Glastonbury Chairs

I have always liked Glastonbury chairs, and during my travels to see cathedrals and abbeys around the I had the opportunity to see lots of Glastonbury chairs.  These pictures are intended to provide some examples of the various types of carving and design work on Glastonbury chairs around the UK. 

Each thumbnail is a link to the large photo. 


Two chairs in St Paul's Church, Jarrow (on the grounds of Bede's World, Tyne & Wear)
An angled shot of the first chair, showing the cutouts in the back and the arms. (145kb)

 

A rear angled look at look at the first chair. (160kb) The second chair (from 1866), straight on, showing the carving on the seat back. (247kb)


Three chairs in St Mary Redcliffe's in Bristol.

The first chair show a really cool cross pattern on the back. (248kb)

 

The second chair, looking straight on at the back.  (183kb) The second chair from the side, showing the carving on the arms. (211kb)
The third chair in St. Mary Redcliffe's, with the carving similar to the original Glastonbury chair. (173kb)

 

Another shot of the third chair. (202kb)


Three chairs, one in Ely Cathedral, and two in Hexham Abbey, Northumberland.

The chair in Ely cathedral, again along the lines of the original Glastonbury (but with a different center pattern. . (388kb) The two chairs in Hexham Abbey (with a cool larger chair between them.  (115kb)
The side of the closest chair, showing the carving on the arms. (116kb) An angled shot of the seat back (of the closest chair). (142kb)   A better, more straight shot of the seat back. (148kb)


Six chairs in Salisbury Cathedral.

The first Salisbury chair. (308kb) A good shot of the arms (of chair1) (170kb)  A straight on shot of the seat back of chair 1. (212kb)

 

The seat back of chair 2 (202kb).

 

The arms of chair 2 showing the trefoil cutouts. (267kb) Chairs 2 and 6 (which is carved like chair 3) in the Morning Chapel. (236kb) 
A straight on shot of chair 3. (190kb) The arms of chair 3. (221kb)

 

A better shot of the arms of chair 3. (215kb)
A straight on shot of chair 4.  The carving is just like chair 1.  (306kb) A good side view of chair 4. (204kb)
The seat back of chair 5 showing some interesting cutouts. (218kb)

 

An angled shot of chair 5. (291kb) Another view of chair 5. (237kb)


Two chairs in St. David's Cathedral, Pembrokeshire, Wales.

The first chair in St. David's cathedral, showing a straight angular cut on the arms.. (276kb)

 

A side view of the first chair, showing the flat angular cut better. (212kb)
The second chair in St. David's cathedral, this one with nice rounded arms. (141kb) A side view of the second chair. (239kb)   Looking at the second chair from above, showing the placement of the seat rails and the back rails in relation to the leg pieces. (185kb)


Six chairs in Winchester Cathedral, Hampshire.

The first two chairs in Wichester cathedral, showing one with carved arms and a heraldic back, and the other with a carved back. (213kb, photo by Ralph Mason )

 

An angled view of the carved back chair. (162kb) A straight on view of the carved back. (178kb)
An angled view of the heraldic back chair. (190kb) A straight on view of the heraldic back.  (216kb)  

 

A close up of the triangular shape carved into the arms.  (231kb)
The third and fourth chairs, one with a grooved back and other with angular arms. (98kb) The third and fourth chairs from the alternate angle.  (220kb, photo by Ralph Mason)  

 

The fifth, fairly plain, chair. (238kb, photo by Ralph Mason)
The sixth chair, the cutouts in the arms, but much more upright than normally seen. (158kb) A close up of the arm cut-outs. (115kb)  

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