Woven Worlds
Welcomes to Bess of Hardwick’s world of tapestries, embroidery and appliqué. From handwoven masterpieces to naturally dyed textiles demonstrations, there’s a whole world of woven wonders to explore at Hardwick Hall.
Material Power
Elizabethan England was a material world. Power, identity and virtue were all expressed though what you owned and what you built.
Elizabeth Shrewsbury designed Hardwick Hall to shout about who she was and how far she had come. From the solid stone ES initials on the roof to the magnificent tapestries and textiles she hung inside, everything was a material statement about Bess.
The Gideon Tapestry Conservation Project
This set of thirteen tapestries, which form an important part of an internationally significant collection of textiles, have hung in the Long Gallery at Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire, since the end of the 16th century. The Gideon Tapestries are a unique document of both Flemish tapestry production and English taste in the 16th century, and are the largest tapestry set to survive in Britain today.
This 24-year long conservation project, carried out by hand using traditional sewing and stitching techniques, has just won the Europa Nostra Awards 2024 in the Conservation and Reuse catagory.
'A Virtuous Woman' by Layla Khoo
Reimagine the 'Lost Embroidery' at Hardwick Hall: Join Layla Khoo and stitch the fabric of modern virtue through creative participation.
Drawing inspiration from the themes of female virtue displayed in the Noble Women embroideries, Khoo is now embarking on the creation of a new artwork. Using recycled textiles to complete the piece, visitors are encouraged to express their ideas and notions of virtue and to contemplate who embodies the qualities of a virtuous woman today.
Delving into these reflections, visitors will explore how these virtues and values can be communicated, signalling a collective aspiration for the qualities we wish to see in society.
Please note that visitor paticipation may be limited based on Layla Khoo's availablity in the hall.
Pop-up demonstrations & workshops:
Exploring the themes of textiles, creativity and powerful women, please see a list of workshops and events happening this year at Hardwick.
- Specialist Craft Open Days
- Find out more about the work of the specialist craft teams who help us care for the National Trust collections and historic properties.Find out more
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Gideon tapestry project at Hardwick Hall
After 24 years of conservation, the 13th and final Gideon tapestry has returned to Hardwick Hall, marking the end of the National Trust's longest ever conservation project.
The collection at Hardwick
Discover an internationally-renowned collection of textiles including exquisite tapestries and embroidery and learn about the art of up-cycling, Elizabethan style. Find out more about Bess of Hardwick who largely sourced and collected the textile treasures.
Family-friendly things to do at Hardwick
There's plenty for families to do at Hardwick Hall, including seasonal trails, adventuring in the parkland and exploring the house. Find out what's on and plan your visit.