Windsor Chairs The Windsor chair as we recognise it today can be traced back as far as the 17th century, but it seems fair to say that its origins go back further than that. The style evolved from the simplest three-stick-legged wooden stool to a beautiful chair that demonstrates a remarkable understanding of engineering. The chair combines the strength of the base with an elasticity of the spindles and back, making it comfortable as well as lovely. The Windsor chair originated in England, but the transformation of the style took place during the American colonial period. The English style tended to be rather heavy and chunky, but American makers experimented far more with the elasticity and versatility of the timbers they used, and were greater innovators with the design.