courting bench

Henry was soon taking up three-quarters of a courting bench as he and Ducky sat.

Here the furnishings remain much as they were 400 years ago, and among the attractions is the "courting bench" upon which Will and Anne became acquainted.

A courting bench, also known as a kissing bench, conversation bench, or a tête-à-tête (French for "head-to-head") is a bench with two parallel seats, facing in opposite directions, with a shared arm of the bench separating them.