ST PETER . PETERCHURCH . HEREFS

Grade 1 ✣ Foundations date to AD 745; Saxon work visible in sanctuary. Substantially Norman, built mid-C12 as a 4-chambered basilica (cf Kilpeck nearby). C13 – 14 alterations, additions. Restorations from mid C19. Impressive fibre glass spire installed 1970s. It replaces the last of several spire dramas since the original of c1320 was completed (see HERE). Situated in the Golden Valley of Herefs. 52.0412 / -2.9564 / SO344385

DIALS

DIAL 1

RHS of Priest’s door. A morning dial with 5 lines, each with a terminal pock. The noon line – slightly offset – has a pock halfway down.

❖❖❖❖

DIAL 2 [and 3]

On a substantial buttress, a small dial so basic that I discounted it at first. The 2 lines do not even descend properly from the gnomon hole 3 ins above. The hole looks as though it has been enlarged at some time. I assume it predated and was succeeded by Dial 1.

❖❖❖❖

DIAGRAMS OF ALL DIALS INCLUDING DIAL 3*

Dial 2: the 2 short lines LHS are near-invisible now. I wonder if they were ever part of a dial.

Dial 3: this morning dial is close to Dial 2, but I missed it. It must be above the coping stone.

❖❖❖❖

HEREFORDSHIRE DIALS The county is well-served by the excellent small book (1988) by Richard & Catherine Botzum. It covers both scratch dials and conventional church dials, with a few church marks at the end. It is a pleasant read, the sort of book I’d have enjoyed writing.

GSS Category: scratch dial; mass dial; early sundial

Credit: Botzum ‘Herefordshire Scratch & Sundials’