Dorset Scratch Dial – Page 9 – GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN

CHARMINSTER – ST MARY

Published on February 3, 2021February 4, 2021 by Rolling Harbour1 Comment

DEDICATION † ST MARY Saxon origins, C11 core, C14 – 15 enlarged, tower added 1500

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † A most interesting village a couple of miles N of Dorchester. The fine church stands close to the River Cerne as it rushes to join the nearby River Frome. The mark of the Trenchards is strongly evident here. Worth spending time in both church and village – I recommend reading the Pevsner entry or BLB / HE / BHO online before you do so. 50.733 / -2.4559 / SY679926

St Mary . Charminster . Dorset . Scratch Dial 1

DIALS † Two dials. Dial 1 is on the parapet of S. porch rhs. Dial 2 is on E .quoin of S. aisle, relocated and (not unusually) inverted. BLB mentions ‘sundials’ in passing. BHO describes it as ‘much worn’, but some features are very clearly visible. I’ve added a reverted image for comparison, which improves the readability.

*St Mary . Charminster . Dorset . Scratch Dial* 2 (as relocated and inverted)

*St Mary . Charminster . Dorset . Scratch Dial 2 (*reverted for comparison)

*St Mary . Charminster . Dorset . Scratch Dial*s 1 & 2

NOTES † Besides theses two dials, St Mary’s (fittingly) has a Marian mark VV (Virgo Virginum / Virgin of Virgins) in the porch, with other graffiti. This is one form of medieval RITUAL PROTECTION MARK [link in due course] to ward off evil. The terminal dots are often found (as also with small crosses with the same function). There is also an Undial (lower right) that I momentarily thought might be a (very) crude actual dial cut in the softer Ham stone, with a style hole and 2 coarsely curved radials.

Marian Mark (Ritual Protection Mark) St Mary Charminster Dorset; Undial with 2 curved radials

GSS Category: Scratch Dial, Marian Mark

PENDOMER – ST ROCH

Published on January 24, 2021January 25, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST ROCH (unique Anglican dedication) C14, earlier origins, records from 1297

LISTING † GRADE II*

LOCATION † A seemingly remote hamlet despite its proximity to Yeovil to NE. Reached down a long lane and set among wooded hills. A farming community with the feel of an earlier era. The church is behind the attractive manor house and approached by a private path 50.8910°N 2.6819°W ST 5224 1049

St Roch . Pendomer . Som. – Scratch Dial

DIAL † DEH (p.85) visited Pendomer during his tour of churches in June 1915. The combined types of dial he mentions do not include the double-dot circle (I haven’t seen one before). The marks are clear, the condition is good. The dial is located on the largest stone to the right of the doorway. For other visible marks, see below.

209. This dial is on the e. side of a blocked-up doorway on the s. side. It is 3 feet 11 inches above the ground, the noonline is 3 1/4 inches in length, the stylehole is 5/8 of an inch deep by 1/2 an inch in diameter, and the aspect is s. by 12° w. Type 11, combining 10. June 16th, 1915.

OTHER MARKS † There are 2 distinct circles – not mentioned by DEH – to the left of the dial, overlapping each other and the dial. There’s a definite hint of a ‘daisy wheel’ in the larger circle, suggesting a Consecration Cross, but it is hard to see why two overlapping crosses would be cut; or why they would be superimposed on the dial or vice versa.

*St Roch . Pendomer . Som. – Scratch Dial* [Consecration Cross(es)?]

NOTES † The only other St Roch dedication is the Catholic Church, Glasgow. The font is thought to date back to the original C13 church. The list of incumbents is unbroken from Johannis Personis 1297 (I wonder if ‘Personis’ indicates that his second name, if he had one, was not known – so, ‘John Person’). Dial listed by TWC; not mentioned in online resources (HE, BLB, BHO).

Pendomer the hamlet is mentioned in the DOMESDAY BOOK. The link will take you to the wonderful Open Domesday Book online, an authoritative and fascinating resource. The DB Pendomer entry is featured and translated in the Pendomer links recommended below.

St Roch has an excellent Church Booklet available at the church or online HERE and an informative Pendomer website covering the history of the village and St Roch HERE

GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Consecration Cross

HERMITAGE DORSET – ST MARY

Published on January 19, 2021March 16, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST MARY C14; C17 restoration; further work c. 1800

LISTING † Grade II*

LOCATION † 4 miles N. of Cerne Abbas (S. of Sherborne) 50.8611 / -2.4991 / ST649069

A very small, simple church (‘free chapel‘) tucked away under a hillside in a discreet corner of this hamlet. Approached along the edge of the drive of the former Rectory. Supposed hermetic origin. If you didn’t know it was there, you’d miss it – the bell-cote hardly shows above the trees.

DIAL † Low down on the SE quoin of the nave, well-preserved and readily visible. It seems complex considering the simplicity of the building. I’d be interested in an analysis of the dial / possible date – the varied radials and (as I assume) the ‘dropped dot’ at 12 (best seen in #6)

NOTES † Plenty of interest here despite (or because of) comparative remoteness. Medieval (C14?) N. door. C17 font and floor slabs. Graffiti (initials) on W. buttress, including tablets dated 1682 (date of restoration?) & 1799 (date of work inc. addition of bell-cote?). The large village green is perfect for a village cricket square. Listed RCHM & BHO; few mentions elsewhere.

