Rare gown dating back to 1600s to go on display

A 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 2 May 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 is 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."

"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 shows 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.

During 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 the Blickling Estate in Norfolk.

Williams said: "[The gown] survived thanks to Evelyn, the last Duchess to live at Hardwick, who recognised its significance and took steps to store it away and preserve it.

"Without her intervention, this piece of history may have been lost forever.

"The gown connects us directly to Bess of Hardwick's world and invites us to consider the real Bess.

"She is often portrayed as a formidable and ambitious woman, but this exhibition reveals far more about the real Bess. It highlights her role as a mother who placed great importance on her family in her life."

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