DEDICATION † St Mary. Mid C12 / earlier foundation; main development C15; C19 restoration
LISTING † Grade I
LOCATION † 8 miles NE. of Dorchester, 12 miles SE. of Yeovil, in the valley below the A37 racetrack. Hardy’s ‘Chalknewton’. More of a small town than a village, with a few shops, a garage and a station rather than (as elsewhere locally) a single shop and a halt. 50.7775 2.5727 SY597977
St Mary . Maiden Newton . Dorset . Scratch Dial on Chancel doorway
DIAL † On arch stone, E. side of chancel door. GLP dates as early C15, with a ‘rough arc of 5 holes across 2 stones’. I was at a loss to see how this dial could have worked with such a shallow arc and without a style hole. HoweverGLP points out that the arc’s approximate centre lies in a joint between 2 stones, so subsequent repointing presumably covered up the hole
St Mary . Maiden Newton . Dorset . Scratch Dial on Chancel doorway
NOTES † There is a fine sundial on S. face of tower, square slab with simple capping, iron gnomon and date 1630BHO. See OLD DIAL menu LINK
DEDICATION † ST MARY THE VIRGIN – dated from mid C14, gradual expansion in C15, C18 restoration (Crickmay). The South Chapel is a notable example of 14th-century architecture, well preserved and not greatly altered from its original form BHO.
LISTING † Grade II*
LOCATION † S. of Sherborne, E. of main road to Cerne Abbas. A straggling small village with records dating from C12, approached by lanes rather than roads. The church is set slightly apart from the centre. In 1985 the Parish name was changed from Wootton Glanville for reasons hard to ascertain. A peaceful feel to the community. 50.872 / -2.4558 / 2°27’20″W / ST68008
Glanvilles Wootton . Dorset . St Mary the Virgin – Scratch Dial
DIAL † On W. buttress of S. wall of S. Chapel, 2m high, with (later) iron gnomon* in square style-hole. Last visited in January drizzle, when marks were hard to make out and photo ‘work’ was needed. On a sunny April day, the marks were clear. Pocks (12+) of varied sizes. 8 radials with irregular angles. A notably emphasised noon-line in depth and width, and with additional terminal pock(s). GLP notes that it is 4º from vertical. The 3 larger pocks presumably marked local Mass times (very approx Terce, Sext & None). *Gnomon is iron, 130mm long, rectangular cross section. Modern. BSS
From the time of day indicated by the gnomon’s shadow, I estimated the o’clock time. Checking my watch, the shadow was just 17 minutes fast…
Glanvilles Wootton . Dorset . St Mary the Virgin . Scratch DialGlanvilles Wootton . Dorset . St Mary the Virgin . Scratch Dial
BSS record of markings – GLP
Glanvilles Wootton . Dorset . St Mary the Virgin . Emphasised noon-line with added pock(s)
NOTES † noted in RCHM / BHO but not BLB / HE / TWC. The village has a fine Manor House. Round Chimneys Farm – once owned by John Churchill Duke of Marlborough – has significant entries in Hutchins, RCHM III Dorset; and good details in BHOLINK.
DEDICATION † ST MARY THE VIRGIN C12 origins, re-fenestration & expansion in C15. West Tower C15. Chancel rebuilt in 1891, north porch added: ‘date of drastic restoration’BLB
LISTING † GRADE I
LOCATION † 3 miles NW. of Dorchester in the Frome valley, and thankfully set back from the race track of the A37. A charming church, a village green, and an agreeable pub The Saxon are happily contiguous. 50.7425 / -2.4958 / SY651937
St Mary . Stratton . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DIAL † W. jamb of the blocked S. door, inverted, and with 4 discernible lines. The muddle of stones in and around the doorway helps to explain repositioning. GLP suggests that the crossing line ‘may be an attempt to mark Tierce’.
Stratton Dial Diagram GLP
St Mary . Stratton . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DIAL 2? A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE
Close to the featured scratch dial recessed inside the blocked doorway, there is a larger stone on the outer jamb with a possible second dial. There are 2 clear radials converging on the mortar line, one long and one shorter. If a second dial, it is also inverted. It seems later than its companion. The amount of obvious reworking of the doorway area over time might explain the move of the dial stone.
