East Stour is a small village 5m W of Shaftsbury, with the A30 dividing its church from the majority of its (potential) congregation. I had a good lunch in the pub as bell-ringing issues were being keenly discussed around me..
A short but perilous (no pavements) walk away is a very fine and beautifully designed analemmatic sundial in a small park by the Village Hall. It is a war memorial, and the dedication poignantly extends the commemoration to everyone from East Stour who has been affected by war.
BSS RECORD
The dial is in the north corner of East Stour playing field. It is made from Portland stone and black granite with slate shingle infill. Granite tablet set into portland stone slab to N of date scale is all slightly canted and carries the laser-etched inscription: 4This Memorial is dedicated everyone from East Stour who has been affected by war. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them.X To the right of the words is an etched image of a soldier, a child and three crosses. The dial shows Arabic hours for 5am to 8pm.
Delineation was by David Brown, content by Guy Gilding, letter-cutting and stone-laying by lan Viney of Stonemasons of Dorset Ltd, and groundwork by local builder.
GSS Category: Analemmatic Sundial; Memorial Sundial
All photos: Keith Salvesen
GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN 
Have you visited St Michael and All Angels, Flax Bourton? I’ve visited every church in Somerset (took two years) to catalogue mass/sun dials. This is the only church whereby the dial is given proper attention in its history booklet. Also, as you were at Sutton Veny I wonder if you’ve seen the considerable wealth of dials at the converted (now private house) in Woolverton? Apart from the church at Martock this has the most dials I’ve seen.
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Hi Lee, no I haven’t been there. I don’t know the area. It’s good to hear of church booklets that include dials. Branscombe is another. I definitely must go to Woolverton, thanks for the tip – that sounds a fascinating non-church collection. Your 2-year project sounds really interesting. How have you catalogued your dials I wonder? I be pleased to know more. Did you take a copy of Dom Ethelbert Horne’s book with you?
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