High Wycombe Furniture Trade History

High Wycombe is famous for its historic furniture trade. Several of today’s most influential furniture manufacturers including Ercol, Parker Knoll and G-Plan began life during this exciting wave.

When the High Wycombe Furniture Trade Began

The High Wycombe furniture trade (specifically chair making) is believed to have begun around the later part of the 19^th century. Rich forestry of Elm, Beech and Ash trees surrounded the town making it a well-suited environment for such a trade.

Men (known as Bodgers) would create legs for simple chairs used within kitchens, servant’s quarters and various public buildings. Horse and cart would then transport these legs to various furniture factories in High Wycombe where the chairs would then be fully assembled and finished.

What Happened to the High Wycombe Furniture Trade?

The early 1990’s recession played a substantial role in the disbandment of many factories in High Wycombe, marking the beginning of a decline in production.

In 1992, the recession claimed the G-Plan factory leaving approximately 700 people unemployed.

Subsequently, the Glenisters factory closed and was later demolished. Glenister’s was High Wycombe’s longest surviving furniture manufacturer.

Soon after, more manufacturers began to leave High Wycombe. Parker Knoll, for example, made the announcement that they would no longer be manufacturing furniture there.

Also, in 1999 Ercol made the decision to move their operation to Princes Risborough. These events came largely as a result of the rising cost of property in the area.

Celebrating the High Wycombe Furniture Trade

The High Wycombe chair arch is a particularly notable celebratory tradition that dates back to the Victorian era.

The first chair arch was created in 1877. This was constructed to mark Queen Victoria’s visit to Benjamin Disraeli at Hughenden Manor. Upon her return from Hughenden Manor, the arch is said to have attracted the attention of Her Majesty. Her coach stopped so that she could closely admire and examine the arch in greater detail.

The largest chair arch (assembled in 1884) contained approximately 400 chairs and was erected to mark the visit of the Prince of Wales.

Finally, the last full-scale chair arch is thought to have been erected in 1889 to celebrate Sir Edwin Dashwood’s return from New Zealand.

Other Chair Arches in High Wycombe

Several other chair arches have been created commemorating this old tradition. In 1962, for example, an arch featuring modern chairs was assembled in High Wycombe’s town hall to greet Queen Elizabeth II.

In the year 2000, a millennium chair arch was made to celebrate the town’s contribution to the furniture industry. This structure recreated the chair arch initially built 110 years prior. It was over 9 meters high and featured more than 150 chairs of traditional design.

High Wycombe may not create furniture to the scale it once did, but it remains historically famous, as one of the UK’s most thriving hubs of furniture manufacturing.