An exquisite 1930s wedding dress belonging to Margaret Hardman – wife of photographer Edward Chambré Hardman - will be on show for the first time at The Hardmans’ House in Liverpool.

The dress will be a new addition to the current exhibition at the house (formerly 59 Rodney Street), ‘Cameras and Camisoles’ which focuses on Margaret and her glamorous lifestyle.

A lover of theatre and the arts, she was also the driving force behind the Hardmans’ successful photographic business during the middle of the last century.

Sarah Jane Langley, Custodian at the house explains: “Margaret was married on August 10, 1932 in a stunning royal blue crepe silk dress with ballet length skirt, puffed sleeves and small belt.

"A small matching cap, long pale gloves and bow detail shoes finished off the outfit. She must have been incredibly slim as the dress, particularly at the waist is tiny!”

“The dress is very fragile and has been painstakingly restored by textile conservator Caroline Rendell. Why the dress is blue remains a mystery as it is an unusual colour for a wedding.

"There is also the possibility that it may have been dyed.”

“This season, we’re encouraging anyone who had their wedding photographs taken by Hardman to bring them along and we’ll be delighted to give them free admission to the house. Hardman took some fantastic wedding photographs – very much of their time and all very glamorous”.

Meanwhile, Margaret’s husband Edward is not left out of the picture! ‘Life Through a Lens’ is a new exhibition featuring 15 original photographs, all of which won awards for Hardman – including his iconic image, ‘Birth of the Ark Royal’, The Hay Rick and ‘A Memory of Avignon’.

Sarah Jane adds: “As well as the photographs, we’ve put together a handling collection in the exhibition room.

"These are replica objects of the more personal side of Hardman’s life – for example his letters, his census returns (rather apt for this year!) and photographs of him as a boy.”

“We also have two ‘soundbites’ of Hardman, each about five minutes in duration. In the first he talks about his photographic technique relating to ‘Birth of the Ark Royal’, and the second, about setting up his photographic business in Liverpool.

"This latter interview is taken from a longer one done by BBC Radio Merseyside in the 1970s, part of which records a ‘Desert Island Discs’ feature.

On the recording, Hardman chooses favourite pieces of music - amongst them works Elgar’s ‘Where Corals Lie’ from his ‘Sea Pictures’ sung by the late Dame Janet Baker, ‘La Calinda’ from Delius’s ‘Koanga’ and an excerpt from Shostakovitch’s Piano Concerto No 1. We are sharing this ‘musical’ insight into Hardman’s life by playing his musical selection in the ticket office.

"It certainly presents a fascinating glimpse into a completely different side of Hardman which has nothing whatsoever to do with photography!”

Look out for several new events at The Hardmans’ House this season – younger visitors can enjoy Easter Animal Trails around the house (22 – 25 April) based on the many and varied images Hardman took of animals; whilst memories the Liverpool Blitz come to life in a week long exhibition, ‘The Hardmans and the Homefront’ (30 April – 8 May) which focuses on Hardman’s wartime role as an ARP warden, the many photographs he took of servicemen going off to war, and the various wartime items such as ration books, powdered egg supplies and other memorabilia which the Hardmans kept and never threw away.

The Hardmans’ House (formerly 59 Rodney Street): opens on March 16, Weds – Sun, 11am – 3.30pm. Admission is by guided tour – booking is not required but advised to avoid disappointment.

For bookings and details call 0151 709 6261 or go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk