Rare 400-year-old gown to go on display

Rare gown dating back to 1600s to go on display7 days agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleMatt TaylorDerbyNational TrustThe violet satin dress was recorded in Hardwick's inventories of 1601A rare gown worn by Bess of Hardwick dating back more than 400 years will be showcased as part of a new exhibition.Hardwick Hall, near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, will host the exhibition called Bess's Dream from Saturday until 30 October.Much of the exhibition is set in Bess's bedchamber, and the violet satin dress which will be on display is described as "a rare survivor of its time" and recorded in Hardwick's inventories of 1601.Elena Williams, collections and house manager at Hardwick Hall, said: "This gown is far more than simply a piece of clothing. It is extraordinarily rare."National Trust Images/John HammondThe National Trust says the exhibition will reveal "more about the real Bess of Hardwick and the importance of family to her""Textiles during this period were incredibly valuable and were often passed down or even repurposed, meaning that few examples remain today," Williams added.The National Trust, which owns the hall, said the exhibition would bring "fresh insight into the life of one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of the Elizabethan era" and showed another side to her life.Bess became a friend of Elizabeth I and rose to become one of the richest women of her time, according to English Heritage.Her work included enlarging and remodelling the medieval manor at Hardwick, now known as Hardwick Old Hall.PA MediaProjections of Bess of Hardwick were beamed on to Hardwick Hall back in February 2023During the exhibition, there will also be a short animated film inspired by the letters Bess wrote and received over the years, which aims to offer more insight into her life.The gown was recently returned to Hardwick after undergoing conservation work at the National Trust Conservation Studio on...