Breathing Building Exhibition
“breathing building” by Francesca Tomlinson
Friday 15 – Sunday 17 May | 10am – 3pm
Private View: Saturday 16 May | 4 – 6pm
The Leper Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene. Barnwell Junction, Newmarket Rd, Cambridge CB5 8JJ.
A solo art exhibition by Francesca Tomlinson, presented in Cambridge at the atmospheric Leper Chapel of St Mary Magdalene. Exploring themes of isolation, connection and collective memory, this site-responsive exhibition is a chance to experience the magic of one of Cambridge’s oldest buildings.
The work reflects on the lives of patients at Stourbridge Hospital, who would have worshipped at the Chapel nearly 900 years ago. Through installation and sensory engagement, visitors are invited to step inside this breathing building – shaped by centuries of use, adaptation and care. Here, they will encounter a set of ghost-like paper porcelain bells.
This is Francesca’s first solo exhibition, presenting a new body of work developed over the past year through conversations with staff from Cambridge Past, Present & Future, and in dialogue with the Chapel itself.
Francesca Tomlinson is a Cambridge-based multidisciplinary artist whose work explores historic sites, archives and socially charged objects to uncover overlooked histories and connect them to life today.
For more information about the artist, visit:
Free event – no booking required.
All are welcome to attend the private view on Saturday from 4pm; light refreshments will be provided.
Historic England has placed the Chapel on the Heritage at Risk Register. Without urgent action, we risk losing this unique piece of our local heritage forever. Please help us to save the Leper Chapel by donating here.
Please note, there are no toilet facilities at the Chapel. The nearest public toilets are a 5-minute walk away.
There is no parking at the Chapel itself, but nearby street parking is available.
Directions can be found here.
The Chapel can be reached step free across grass or via steps from Newmarket Road. There is a large step into the building.
