NT The Hardmans' House

NT The Hardmans' House The Official National Trust page for The Hardman's House, 59 Rodney Street, Liverpool Step back in time and experience the 1950s. It helps us to learn and grow.

In this time capsule of post-war years you will glimpse the life of an extraordinary couple; renowned photographer Edward Chambré Hardman and his gifted wife Margaret who lived and worked together in this remarkable Georgian house for 40 years, keeping everything, changing nothing. We're here to respond to queries Mon-Fri 9-5.
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❗️Due to road closures taking place on Pilgrim Street on Saturday 29 August, Hardmans’ House tours will begin from the m...
28/08/2026

❗️Due to road closures taking place on Pilgrim Street on Saturday 29 August, Hardmans’ House tours will begin from the main entrance at 59 Rodney Street.

Please can all visitors booked on to tours make their way to the main entrance upon arrival tomorrow 📸

What stories lie beyond the exhibition? Join the curators of The Hardmans' Liverpool – A Legacy in Light: From Street to...
27/08/2026

What stories lie beyond the exhibition?

Join the curators of The Hardmans' Liverpool – A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio for a special opportunity to explore photographs, objects and stories from the Hardmans' Collection that aren't currently on display.

Discover Liverpool's people, places and history through the lens of E. Chambré and Margaret Hardman, meet the curators, and enjoy a visit to the exhibition.

📍 Liverpool Central Library
🎟️ Free, but booking via Eventbrite is essential.

Book here for 11am-12pm slots
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-a-different-light-discovering-the-hardmans-collection-tickets-1998486921179

Book here for 2pm-3pm slots
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1998493556024?aff=oddtdtcreator



© National Trust/Jayne Knight © National Trust/Amy Carney

In celebration of  , we're reflecting on the joy of the making process, both then and now, with modern photographer Rach...
19/08/2026

In celebration of , we're reflecting on the joy of the making process, both then and now, with modern photographer Rachel Brewster-Wright from Little Vintage Photography.

Alongside Hardman's photography on display in our exhibition at Liverpool Central Library are photographs Rachel captured in his original atmospheric studio. Here, Rachel photographed some of our willing visitors in front of the Hardman’s own backdrops.

Shooting with an analogue Rolleiflex camera, visitors experienced the slower pace of a traditional portrait sitting, captured on film just as Chambré and Margaret would have done in that very same space.

You can see both the old and the new photos in our free exhibition which runs until Monday 28 September, in Liverpool Central Library, William Brown Street, L3 8EW 👉https://bit.ly/HardmanExhibition

Supported by
Working with

© , © National Trust/Anna Sparham/Amy Carney/Philippa Crofts

On display The Hardmans' Liverpool A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio Some of the most powerful objects in a colle...
27/07/2026

On display
The Hardmans' Liverpool
A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio

Some of the most powerful objects in a collection aren't the grandest or most valuable. Sometimes they're the most ordinary.

A pair of worn shoes on display in our exhibition tells the story of Margaret Hardman in a way that photographs alone cannot.

The noticeably worn heels speak of years spent on her feet in the Burrell & Hardman studio. Margaret first arrived there as a photographic assistant before moving to the Ritchie Studio in Paisley, Scotland, to further her career. Although separated by distance, her relationship with Chambré Hardman continued to grow, and she returned to Liverpool after the couple became engaged.

Together they built both a life and a business.

As well as producing photographic work of her own, Margaret managed advertising, supervised staff and helped steer the day-to-day running of the studio, playing a vital role in its enduring success.

The success of The Hardmans was built on a creative partnership, and Margaret's contribution was central to that story.

Alongside personal objects such as these shoes, the exhibition also features examples of Margaret's photography, highlighting the talent, determination and vision she brought to the studio.

These worn heels hint at the many steps Margaret took to build the Hardmans' success.

To discover more, follow in her footsteps with a visit to The Hardmans' House and Photographic Studio on Rodney Street, where the family home, studio and darkroom remain much as the Hardmans left them, offering a unique insight into Margaret's life and work.

🖼 The Hardmans' Liverpool: A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio
📍 Liverpool Central Library
📅 Free to visit until 28 September

Have you visited The Hardmans' House, or does Margaret's story change how you imagine life behind the scenes of a busy photographic studio? We'd love to hear your thoughts.

👉 Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house

Supported by

© National Trust
© National Trust Images/Edward Chambré Hardman Collection

On display The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio  Chambré Hardman is widely recognised Liverp...
24/07/2026

On display
The Hardmans’ Liverpool
A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio

Chambré Hardman is widely recognised Liverpool’s leading 20th-century portrait photographer. Yet beyond the studio, his passion lay in capturing the city itself – its streets, its atmosphere, and its people.

