hardman and powell collaborated with a. w. pugin's son, e. w. pugin, firstly in the design of the funeral arrangements of john talbot, 16th earl of shrewsbury in november 1852. the collaboration between the hardman firm and the pugins was to continue after e. w. pugin’s death in 1875 with the later firm, pugin & pugin. this collaboration lasted for three generations and was a major influence on catholic church architecture and decoration in particular and the gothic revival in general.