![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/st_margaret-st_andrew-littleham_geo-crop-robert-cornford-wik-os-cc-.jpg?w=542)
ST MARGARET & ST ANDREW . LITTLEHAM-cum-EXMOUTH . DEVON
GRADE II* ✣ Recorded from 1139; present building has C13 origins (chancel); 14th-century arcades; then Perpendicular with subsequent rebuilding and C19 restorations (Fulford). Resting place of Viscountess Nelson.
I have not visited the church myself, but Ian Logan contacted me about the vertical dial on the apex of the church porch. I have written this post around the dial, however Ian has produced an excellent detailed description of the church and its history that I highly commend.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/st_lazarus_cross-1.webp?w=74)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/60otv.png?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/littleham-devon-st-margaretshot-2023-11-27-at-22.20.00-copy.png?w=1024)
BSS record: A stone dial, rather crude in execution and in poor condition, is mounted on the church porch. It is about 600mm square and shows the hours VI – Vl undivided. Although the numerals look as though they are aligned with the hour lines, the hour lines themselves have disappeared. The church leaflet says that the dial dates from 1780.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/littleham-devon-st-margaretshot-2023-11-27-at-22.20.00-copy-2.png?w=1024)
SCRATCH DIAL
There is an older dial – a scratch dial – on the right hand side of the porch doorway, probably C15. It is in poor condition, but there are 7 discernible lines radiating from the gnomon hole in the dial stone. These are two quite old photos of the dial (BSS). If anyone can provide a clear recent photo, it would be very welcome as an addition!
The ‘dawn’ line is now a prominent cleft in the damaged dial stone. The cluster of lines at and beyond noon LRQ indicate the most important part of the day for observance (none in canonical terms).
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/littleham-devon-dial-a-bss-1.png?w=1024)
MRS CROWLEY
This is an ideal place to use the wonderful drawing skills of Mrs Crowley to illustrate the vertical dial and scratch dial together. I have managed to obtain a copy of the comprehensive book of her Devon and Cornwall dial drawings, a work of wonder for dial-ologists.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/bdb3770d-8f55-4b7b-bdff-b7714612672f_1_105_c.jpeg?w=726)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/b0f75e00-9a17-49c7-ad3a-e2b651d7480e_1_201_a.jpeg?w=686)
GSS Category: Vertical Dial (1780); Scratch Dial
Credits: Keith Salvesen (photos); Ian Logan (photo, research); The Parish History Group (interesting and informative leaflet)