His street photography reveals a different perspective: moments shaped by weather, light, and the character of Liverpool across time.

As Jennie Johns, Custodian (2004–2007), observed:

“Taken from a Liverpool institution, the atmospheric lighting, weather, and heavy clouds over the city are the focus… Hardman chose to focus on the place and its people – that is why this photograph means so much to me.”

Selected street scenes from before and after the Second World War are now on display, offering a powerful glimpse into Liverpool’s past and the Hardmans’ enduring legacy.

While this post highlights Chambré’s work, Margaret Hardman was also an accomplished photographer and collaborator, and we’ll be sharing more about her perspective in the coming weeks.

The exhibition is free to visit at Liverpool Central Library during normal opening hours until 28 September.

We’d love to hear from you – do these images spark memories, or do you recognise any of the locations?

You can also continue the story with a visit to The Hardmans’ House and Photographic Studio on Rodney Street, where many of these photographs began.

👉 Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house

Supported by

© National Trust Images/Edward Chambré Hardman Collection/Robert Thrift
© National Trust/Anna Sparham

The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio Margaret and Chambré Hardman didn’t just photograph Liv...
23/07/2026

The Hardmans’ Liverpool
A Legacy in Light: From Street to Studio

Margaret and Chambré Hardman didn’t just photograph Liverpool - they lived it, loved it, and preserved it through their lens.

This free exhibition, on display at Liverpool Central Library during normal opening hours, brings together their striking images of the city alongside deeply personal objects, including their wedding rings (on display for the first time) and photographs Chambré took on their own wedding day.

Together, these works tell a powerful story of two people whose lives were completely intertwined with photography - and with each other.

If you’re inspired to find out more, you can also visit The Hardmans’ House and Photographic Studio on Rodney Street, Liverpool, where their legacy lives on.

👉 Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house

We’ll be sharing highlights and stories from the exhibition over the coming weeks - we hope you’ll join us.

Supported by

© National Trust/Anna Sparham
© National Trust Images/Edward Chambré Hardman Collection/Robert Thrift

Did you visit The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: from Street to Studio exhibition at Liverpool Central Library t...
09/06/2026

Did you visit The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: from Street to Studio exhibition at Liverpool Central Library this weekend?

Continue your journey into the world of Edward Chambré and Margaret Hardman with a visit to The Hardmans’ House at 59 Rodney Street, Liverpool - the home and photography studio where many of their iconic images were created.

Guided tours take place every Friday and the last Saturday of each month until 26 September.

Book your place now 📸

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house

The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: from Street to Studio exhibition opens today and runs until 28 September 2026...
05/06/2026

The Hardmans’ Liverpool A Legacy in Light: from Street to Studio exhibition opens today and runs until 28 September 2026. 📸

See Liverpool through the photographic eyes of the Hardmans, from evocative pre-war streets to nostalgic studio portraiture. Discover in this free exhibition at Liverpool Central Library how their vision compares with city life experiences today.

You can find the exhibition on display in the Hornby Library part of the Central Library in Liverpool.

This event is supported by CEWE.

Plan your visit:

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house/events/28e83bd8-2ed3-444c-b8a2-4e393d715653

Image credits:
© National Trust/Anna Sparham
© National Trust/Jayne Knight

✨ The Hardmans’ Liverpool - A Legacy in Light ✨See Liverpool through the eyes of two of its most renowned photographers....
29/05/2026

✨ The Hardmans’ Liverpool - A Legacy in Light ✨

See Liverpool through the eyes of two of its most renowned photographers. 📸

From busy pre-war streets to post-war city life, the photographs of Edward Chambré Hardman and his talented wife Margaret show how Liverpool’s culture and society changed in the mid-twentieth century.

Discover how their photographs still influence how we see the city today in a free exhibition at Liverpool Central Library.

📅 5 June - 28 September
🎟️ Free entry

Find out more: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house/events/28e83bd8-2ed3-444c-b8a2-4e393d715653

📸 Portrait sessions with Little Vintage Photography are taking place tomorrow at Hardmans’ House!Step back in time and e...
08/05/2026

📸 Portrait sessions with Little Vintage Photography are taking place tomorrow at Hardmans’ House!

Step back in time and experience what it was like to sit for a portrait in the Hardmans’ original photographic studio.

✨ Experience the atmosphere of this remarkable historic studio
✨ Learn more about the Hardmans and the art of portrait photography
✨ Take home a mini instant print as a keepsake from your visit

Sessions last around 20 minutes and are perfect for individuals or small groups of up to 4 people.

🎟️ Last few spaces remaining, pre-booking is essential: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/liverpool-lancashire/the-hardmans-house/events/5c479d60-ac77-4ce6-8643-200303b3c461

Address

59 Rodney Street
Liverpool
L19EX

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