The 12th-century S. doorway, now blocked, has chamfered jambs of two orders, a round head to the outer and a rebuilt segmental head to the inner order; the label is chamfered BHO
St Mary . Stratton . Dorset . Scratch Dial – possibly….St Mary . Stratton . Dorset . Scratch Dial – possibly…
NOTES † BHO highlights the bells: five; 1st recast at the Closworth foundry, 1753; 2nd by Thomas Purdue, 1695; 3rd by Thomas Purdue, 1658; 4th by Roger Purdue, 1627; 5th by George Purdue, 1619. C13 font.
DEDICATION † ST MARTIN . Late C13 / early C14; tower C15. S. porch (dial location) C1500 HE, BLB
LISTING † GRADE I
A WONDERFUL CANONICAL DIAL IN DEEPEST DORSET
St Martin . Cheselbourne . Dorset . Scratch Dial
LOCATION † Seven miles NE. of Dorchester. Hidden in a dip in the remote folds of Dorset’s undulating downs, Cheselbourne (CeseburneDB) is accessible only by narrow lanes. It is well worthwhile if you can understand the signposts well enough to reach the village. 50.7954 / -2.3388 / SY762995
St Martin . Cheselbourne . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DIAL † A remarkable dial, ‘the most carefully cut and complete specimen of a medieval dial in Dorset’EEC.
On S. wall, scratch dial.’BLB – a scant note and considerable understatement. The 1631 sundial on the porch (see below) is better served
St Martin . Cheselbourne . Dorset . Scratch Dial gallery – left, central, right & complete
GLP dates this complex dial as late C15 / early C16, with 25 lines & 26 holes. ‘Each line ends in a hole, the vertical line being marked by 2 holes. The lines alternate in length, a long line running to the gnomon hole with a short line fitting in the angle between 2 of the long lines. The long lines accurately measure the hours; the short lines the half hours’.
Chancellor (ECC) noted crosses halfway along 2 lines, shown in his drawing of 1939. GLP could not trace these in 1996.
St Martin . Cheselbourne . Dial Drawing . Chancellor
St Martin . Cheselbourne . Dorset . Scratch Dial – S. Porch and obligatory drainpipe
NOTES † Above south porch arch, rectangular stone slab with Roman numerals, inscribed HC 1631 WM, with wrought iron gnomon (HE, BHO)LINK; also a fine C15 churchyard cross with limestone 3-step plinth and Ham stone treads RCHM
The dial is flush with the wall above the South porch. There is a flat strip gnomon with ‘S’ supporter. The gnomon angle is 56 degrees to wall. Face very weathered. Shows 6am to 6pm in half hours. Noon numeral or mark worn away as are many hour lines, IIII for 4pm. Few half hour marks visible. Inscription: “HC 1631 WM” (initials of the Church Wardens)
DEDICATION † ST PETER – C15, later works & additions
LISTING † GRADE I
LOCATION † S. of A30 between Henstridge & Milborne Port; or reached from S. by a complex network of lanes (map suggested). A notable E-shape C15 Manor House. St Peter is a most attractive example of a typical Dorset church. 50.9569 / -2.4342 / ST696175
St Peter . Purse Caundle . Dorset – Scratch Dial
DIAL † NW. corner of Nave, conveniently by a drainpipe (as so often) for size comparison. Repositioned during building BSS. 5 distinct radials, encircled, 13 pocks including 2 doubles and a triple indicating significant hours. Location and lichen complicate inspection.
St Peter . Purse Caundle . Dorset . Dial Diagram BSS
St Peter . Purse Caundle . Dorset – Scratch Dial
St Peter . Purse Caundle . Dorset – Scratch Dial Details
NOTES † Nearby STOURTON CAUNDLE (link to come) has a C18 sundial with gnomon on the tower and (worth the visit) an excellent display of graffiti and apotropaic (‘witch’) marks in and around the porch. BISHOPS CAUNDLE has a badly eroded scratch dial, featured HERE
DEDICATION † ALL SAINTS – C12 nave, C14 main church, C19 restoration / modern chancel
LISTING † GRADE I
LOCATION † 2 miles N. of Sherborne in a secluded valley beyond Oborne. Fine lynchet systems on the hillsides. A real feel of history here, with a magnificent manor house, tithe barn, former court house, and the church on a slope above the village. 50.9781 / -2.4996 / ST650199
NOTES † Unrecorded dial, relocated and inverted N. porch.
Poyntington Dorset . All Saints. Scratch Dial .
