E. Chambré Hardman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chambré Hardman
Edward Chambré Hardman wearing his trademark trilby hat.
Born	Edward Fitzmaurice Chambré Hardman 25 November 1898 Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland
Died	2 April 1988(1988-04-02) (aged 89) Sefton, Liverpool, England
Occupation	professional photographer
Known for	portraits and landscapes
Spouse(s)	Margaret Mills (1909–1969)
Parent(s)	Edward Townley William Hardman (1860-1917) Gertrude Elizabeth Davies (-1959)

Edward Fitzmaurice Chambré Hardman (born November 25, 1898 – died April 2, 1988) was a famous Irish photographer. He spent most of his career in Liverpool, England. He loved taking pictures of landscapes, but his main job was taking portraits of people.

Life Story of Chambré Hardman

Early Life and Photography Beginnings

Chambré Hardman was born in 1898 in Foxrock, Dublin, Ireland. He was the third child and only son of Edward Hardman, who was also a keen amateur photographer. Chambré's father worked as a land agent for wealthy landowners in County Dublin. His family also had connections in India.

Chambré started taking photos when he was just nine years old. He won many photography contests while he was a student at St. Columba's College in County Dublin.

When he was eighteen, he joined the army and spent four years in India with the 8th Gurkha Rifles. He became a lieutenant. Even while serving near the Himalayas, he found time for his passion. He used his Eastman Kodak camera and developed his film in his bathroom!

Starting a Photography Business

While in India, Chambré met Captain Kenneth Burrell. Kenneth wanted to open a photography studio in Liverpool, England. In 1923, Chambré and Kenneth decided to become business partners. They opened "Burrell & Hardman" at 51a Bold Street in Liverpool. Kenneth helped with important contacts in the business world.

Starting the business was tough. Chambré even sold and repaired radios to earn extra money. But soon, their studio became well-known. Important people in Merseyside wanted their photos taken by Burrell & Hardman.

Chambré mostly taught himself how to take landscape photos. His father gave him some tips. He also learned a lot from Margaret Mills, who later became his wife. She was a talented photographer herself and had good business sense.

Growing as an Artist

In 1923, Chambré joined the "Sandon Studios Society" in Liverpool. This was a club for artists, including architects, painters, and musicians. He visited southern France in 1926 and again in 1929. These trips helped him create many beautiful landscape photographs. Some of his famous works from this time include "A Memory of Avignon" and "Martigues." His photos were often shown in The Camera magazine.

In 1926, Margaret Mills became Chambré's assistant. She looked after the studio when he was away. In 1929, Margaret left to train as a photographer in Scotland. Chambré and Margaret stayed in touch through many letters. That same year, Kenneth Burrell left the business entirely to Chambré.

In 1930, Chambré won first prize and a gold medal for his picture "Martigues." This prize also came with $100, which was a lot of money then! Even though taking portraits was his job, his true love was landscape photography. He continued to take landscape photos throughout his life.

Marriage and Busy Years

Chambré and Margaret got married on August 10, 1932. He was 33, and she was 23. They rented a flat in Liverpool and worked long hours at the studio. But they still made time for weekend adventures. They would strap their camera gear onto their bicycles and ride into the countryside to take landscape pictures.

In the same year, Chambré won a contract with the Liverpool Playhouse theatre. He took portraits and production photos of actors. Some famous actors he photographed included Ivor Novello, Patricia Routledge, and Robert Donat.

Chambré became a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. He took many landscape photos in Scotland. He also took a famous portrait of the ballet dancer Margot Fonteyn. Other important people he photographed included Michael Redgrave and John Moores. In 1938, he opened a second portrait studio in Chester.

War Time and New Home

During the Second World War, Chambré's business did very well. Many soldiers wanted family pictures before going overseas, or pictures of themselves to leave with their families. Because he was so busy, he had less time for landscape photography.

In 1941, the Hardmans moved to Barnston. Seven years later, they moved to a larger place at 59 Rodney Street in Liverpool. This became their new studio and their home for the rest of their lives. It was very close to the city's cathedral.

In 1950, Chambré took a very famous photo called Birth of the Ark Royal. This picture showed an important time for Liverpool's trade.

Later Years and Legacy

Chambré officially retired around 1965. But he still took some portraits and taught evening classes for the Army. He also continued with landscape photography.

In early 1969, Margaret Hardman died from cancer. Chambré lost not only his wife but also his business partner and a very skilled helper in the darkroom. After her death, Chambré became quite lonely. He worked less and became a recluse.

In March 1975, an exhibition of Chambré's work called "Fifty Years of Photography" was shown at the University of Liverpool. Later, he began selling his old negatives to Liverpool's local history archive. He gave over 140,000 negatives from 1925!

By 1979, Chambré rarely left his home. He had trouble walking and even fell. Peter Hagerty, who directed Liverpool's Open Eye Gallery, visited him. He noticed that many of Chambré's old photos and negatives were being thrown away. Chambré had not planned for his work to be saved.

Chambré agreed to set up a trust to protect his work. He decided to leave most of his property to this trust. Exhibitions of his work continued throughout the 1980s. He was also made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

Chambré Hardman passed away on April 2, 1988, in Liverpool. His house and studio at 59 Rodney Street were taken over by the E. Chambré Hardman Trust. This trust worked to save his amazing collection of photographs. Later, his work was moved to the National Trust so it could be preserved for everyone to see.

Famous Photographs

Some of Chambré Hardman's well-known photographs include:

• A Memory of Avignon, 1923
• The Copse, 1934
• The Birth of the Ark Royal, 1950

In 2019, the National Trust hired experts to help preserve his prints, negatives, and letters. Many of his old negatives were starting to decay, smelling like vinegar. Now, they are being carefully looked after at the Liverpool Records Office.