The speaker at East Markham WI’s June meeting was Sue Floyd. Sue, dressed as Bess of Hardwick, told of the life of Bess, from a child to her final widowhood and the building of the Hardwick Hall we know today.
The story was told as if Bess herself was speaking. Born in Derbyshire in 1527, Bess was from a modest background – but by a series of well-made marriages she grew to become the most powerful woman in Elizabethan England after the Queen.
Bess married four times. Her first husband was Robert Barley, who died in 1544. Her second was the courtier Sir William Cavendish; Bess persuaded him to sell his lands and move to Derbyshire, and in 1549 they bought Chatsworth manor and began to build the first house on the site. During her marriage to William Cavendish, Bess bore eight children, establishing the Cavendish line, Cavendish being the family name of the Dukes of Devonshire, whose seat is at Chatsworth House.
After Sir William’s death in 1557, Bess married Sir William St Loe, who died in 1565. Bess’ final husband was George Talbot, the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, who was custodian of Mary Queen of Scots.
Bess was an accomplished needlewoman and frequently joined the captive Mary to sew together, producing several textile hangings. Finding the Hall at Hardwick no longer suitable, Bess built the present Hardwick Hall between 1590 and 1597; it is one of the greatest houses of the Elizabethan era.
The Hall is often said to be ‘more glass than wall’ and proudly displays the initials E and S on its roofline. Bess and Shrewsbury loved good furniture, paintings and textiles and furnished their new home with magnificent examples. A 1601 inventory of household furnishings and textiles of her three properties at Chatsworth, Hardwick and Chelsea still survives.
Bess died in 1608. In her will she bequeathed all the items in the 1601 inventory to her heirs to be preserved in perpetuity. The 400-year-old collection is the largest collection of textiles preserved by a single private family. In 1957 the Hall and its contents were given to the government in lieu of death duties and are now in the care of the National Trust.
WI business followed refreshments, with a report on the recent National Annual Meeting at the Royal Albert Hall, where the resolution on dental matters was passed.
On 26th June a group of members visited Hardwick Hall and enjoyed touring the house, gardens and grounds, followed by lunch in the café. On 11th July, 40 members gathered in the Secretary’s garden for a Strawberry Tea. The meeting in July was a Social Evening with magic performed by Paul Vickers.
A members evening will be held on 20th August with time for chatter and craft. The September meeting has the intriguing title ‘Tax, Care and Toy Boys’.
New members (£48.00) and visitors (£5.00) are always welcome at monthly meetings. For more information contact the Secretary on 07971 291883 or Membership on 01777 871567.