CHURCH of ST MARY . CASTLE BANK . STAFFORD – Vertical Dial (1624)

Published on by Rolling Harbour
St Mary . Castle Bank . Stafford – Geoff Pick Geo CC / OS

CHURCH OF ST MARY . CASTLE BANK . STAFFORD

GV II* † C15 tower; otherwise mainly C19. Tower has 2 diagonal buttresses, plinth, south 2-light straight-headed window with sundial to right: incised inverted semi-circle with gnomon and inscription: J 1624 L BLB . In Newport Road below the castle, not to be confused with the large ‘collegiate’ parish church, also St Mary. 52.7969 / -2.141 / SJ905221

St Mary . Castle Church . – Vertical Sundial

DIAL

The vertical dial is high up on the S side of the tower, a semicircle with Roman numerals, with the date 1624 and on either side of it the letters J and L. The date may fit with work carried out on the upper stage of tower in C17. As can be seen, there has been good repair work on the dial, so that it is observably both ancient and modern.

GSS Category: Vertical Dial; Church Sundial; Old Sundial

All photos: Erika Clarkson, with many thanks for this and her other contributions to this project; Geoff Pick for his photo of the church Geo CC / OS

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