Peterborough art gallery closes for good

Derek Lopez, who opened the Norman Cross Art Gallery to the public in 1998, said the decision to call it a day was heartbreaking, but the Covid-19 pandemic was the “final nail in the coffin”.

“It has always been tough going, but I have always kept what is a private gallery open to the public by putting my money where my mouth is,” said Derek, who converted a 300-year-old stable on the site of the Napoleonic prison camp at Norman Cross, in the grounds of his home and allowed visitors at weekends.

“It has broken my heart as I have been really committed to promoting art and history here for 22 years,” he said. “I have given a great number of artists an opportunity to exhibit their work here and I have worked with young artists at local schools.

“It was a terribly sad decision. But at the end of the day how can you run a business in this climate, with all this uncertainty?”