Early Welsh oak side chair.

An unusual Geo II Welsh oak side chair, the back with shaped top rail above a centre with two patinated pine panels which are chamfered at the back, down to an elm seat with drop leaf and turned front legs with matching gate. A rare piece of Welsh furniture but what was it's intended use ?  The  back has a good slope on it and is comfortable to sit on (19 ins tall) and the chair has a good colour and patina. The hinges on the underside of the flap are old replacements and the left hand side rail is original but made of re-used timber , see tennon mark in photo. There is a very similar chair illustrated in the 1950 Grosvenor House Antique Fair by Mary Bellis, the only differences being the shape of the top rail and the gate opening the other way, they were almost certainly made by the same man(see photos). Circa 1710.