John and Robert Prior, active during the first half of the 19th century, were renowned rustic chair makers and turners based in Uxbridge, Middlesex. Carrying forward the legacy of their father, John Prior, they became highly regarded for their skill in crafting Windsor chairs and their expertise in traditional woodturning, securing a place in the history of English vernacular furniture.
The Prior Legacy
The family’s presence in chair making can be traced back to 1817 at Hillingdon End, where they remained active until 1859. By 1832, John and Robert had established themselves as noted Windsor chair makers, balancing artisanal tradition with growing commercial ambition.
Commerce and Community
The Priors operated “Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation,” as proudly noted on their billhead of 1818–20, which featured an engraving of a Windsor chair. Their trade reached well beyond Uxbridge, with records showing a consignment of six yew armchairs to Hagley Hall, Worcestershire, in 1818. Alongside chair making, they also supplied stakes, poles, and pea sticks, reflecting their ties to traditional coppice crafts. Robert Prior’s connection to the Providence Congregational Chapel further highlights the family’s integration into both community and commerce.
Craftsmanship and Recognition
A Windsor chair stamped “ROBERT PRIOR/MAKER/UXBRIDGE” survives as a rare and tangible testament to their craftsmanship. Such examples, celebrated in exhibitions and scholarly works — including Gilbert’s English Vernacular Furniture 1750–1900 and Parker’s studies in Regional Furniture — attest to their historical significance.
Generational Transition
The business passed through several hands, with John Prior Jr. dying in 1846 and Robert continuing alongside his son, also named Robert. Census records from 1841 list both as chair makers at Hillingdon End. The deaths of Robert Sr. in 1853 and Robert Jr. in 1859 marked the close of the family’s direct involvement in chair making.
Lasting Impact
The work of John and Robert Prior reflects the artisanal skill, commercial reach, and social fabric of 19th-century England. Their Windsor chairs and turned wares remain important examples of rustic craftsmanship, ensuring the Prior family’s enduring place in the history of English furniture making.
