Stained-glass centre to breathe new life into church

A new stained-glass research centre is set to breathe new life into a Norfolk church after a £50,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) meant that the building could be reopened with a new purpose.

The building will now be transformed into a headquarters for studying the areas rich history of medieval stained-glass painters.

Glass has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance in recent times, with glazed extensions and conservatories becoming increasingly popular ways of customising the home.

The new research centre will help students discover how popular glass was in the area in the 1600s, and with more than 160 examples of stained-glass architecture in the Norfolk area, students at St Peter Hungates will have no shortage of cases to study.

HLF head Robyn Llewellyn told EDP 24 that the money will help revive a much loved building.

"The stained glass in St Peter Hungate tells so many interesting stories and this grant will help local people and visitors explore this special church and discover this heritage for themselves," he said.

Just as with stained-glass examples, the use of glass in architecture can be used to stunning affect, with conservatories and pool houses being just the beginning of the materials uses in the home.