Hermitage . Dorset . St Mary . Scratch Dial

Hermitage . Dorset . *St Mary .* Dial Diagram (BSS)

GSS Category: Scratch Dial

GLANVILLES WOOTTON (1) – ST MARY THE VIRGIN

Published on January 18, 2021April 21, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Glanvilles Wootton . Dorset . St Mary the Virgin

SEE REVISED VERSION OF THIS POST HERE LINK – APRIL 2021

FOLLOWING A VISIT IN APRIL SUNSHINE RATHER THAN JANUARY DRIZZLE, ENJOY THE DETAIL OF THIS UNUSUAL DIAL IN ALL ITS GLORY

DEDICATION † ST MARY THE VIRGIN – from mid C14, gradual expansion, C18 work

LISTING † Grade II*

LOCATION † South of Sherborne towards Cerne Abbas. Approached by lanes more than roads. 50.872 / -2.4558 / 2°27’20″W / ST68008

Straggling small village. Records from C12. In 1985 the Parish name was changed from Wootton Glanville (I haven’t explored the reason). A peaceful feel to the community.

DIAL † On W. buttress of S. wall of S. Chapel, with iron gnomon in square style hole. Dot dial with varied sizes (see close up #5). Suspicion of faint radials, but on a dark day it was hard to tell then or indeed from the photos – see diagram. BSS Gnomon is iron, 130mm long, rectangular cross section. Modern

NOTES † noted in RCHM / BHO but not BLB / HE / TWC

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

SANDFORD ORCAS – ST NICHOLAS

Published on January 3, 2021January 6, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST NICHOLAS – early C14 / C15

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † Sandford Orcas, Dorset 50.9876 / -2.5394 / ST622210

A village sunk in a valley just 4 miles north of Sherborne yet seemingly isolated in place and time by long narrow lanes. The church is on higher ground, by a fine manor house.

DIAL † Well-marked scratch dial on the E. side of the attractively simple porch, angled slightly into the arch. Since the porch is a C15 addition, the dial (which seems quite early) may perhaps have been relocated – it sits slightly awkwardly.

BLB LINK † HE LINK for Church (no mention of this dial)

NOTES † Very few references to this dial. Not mentioned in standard sources eg RCHM, or (as far as I have seen) online. However, included in Cole’s list for Dorset (p.10).

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

THORNFORD (1) . DORSET . ST MARY MAGDALENE – Rare Sill Scratch Dials

Published on December 20, 2020August 20, 2022 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset (Keith Salvesen) — St Mary Magdalene, Thornford, Dorset

DEDICATION † ST MARY MAGDALENE – C14 / C15, later restoration

LISTING † Grade 2*

LOCATION † S. of the Sherborne – Yeovil A30 road, approx half way between the towns 50.9175 / 50°55’3″N / ST603132

One of the larger local villages, with more facilities than most inc. a school, a pub, a nearby station & a cricket club. In Doomsday book as Torneford

DIALS † Two unusual ‘sill’ scratch dials, both in the quoins of the E. corner of the window sills either side of the blocked chancel doorway, with the window jambs acting as gnomon. There is a rare internal dial in the chancel, to be featured when access to the church is possible (Covid).

ADDENDUM 2022: the rare interior dial on N side of the Chancel is now written up HERE

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 1a — Thornford – window scratch dial 1a

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 1b — *Thornford – window scratch dial 1*b

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 2a — *Thornford – window scratch dial 2a*

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 2b — *Thornford – window scratch dial* 2b

NOTES † Stone screen, c15 font, early organ, a number of Consecration crosses, from badly eroded Hamstone to clear-cut. Tithe Tomb in the churchyard with a basin into which tenants contributed to the wealth of the Lord of the Manor by making an annual payment ‘on St Thomas’s Day’ to be allowed to keep their own hay

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial location — Dial locations: E. corner of each window sill, jamb acting as gnomon

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

WRAXALL – ST MARY

Published on December 18, 2020November 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST MARY – C12 nave and chancel; later additions include bellcote & S. porch

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † North-west of Maiden Newton 50.8054 / -2.6035 / ST575008

A very small secluded Dorset hamlet (comprising Lower & Higher) with a handful of houses, a handsome ford, and 2 rushing feeder streams for the upper River Frome.

DIALS † ‘On S. wall of nave, remains of two scratch-dials, reused’ (BHO)

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

Photos – Keith Salvesen

MINTERNE MAGNA – ST ANDREW

Published on December 15, 2020March 16, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † St Andrew – early c15 (Saxon foundation)

LISTING † Grade 2*

LOCATION † Between Sherborne and Dorchester 50.837330 / -2.484810 / ST 6591.0426

A flint and Ham stone church in a small hamlet near the head of the Cerne Valley. Dominated by Minterne House (rebuilt 1900) and its extensive gardens with specialist trees & plants. Good walking country with a Hardy feeling. Minterne Parva is 1/2 mile S.

DIAL † S. Nave, W. of 1st window. Eroded, 3 clear radials. Square style hole.

NOTES † Dial not mentioned in RCHM / BHO / BLB / HE – only refs found in BE & a Dorset Life article; no query dials; 6 (possibly 7) Consecration Crosses