Chair Discovery Centre to open in High Wycombe

Wycombe Museum – also known as the Chair Museum – is opening a new Chair Discovery Centre that will allow the public to access to its nationally significant collection of chairs.

Located on St Mary’s Street in High Wycombe, the new facility will function as a store for the museum’s collection of almost 250 chairs, as well as furniture archives, reference books and study resources.

High Wycombe was once described as the chair-making capital of the world and the collection documents how this heritage has shaped the town itself and the history of furniture-making worldwide.

Some of the best-known products in the collection include wooden wheelback Windsor chairs and 20th century G-Plan and Ercol furniture.

Situated above High Wycombe Social Club, the Chair Discovery Centre aims to enable people to explore the collections “on a deeper level”. Regular open days will take place throughout the year to give visitors a look behind the scenes.

Wycombe Museum is an an independent charity managed by Wycombe Heritage and Arts Trust. The new centre was created thanks to a partnership between the museum, Buckinghamshire Council and the Future High Streets project.

The museum’s director, Roz Currie, said: “High Wycombe as we know it was built on its chair-making industries. Our collections reflect this incredible story. I am so excited that our chairs will finally have a home where everyone can go and visit.”

A statement from Wycombe Museum said: “Like most museums, we have more objects in our collection than we can house at our main site. For over 25 years, items that didn’t fit have been tucked away in off-site stores – including many significant, unique and beautiful chairs. Over time, conditions in these stores have become unsuitable, but we could not afford to move out. For over a decade, we have been striving to find our collection a suitable new home.

“In 2022, the museum partnered with Buckinghamshire Council and the Future High Streets project and has been working towards a major transformation. Buckinghamshire Council purchased the High Wycombe Social Club’s building, have renovated it, and are leasing us the top floor – previously the ballroom.

“Working with experts from English Heritage we have transformed this space into a sustainable store, protecting the collection, while reducing future energy consumption and cost.

“We’re grateful for additional financial support that has helped us get this project over the finish line. It has paid for essential planning and conservation work to get the collection ready for our new store.”

Supporters of the project include the Association of Independent Museums, Heart of Bucks, the Julia Rausing Trust, Museums Development South East, Pilgrim Trust, Red Kite Community Housing, and the Regional Furniture Society, as well as local volunteers.

The statement added: “Wycombe Museum’s collection belongs to you, the people of High Wycombe & Buckinghamshire. It’s our job at Wycombe Museum to look after it.

“Because of the Chair Discovery Centre, your collection is now finally somewhere safe, somewhere where you can enjoy it, and somewhere it will be protected for future generations. This project is the culmination of over a decade of work. It’s an understatement to say that we, the museum team, are thrilled.”