Hungate Medieval Art

Hungate Medieval Art is a charity promoting Norfolk's medieval history through free art exhibitions, lectures and events at Hungate, the former Church of St Peter Hungate in the centre of Norwich.

There has been a church on the site since at least the thirteenth century, and almost all of the present building dates from the fifteenth, when Hungate was substantially rebuilt as many of Norwich's churches were. Francis Blomefield, Norfolk's historian, described it in the 1740s as a neat building of black flint, and it is still recognisably that. One of its great glories is the late medieval angel roof, so called for the many carved angels that ornament it, one of eight such roofs in the city and more than 170 in the country.

By the late nineteenth century Hungate was in a poor state, and it was saved from closure and demolition by Prince Duleep Singh, a local member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. The church reopened in 1908 after a thorough restoration, but with the city centre's population dwindling it was soon clear it was no longer needed for worship, and a plan was developed to give the building a radical new purpose, heralding a new approach to the use of redundant churches in this country.

The programme runs to two or three exhibitions a year, showing aspects of medieval art and architecture alongside work by contemporary artists responding to that heritage, with lectures and themed workshops for families and individuals. The building is open every weekend from March to October whether or not an exhibition is running. Permanent display boards highlight features of the building, volunteers are on hand, and visitors are welcome to spend time in the garden. There is also a collection of replica tomb brasses for brass rubbing.