Original makers of Ernest Gimson’s rush seated chairs
Third generation maker of rush seated chairs based in a family workshop in Warwickshire, continuing the craft of Ernest Gimson.
A village craft started by Ernest Gimson
One of the leading figures of the Arts & Crafts movement, Ernest Gimson began designing and manufacturing rush-seated ladderback chairs in the late 1800s.
After establishing his workshops at Daneway in Gloucestershire, he encouraged Edward Gardiner, a young local man, to take up chairmaking. After moving to Warwickshire, Gardiner took on my grandad, Neville Neal, as an apprentice in 1939.
When Gardiner died in 1958, my grandad moved to our current workshop and in 1966 my dad, Lawrence Neal, joined him as an apprentice.
In June 2021 I joined my dad, becoming the third generation of rush seated chairmakers in the family.
Chairs
Most of the chairs on this website were designed by Ernest Gimson who revived this old village craft of making ash chairs with rush seats during the Arts and Crafts movement.
GET IN TOUCH
Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions about my chairs or courses. I’m also open to bespoke orders, rush re-seating and restoration projects.
Daniel Neal Chairs 