Settle with Storage
A settle with storage combines high-backed seating with a concealed compartment beneath, offering both a place to sit and a practical container for household goods.
Settle with Storage
A settle with storage is a traditional wooden bench featuring a solid high back and a seat that lifts to reveal a deep box or compartment underneath. These pieces originated to keep draughts away from the hearth while storing blankets, clothing, or provisions inside the base.
The versions most commonly met on this page date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, spanning Georgian, Victorian, and Edwardian periods. They appear in regional variants such as Welsh, French, and Hungarian formats, alongside English country pieces.
Makers utilised sturdy timbers suited to domestic utility, producing forms ranging from simple planked pine farmhouse benches to heavily carved oak revival pieces.
What varies in quality
Quality in a settle with storage depends upon the integrity of the timber and the retention of original surfaces, such as early waxed finishes or original paint. Heavy alterations to the underseat compartment or replaced floorboards diminish the integrity of the piece.
The depth and execution of the carving, where present, distinguish simpler vernacular workshop items from sophisticated revival pieces or fine eighteenth-century examples.
Settle with Storage Retail Price Guide 2026
Typical asking prices for settle with storage among the pieces listed under this phrase on Sellingantiques today, from the lower quarter to the upper quarter. They describe what is for sale here now, not the wider market.
Some settles feature fold-over tops that turn the bench into a table, solving the medieval studio apartment problem centuries early.
James Shoolbred and Co·Shapland and Petter·Liberty
The Settle with Storage Glossary
- Box settle
- A high-backed wooden bench with a hinged seat opening to a storage compartment below. This form served to keep rooms warm by blocking draughts.
- Monks bench
- A convertible seat featuring a folding back that tilts forward to form a table top. These items combined multi-functional utility for smaller interiors.
- Bacon settle
- A specialised regional settle featuring high enclosed wings, historically used for curing and storing salted meats away from pests. They date primarily to the eighteenth century.
- Mortise and tenon
- A traditional woodworking joint where a peg fits tightly into a hole, securing frame members without metal fasteners. This technique provides long-term structural stability.
- Vernacular furniture
- Domestic pieces made by local regional craftsmen using native timbers rather than following strict metropolitan stylistic rules. These items reflect the specific regional traditions of their origin.
Settle with Storage: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a settle with storage used for?
A settle with storage provides both seating and a concealed compartment beneath the hinged seat. Historically, households used the internal space to store blankets, linens, and firewood.
In modern rooms, they serve as hallway seating or dining benches while keeping clutter out of sight inside the base.
Where should I place a box settle at home?
Box settles fit well in entrance halls, providing a sturdy seat to put on shoes alongside storage for outdoor accessories. They also function effectively along one side of a dining table.
Because of their high backs, they help define seating zones in open-plan spaces while blocking cold draughts.
Are these benches comfortable to sit on?
These settles feature upright wooden backs and solid timber seats designed for durability rather than lounging. Many people add loose cushions or squabs to increase comfort for prolonged sitting.
Some Edwardian or Arts and Crafts variations include upholstered seat pads or leatherette panels.