Hunky punk
A hunky punk (or sometimes hunkypunk) is a colloquial variation of a grotesque carving, specific to the West Country of England, particularly Somerset.
A hunky punk is often a short squatting figure, usually an animal, carved in stone. The name apparently derives from a combination of the old English terms ‘hunkers’ meaning haunches, and ‘punchy’ meaning short-legged.
They are typically found on late-Gothic churches, although they can be found from middle-to-late medieval architecture onwards. They are typically positioned at the corner of a church tower, along the coping ridge below any crenellations.
While similar in appearance to gargoyles, a hunky punk is actually a grotesque in that it is a purely ornamental architectural feature rather than having the function of draining water. However, Victorians did punch holes through some hunky punks to create rainwater downpipes.
The theory behind hunky punks and grotesques in general, was that churches were designed to reflect the balance between good and evil, reminding worshippers of the narrow path leading through life. As a result, for every saint or animal that was intended to signify purity and ‘goodness’, there was also an ugly creature to signify evil and ‘badness’.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
IHBC NewsBlog
IHBC at COP26 - Conserving our Places Conserves our Planet 1-12 Nov 2021
The IHBC seeks to raise awareness and understanding of how building conservation philosophy and practice contributes towards meeting the challenge of climate change.
IHBC's latest CONTEXT explores 'Conservation Leadership by the People'
From Amenity Societies and Wentworth Woodhouse to Kurt Schwitters, Scotland’s Towns, Chester and more...
Edinburgh’s Royal High School to become ‘£55M national centre for music’
The former Royal High School building in Edinburgh is to be transformed into a £55 million national centre for music after the City of Edinburgh Council agreed to the lease of the historic property.
IHBC, CIfA, IEMA launch Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment
The joint-institute document aims to help maintain cultural heritage by providing a consistent framework across different sectors & geographies
Enter Now to Win: IHBC's GASA Awards 2021
IHBC’s Gus Astley Student Awards 2021: Win £500 and a place on IHBC’s 2022 Aberdeen School with your built environment/heritage coursework, closes 31/07!
Former Harris meat factory mansion in Calne, Wilts, to be restored
The last remaining buildings on the site of the Harris meat factory family’s historic mansion are being restored to their former glory and converted into new homes.
CICV Forum introduces professional indemnity insurance guide
The Construction Industry Coronavirus Forum (CICV Forum) has unveiled a new guide to the crucial and increasingly complex issue of professional indemnity insurance (PII).
The World Heritage Committee(WHC): Liverpool should lose its World Heritage status.
ICOMOS has advised that the new football stadium proposal, if implemented, would have a completely unacceptable major adverse impact its authenticity and integrity.
Scotland’s CSIC: New plans to transform public spaces into sustainable office hubs
Responding to the changing working patterns of a post-Covid Scotland, the Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) has revealed new plans to help retrofit public spaces into out-of-town alternatives to city centre offices.
IHBC’s latest Context explores ‘Applying Digital Technology'
The free-to-access online issue mixes the topical and practical to explore how the sector can best adapt to digital innovation.