DIAL † No known record of a dial at this church. Checked because local & ‘early’. Approached by path from N., dial visible upper L side of N. porch. Clearly relocated and inverted in the process. 3 clean-cut radials across 2 stones, evenly spaced but differing lengths. Filled style hole. The image of the porch shows the disproportion of this uniform block of relocated stone to the rest of the porch.
DEDICATION † ST PETER & ST PAUL – c14 origins, c15 tower & additions, enlargement & ‘well done’ (OM) restoration c19
LISTING † GRADE I
LOCATION † One of 3 ‘Caundle’ churches in the area, and well worth visiting as trio linked by meandering lanes and puzzling signposts. Bishop’s is about 4 miles S.E. Sherborne on a road leading E. to Sturminster Newton. An elongated village with a typically attractive Dorset church. 50.9171 / -2.4336 / ST696131
St Peter & St Paul . Bishop’s Caundle . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DIAL † The dial, in poor condition, is on the E. jamb of the Chancel door. Filled style hole. Faint & poorly preserved (GLP). He noted 6 lines and 7 pocks, with a cross on the mass line.
St Peter & St Paul . Bishop’s Caundle . Dorset . Scratch Dial
NOTES † There’s more to this dial than meets the eye, once one gets over slight disappointment on seeing it…
St Peter & St Paul . Bishop’s Caundle . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DEDICATION † ST MARY THE VIRGIN – C12 origins, mainly C15 perpendicular, later additions & restoration
LISTING † GRADE I
LOCATION † 4 miles SW. Sherborne, 3 miles SE. Yeovil. ‘Abbot’s Broad Ford’. A significant settlement from Roman times. Associated with Saxon King Athelstan. One of the larger villages in the area, attractive and with an inviting pub close to the church. 50.9265 / -2.5884 / ST587142
FEATURE † New dial recorded (see Dial 3)
St Mary the Virgin . Bradford Abbas . Dorset . Scratch dials 1 & 2
DIALS † High on SW. buttress of porch, two scratch dials, one on top of the other. Well-documented. The top dial seems less sophisticated and more eroded, so perhaps is the oldest (AOW drew it as dial 1). Rather obtrusive vertical repairs to both. I found a 3rd dial high up on the tower, clearly relocated and inverted (see below). I have found no mention of it anywhere: a new find perhaps.
DIALS 1 & 2
St Mary the Virgin . Bradford Abbas . Dorset . Scratch dials 1 & 2
The top dial. 13 radial, 7 dots. Deeper & longer 8-line. Style hole filled. AOW notes Square outline. Transitional
Lower dial. Semicircle, 11 radials, 10 dots. Style hole filled. Morning radial notably extend beyond the circle line.
St Mary the Virgin . Bradford Abbas . Scratch Dials (Keith Salvesen)
DIAL 3
St Mary the Virgin . Bradford Abbas . Scratch Dial 3 (unrecorded)St Mary the Virgin . Bradford Abbas . Scratch Dial 3 (unrecorded)
NOTES † Dials 1 & 2 recorded and drawn by AOW, mentioned BSS / GLP , BHO; Dial 3 unrecorded
DEDICATION † ST ANDREW – C15, mid-C19 restoration; C13 font
LISTING † GRADE II*
LOCATION † 5 miles SW of Sherborne, a sprawling village set deep in farming country. Some fine old buildings dating from C16, now mixed in with modern housing. A fine village cross with C15 shaft. A friendly rural place. 50.8762 / -2.5445 / ST617086
St Andrew . Leigh . Dorset . Scratch Dial
DIAL † On W. side jamb of porch, a very small rustic dial, eroded / damaged LHS, mid to late C15. Full circle with 4 detectable radials, the (presumed) noon line being extended outside the circumference at a slight angle. Probably originally divided into eight equal segments GLP, who dates the dial to the second half of C15
Seen close to, there are hints that the adjacent area with the large bolt may once have been a dial, with the hole for a small style (originally centred) overwhelmed by its replacement and erosion. A nearby hole, slightly lower, on the inside of the jamb, looks promising as a dial but on inspection, disappoints.
St Andrew . Leigh . Dorset . Scratch Dial
NOTES † Recorded in BSS register as researched by GLP. Not mentioned elsewhere. C13 font; interesting West Door with shields in the spandrels, one bearing three hanks of cord and the other a merchant’s markBHO; also graffiti with date, initials, witch and other marks; enjoyable gargoyles. Elsewhere, a few incised crosses, presumably apotropaic in purpose.
Graffiti and marks . West Porch . St Andrew . Leigh . Dorset
