The Hardmans' House

Step back in time to the 1950s in this fascinating home and photographic studio

Explore the contrasting sides of this house: the neat, professional, spacious business rooms and the cluttered, cramped living quarters of the renowned portrait photographer Edward Chambré Hardman and his wife Margaret. They lived and worked here for 40 years, keeping everything and changing nothing.

The business focused on professional studio portraits but their real love was for vivid landscape images. Some of their huge collection of photographs is on display in the house, along with the equipment they used to take and develop the iconic images.

During 2013, explore our two new exhibitions. Following a highly successful tour at the Open Eye Gallery, enjoy a rare opportunity to view some of Edward Chambré Hardman’s most iconic landscape images, in our photography exhibition.

Although Hardman’s business was portraiture, his passion was for landscape photography. For over 40 years Hardman and his wife, Margaret, toured the countryside together to produce the striking and dramatic photographs seen in this exhibition.

Up in the Discovery Room, learn about the Hardmans’ relationship with the Playhouse Theatre and its glamorous stars.

• See Margaret Hardman's stunning evening gown.
• Can you match the Hardmans' photographs of plays to their titles?
• View a selection of photographs of the stars of the Playhouse Theatre