Undiscovered Chambre Hardman photos go on show for first time

Never-before-seen images taken by Edward Chambré Hardman have gone on display at his former Rodney Street home after 60-year-old films were developed for the first time.

The photos emerged after a collection of 23 unprocessed rolls of film found in the acclaimed photographer’s old darkroom.

Although many of the rolls were found to simply be the paper which had been around the original film, five contained pictures that had never been developed or seen by anyone since they were taken by Hardman decades ago.

The images feature 1950s Rodney Street (above) along with formal portraits and snapped street scenes, and provide a previously unseen glimpse of Hardman’s view of his Georgian Quarter home and neighbours.

Some of the newly-discovered photographs on show

They give a fascinating insight into how Hardman worked playing with light and exposure taking multiple images of the same composition to guarantee perfection and explore his surroundings.

The pictures have now gone on show in the discovery room on the second floor of 59 Rodney Street, which is owned and managed by the National Trust.

The photos were found on 60-year-old unprocessed rolls of film

Katy Taylor, National Trust curator for the North West, says: “Discovering and developing these long-forgotten film rolls connects us to Hardman in a way that his finished and developed photographs don’t – for the very first time we’re seeing exactly what he saw.

“These raw, unedited images are unlike his professionally edited photographs and allow us to truly see the world through Hardman’s eyes.”

The display is one of two new exhibitions at the Hardman House for 2019, alongside a show of photos he took of his own and other people’s pets.