“Hunky Punk” is a West Country (UK) word for grotesque carvings on the side of English buildings, especially churches. The word originated in Somerset and is ascribed to the Old English word “hunkers,” which means haunches and “punchy,” which means short-legged. Unlike a gargoyle, which drains water through its mouth, a hunky punk has no architectural purpose. Hunky punks are decorative elements used for balance. For example, on the corner of a church, along the coping ridge below any castellations, one might find three hunky punks and one gargoyle. All four elements appear to be gargoyles, but the roof likely only drains in one direction; therefore, there is only one true gargoyle.

Some term a hunky punk as a short squatting figure found only on Somerset churches. Hunky punks come in many sizes and shapes. Recognized in spiritual architecture throughout the world, they are mostly found on buildings built in the middle to late medieval period.

York Minster

“Some theories consider that the balance of good and evil created in church design to remind worshippers of the narrow path they tread was present in everything. This meant that for every good and benign creature, such as a saint or an animal to signify purity, there had to be an opposite to bring out the fear of evil. In York Minster, for example, the carvings in the Chapter house, which are particularly disgusting and obscene and which were supposedly created as caricatures of the then Dean and Chapter, were put there above the seats to create an opposite to each occupant, who we might like to assume was not in fact the foul person their carvings made them out to be.” The church tower at Isle Abbots (in Somerset) has eight Hunky Punks: a person playing the bagpipes, an Oriental lion dog, a goat, a dragon, a Chinese dragon, a primitive dragon, a winged lion, and a lion.

Isle Abbots

A hunky punk is a type of Grotesque. “A grotesque is a carved figure, usually of a mytholigical creature, demon, or strange beast, used as an ornamental feature in church decoration. The term is sometimes confused with gargoyle, which is a special type of carved beast used to decorate a drainpipe. Grotesques can be found almost anywhere inside or outside a church, but are often used to decorate a frieze just under the eaves or as projecting carvings on a tower. Grotesques might depict human figures or faces, demons, animals, or other mythical creatures, often with exaggerated fierce of humourous expressions. Some are obviously meant to lampoon real local characters or represent church patrons.” (from Britain Express)