Hardwick Hall was our most recent National Trust jolly. Alan Titchmarsh, with the BBC, gave an insight into some of the history of Bess of Hardwick, but you need to see it for yourself. Now I’m pretty keen on a fabric fix but Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury leaves me in the shade! I’m led to believe that the collection of needlework at Hardwick Hall is the largest in Europe and I suspect that’s quite true as it’s pretty much floor to ceiling throughout! There are tapestries, embroideries, appliqué and stump work throughout the hall. It seems that Bess was also the queen of up-cycling as many of the ornate designs are created from dismantled clerical surplices. She was also one for a bargain as she purchased some of the hangings second hand - albeit still at great cost. Whilst Bess of Hardwick was responsible for sourcing the needlework rather than stitching them herself, several generation later show that the last Duchess to live there did work on her own creations.

It’s humbling to see such fine sewing. The stitching is so tiny, so even - and there is just so much of it!

If fabric isn’t your thing there is certainly still plenty to see but my first trip there (there will be others I’m sure) focuses on the textiles - I needed a fabric fix!

‘Dial M’ by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://www.twinmusicom.org/song/277/dial-m
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick-hall

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk