Edward Fitzmaurice Chambré Hardman
As both a local
history columnist and a photographer I was doubly delighted to be invited by
the National Trust to view the former home of photographer Edward Fitzmaurice
Chambré Hardman and his wife Margaret. The Hardman House collection is part of
the National Trust Liverpool portfolio. The significance of 59 Rodney Street
lies in the survival of the whole: the photography collection, the working
studio, the original darkrooms with all the equipment still in place, the
business records and the living quarters where the photographer Edward Chambré
Hardman and his wife and business partner, Margaret, lived for over 40 years,
complete with all the vintage ephemera of their daily life. Altogether, The Hardmans’ House is the most
complete collection of a photographer’s work anywhere.
Edward
Fitzmaurice Chambré Hardman was
an Irish-born photographer, based for most of his career in Liverpool. Born in 1898 in Dublin, Ireland he was
the only son of the keen amateur photographer Edward Hardman, E. Chambré Hardman
took his first photographs aged nine and went on to win many photographic
competitions during his time at St. Columba's College in County Dublin. Whilst
stationed at the Khyber Pass he met Captain Kenneth Burrell, a man who hadn't
planned on an army career but rather hoped to set up a photographic studio back
home in Liverpool, England. Hardman and Burrell decided to go into business
together and in 1923, Burrell and Hardman acquired their first studio, 51a
Bold Street in Liverpool's fashionable commercial centre.
Starting the business was difficult, and Hardman resorted to
selling and repairing wirelesses to subsidise the studio. Eventually it gained
a reputation for being the place for anyone with distinction in Merseyside to
be photographed by Burrell & Hardman.
1920s and 1930s
In 1926 Chambré Hardman appointed seventeen year-old
Margaret Mills as his assistant. At first, she looked after the studio in
Hardman's absence when he was in the South of France that year. In 1929
Margaret left the studio to train as a photographer in Paisley, Scotland.
Margaret and Hardman kept in touch through frequent affectionate letters. In
the same year Kenneth Burrell left the business entirely to Hardman. In 1930
Hardman was awarded 1st prize in the American Annual of Photography and a gold
medal in London for his picture "Martigues" taken whilst in
Martigues, France in 1926. While portraiture was Hardman's livelihood, his real
photographic interest was landscape photography, which he pursued throughout
his life alongside his commercial practice.
On 10 August 1932 Hardman married Margaret, he was 33 and
she was 23, and .
Hardman and his talented wife and kindred spirit Margaret Hardman lived in 59
Rodney Street for 40 years from 1948. Although they worked long hours at the studio, they still found time for weekend expeditions, strapping camera equipment onto their bicycles and riding out into the countryside to shoot landscapes.
Hardman won a contract with the Liverpool Playhouse theatre to provide portraits and production shots of actors. These included Ivor Novello, Patricia Routledge and Robert Donat.
The National Trust have restored the house and the photographic studio retaining and putting on display the original articles that were in the house.
Liverpool was a constant source of inspiration to Hardman and he loved to explore the many sights and streets of the city capturing them on film. What follows is a selection of some of his wonderful photography
 |
| Edward Chambre Hardman, Searchlight on the Anglican Cathedral |
 |
| Central Station 1960s |
 |
| The Overhead Railway |
 |
| On the Mersey this time in a photograph entitled 'Schoolboys on the Ferry |
 |
| Water Street and Dale Street |
Photography was Edward Chambré Hardmans life’s
work and he died on 2nd April 1988, at Sefton General Hospital in Liverpool.
His legacy was his house and studio, at 59 Rodney Street, they were taken over
by the E. Chambré Hardman Trust to conserve his work, which was later
transferred to the National Trust.Photography.
Lizzie
Johansson-Hartley; the Custodian of The Hardmans’ House took time out to show
me around the home of this amazing photographer and I would recommend the tour
to anyone with an interest in local history, photography or anyone with a sense
of nostalgia.
 |
| The mounting room |
You can step
back in time and take a tour of the entire property and original photography of
Edward Chambré Hardman. From the waiting room to the studio, the kitchen to the
bedroom and the darkrooms to the exhibition rooms, there's so much to see
during a ninety minute tour.
 |
| Living Room |
 |
| Kitchen |
 |
| Bedroom |
The National Trust has a wonderful new portfolio
of tours including walking tours. These include a Georgian Quarter tour and a
Then and now tour exploring buildings photographed by Chambré Hardman there is
also a photography tour and another focused on the life of Margaret Hardman a
great business woman and photographer.
As The Hardmans'
House is small yet perfectly formed they offer pre-booked timed tours to ensure
you get the most out of your visit. They are currently accepting bookings for
the whole season, so if you would like to visit please call 0151 709 6261
or email thehardmanshouse@nationaltrust.org.uk to book a tour. Click on the link below to
read some useful pre-visit information.
All color photographs are © copyright Bob Edwards - Picture Liverpool
Black and white images © copyright National Trust
Black and white images © copyright National Trust
