Rare 400-year-old gown to go on display
Summary
A rare violet satin gown from the early 1600s, once worn by Bess of Hardwick, will be displayed at Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire. The exhibition, titled "Bess's Dream," runs until October 30 and aims to show new details about Bess’s life, including her role as a mother and a powerful woman of the Elizabethan era.Key Facts
- The gown dates back to around 1601 and is recorded in Hardwick’s inventories from that time.
- It is considered a rare surviving piece of clothing from the 1600s because textiles then were valuable and often reused.
- The exhibition will take place mainly in Bess’s bedchamber at Hardwick Hall and features an animated film about her letters.
- The gown was recently restored at the National Trust Conservation Studio in Norfolk before returning to Hardwick.
- Evelyn, the last Duchess of Hardwick, helped preserve the gown by storing it carefully.
- Bess of Hardwick was a wealthy and influential figure, friend to Queen Elizabeth I, who remodeled Hardwick Old Hall.
- The National Trust owns Hardwick Hall and organized the exhibition to provide insights into Bess’s private and family life.
- The exhibition runs from Saturday until October 30.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.