Town guide / Alderley Edge to Bowdon
A Welsh dresser for an Alderley Edge kitchen
Alderley Edge grew up below its sandstone escarpment after the railway arrived in the 1840s, and many of its older houses still keep the tall rooms of that Victorian expansion.
i.
The houses
The village mixes substantial Victorian and Edwardian villas with smaller cottages and plenty of later twentieth-century building. That spread matters when you choose a dresser. A tall rack that sits comfortably under a villa ceiling can crowd a cottage kitchen, and many modern kitchens no longer have the long, unbroken wall a dresser wants once windows, radiators and fitted units have taken their share.
ii.
Welsh dressers in that setting
Most Welsh dressers come in two parts, a rack standing on a base, which makes stairs and narrow doorways far less daunting. Ask Sara for the height of the rack and the base separately, and for the depth of the base, because depth usually decides whether a hallway turn is possible. It is also fair to ask whether the rack began life with that base. Later pairings are common in old dressers and need not spoil one, but you should know before you buy.
From the collection
Welsh dressers for Alderley Edge homes
- Small Pot Board Welsh Oak Dresser (opens in a new tab)
- Period 18th Century Welsh Oak Dresser, Caernarfonshire (opens in a new tab)
- Antique Welsh Dresser of North Wales (opens in a new tab)
Listed on Creative Caernarfon. One-off pieces: ask Sara whether a listing is still available.
No.01
Welsh dresser
- Timber
- Oak
- Size
- 68 in high (base 29¼ in), 57½ in wide, 18½ in deep
Price on application. Ask Sara whether it is still here.
Photographed in the collection, Plate 01
Small Pot Board Welsh Oak Dresser
A small period pot board dresser: open plate rack over a two-drawer base and a low pot board. The Arts and Crafts copper and the embroidered trays are the owner's own collection, shown for display only.
One-off. Ask whether it is still available.
Ask Sara about this pieceiii.
Buying from Caernarfon
Life: Full Colour is based in Caernarfon, reached along the A55 and A487, and has no branch near Alderley Edge.
Buying works the same way from anywhere: find a piece, ask Sara about it by the enquiry form or on 01286 400155, and buy through Creative Caernarfon.
Visiting and delivery
Life: Full Colour is based at 9 Segontium Terrace, Caernarfon LL55 2PN. Ask Sara whether delivery or viewing is possible for a particular piece.
iv.
Questions for an Alderley Edge buyer
It depends on the dresser and the room. Measure your ceiling at the exact spot the dresser would stand, since coving, beams or a light fitting can steal height. Then compare that with the full height of the piece including any cornice, and leave a little room to lift the rack onto the base.
Old oak and pine respond to dry, warm air by shrinking, which can open joints or split panels. Keep a dresser away from the direct heat of a range and avoid standing it over a warm floor zone if you can. Steady conditions through the year are kinder than sudden changes.
Use the enquiry form on the site or call Sara on 01286 400155. Ask for photographs of the back, the drawer sides and the underside of the base as well as the front, plus full measurements. Those views tell you far more about age, repairs and condition than a front-on picture.
Many Welsh dressers come apart into a rack and a base, and each part has its own height, width and depth. The base sets the footprint and the rack sets the overall height, so note both against your wall and ceiling. Ask Sara for the base height on its own and the depth of the base.
Measure the dresser across its widest point, usually the cornice or the top of the base, then add a few centimetres each side so it is not jammed against a unit. Check where sockets, radiators and window frames sit along that stretch of wall before you fall for a piece.
A Tridarn is a three-part cupboard, tall and architectural, so it needs real ceiling height. Villa rooms with generous ceilings give it space, but measure to the underside of any cornice or light fitting, and leave a little room above the canopy so it can be eased into place.
Old racks can be top heavy, so a fixing into a solid part of the wall is sensible, using a bracket or strap at the back of the rack. Plain plaster alone will not hold weight. If you are unsure what your wall is made of, ask a builder to advise.
A hall, landing or the end of a long room often suits one, because a clock needs a firm, level floor and a wall to stand against. Measure the full height including any finials, and leave space above the hood so it can slide off to reach the dial.
Enough for the drawers to pull fully out and the cupboard doors to swing open, which is often more than people expect. Measure the depth of the base, add the length of a drawer, and check you can still walk past comfortably. Oven and dishwasher doors opening nearby count too.
Because the rack lifts off the base, each part is lighter and slimmer than the whole, which helps in tight doorways and turns. Measure the narrowest door and turn on your route, including the depth of the base with its handles. Ask Sara for the dimensions of each part separately.