adult chairs, child chairs and stools.

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The Institute also publishes The Windsor Chronicles, a quarterly magazine for Windsor chairmakers.

Call or fill out our subscription form to receive a free copy.

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The Windsor Institute’s techniques, designs, and procedures are copyrighted. Our students are authorized to use them for the making of chairs for personal use and for sale. We do not authorize the dissemination, reproduction, or publication of these materials in any form and strictly prohibit the use of these materials in the teaching of chairmaking to others.

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