Still the day itself, was highly enjoyable, centring around a family visit to one of the grandest National Trust properties I've visited to date Hardwick Hall. A grand Elizabethan country house built between 1590-97 and considered to be one of the earliest examples of the British interpretation of Renaissance architecture. The ruins of the slightly less grand Old Hardwick Hall, which use to serve as the guest and service accommodation stand adjacent to the new hall. New is a relative term here considering Hardwick Hall is over 400 years old.
The building itself was built as statement of wealth of power by Bess of Hardwick, Elizabeth Talbot, Countess of Shrewsbury (c. 1527-1608), widely considered to be the richest and most powerful woman in England after Elizabeth I . Her wealth and power being secured by a series of four fortuitous marriages. The size and scale of the windows is one example of this, glass was a relatively new and extremely expensive development in Elizabethan times, the chimney's being concealed in the walls to allow the windows to be as large as possible without compromising the structural integrity of the building. While the long gallery remains one of the longest in any stately home.
Bess however also had political ambitions for her granddaughter Lady Arbella Stuart who had a claim to the thrones of Scotland and England and was considered a possible successor to Queen Elizabeth I. The National Trust is currently commemorating the 400th anniversary of Arbella's death with an exploration of whether Hardwick was a residence fit for a royal princesses or a prison. Whatever you decide it's fair to say things didn't end well for Arbella, having incurred the wrath of King James for marrying William Seymour, 2nd Duke of Somerset, without the Kings permission. Following an abortive attempt to escape to France dressed as man (Seymour did in fact make it to France) she ended her days in the Tower of London. It's been suggested that Imogen, the virtuous, cross-dressed heroine of William Shakespeare's play Cymbeline (1610–1611) is a reference to Arbella.
It not hard to see how if things had worked out differently Hardwick Hall could have become a royal residence and country retreat. Ironically perhaps one of Bess's descendants' did eventually end up claiming the throne, Queen Elizabeth II.
Fast forwarding a few hundred years, I ended the week with a trip to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery to see my father latest contribution to the history of Birmingham. Having previously featured in publications and displays about the fast food industry (selling roast potatoes, chestnuts and ice-cream, not necessarily at the same time) and Birmingham markets, he makes a brief appearance in multimedia display Birmingham at War, Chapter 3, Friend or enemy? Here's his bit. You can find the full audio interview he did as part of an oral history project here, if you'd like to hear more.
Finally I've also uploaded a new short-story The lighthouse for your enjoyment.