Modern Sundials – GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN

MAX GATE . DORCHESTER – Thomas Hardy’s Vertical Dial

Published on November 1, 2025November 1, 2025 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

MAX GATE

Max Gate is a fine house on the eastern edge of Dorchester, designed and built by Thomas Hardy (with his father and brother) in 1885. He lived there until his death in 1928. He had two wives, Emma and then Florence, and during the ‘Max Gate years’ there were complicated relationships, sadly beyond the scope of this article.

In 1940 the house was bequeathed to the National Trust by Hardy’s sister. It was listed Grade I in 1970 with the stipulation that it should be lived in. The NT gives generous access to the interior, and there are conducted tours of the house and grounds. It is not exactly ‘lived in’, but it does feel homely rather than museum-like. To see Hardy’s desk and other writerly items feels a privilege. ‘Tess’ was written there, also ‘Jude’, the ‘The Mayor of Casterbridge’, and much of his poetry.

MAX GATE – VERTICAL SUNDIAL

High up on the east tower, the dial is a good example of a sundial that (besides its primary use) acts as a memorial, and tastefully reflects the significance of the dedicatee. It is also very visible and easy to read at a distance. The lightly ornamental gnomon is moored at the bottom right corner as you face the dial. The style is simple, with 12 hours marked from 7.00am to 6.00pm and 24 radials to record half hours. The dial plate is white-painted wood. Overall the dial is in poor condition, but I gather that there are plans to carry out complete restoration during 2026.

MOTTO

QUID DE NOCTE?

Literally, ‘WHAT OF THE NIGHT ?’ Interrogative sundials are relatively unusual, and I am unsure when the inclusion of question-marks began. The simplest reply might be ‘NIHIL’ – the sun is asleep.

.The marriage certificate (1839) of Thomas Hardy’s parents at Melbury Osmond church, Dorset

GSS Category: Vertical Dial; Memorial Dial; Dial Mottoes

Credits: Keith Salvesen (all photos); National Trust; Melbury Osmond church

ARMILLARY SPHERE PUZZLE

Published on April 3, 2025April 9, 2025 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

This is a small dial that has recently come into my possession. It stands (temporarily) on our gnomon-less Barker pedestal dial. Is it:

A good example of a small sphere from the 1930s, once owned by an aunt
A find in an old-style antique shop in Oxfordshire in 2003
An impulsive cheapo eBay purchase a few months ago

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THE FRANCIS BARKER ‘LIBERTY’ PEDESTAL

As featured in the BBS Bulletin

MUNICH . LAIM DISTRICT – Modern Noon Dial

Published on April 1, 2025 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

NOON DIALS

A noon dial / noon mark serves as a method of pinpointing midday, when the sun is at its highest and due south. The origins are ancient. Here, the relevant area is in the centre, flanked by Roman numerals. My maths / science skills are few and I will spare you a rudimentary explanation. The key words are Equation of Time, Analemma, and (my non-technical choice) figure of eight.

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In the centre of the dial is a narrow figure of eight bounded by the numerals. You can just make out the raised bracket that supports a slender gnomon. You can see a small ring through which, at the perfect moment, the sun’s rays strike the face of the dial:

If you want to know more, there is a concise entry at ANALEMMA (Wiki)

GREEN TEMPLETON COLLEGE OXFORD

A modern (1995) noon-dial commemorating the Bicentenary of the Radcliffe Observatory, designed by the renowned Christopher Daniel, founder of the British Sundial Society. The critical alignment of the sun’s rays are projected onto the surface of the dial at noon (MERIDIES MEDIA), focused by the small ring.

THE COLLEGE’S NOTES

It works by using a spot of light cast by the nodus (the gilded sun with a hole in the middle), falling upon the slate dial-plate and tracking from left to right across it.
It is declining because the wall it is attached to does not face due south but ‘declines’ away from the compass point
Noon-mark means it gives the point at which the sun at its zenith crosses the Greenwich meridian and the Oxford meridian (the vertical white line down the centre of the dial)
Mean-time means you can read clock-time from the dial by following the progress of the year along the figure-of-eight marking, known as an analemma or equation of time correction curve. This makes allowances for the effect of variations in the apparent motion of the sun at different times of year.

GSS Category: Analemma; Equation of Time; Munich Sundial; Nodus; University Sundial

CREDIT: John Renner, for another great find from his travels

RUSTIC ALPINE SUNDIAL . FRENCH ALPS

Published on January 24, 2025January 26, 2025 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

A chance find in a tiny hamlet on the French / Italian border: this rather lovely home-crafted sundial. In a simple unshowy way, it is designed with care and lends enchantment to its overall purpose. I enjoyed seeing the passage of (part of) the day being marked by this dial.

The inclusion of notably cheerful signs of the Zodiac adds to the charm.

The pretty gnomon has an ingenious simplicity. Altogether a delightful find.

GSS Category: Vertical Dial; Rustic Dial; Semi-circle dial; Sundial France

All photos: Keith Salvesen

LES CADRANS SOLAIRES DE COARAZE: CERAMIC TILE SUNDIALS IN PROVENCE

Published on December 2, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Cadrans Solaires Sundials Coaraze (© Keith Salvesen) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Jean Cocteau

LES CADRANS SOLAIRES: THE CERAMIC TILE SUNDIALS OF COARAZE, PROVENCE

The nine sundials shown below are in Coaraze, a small medieval ‘village perché’ (650m) in the Alpes-Maritimes, Provence, north of Nice. They include sundials by artistic polymath Jean Cocteau (poet, novelist, dramatist, designer, artist and filmmaker); Ponce de Leon; and Henri Goetz, among others. They are located in two places in the village (1) on the front and side walls of the Marie (2) at the top of the village on a south-facing walls in the square in front of the church. They need no interpretation by me: everyone who views these wonderful sundials will experience their own personal response to each one.

MONA CRISTIE – LA CHEVAUCHÉE DU TEMPS

Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Mona Cristie

GEORGES DOUKING – LES ANIMAUX FABULEUX

Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Georges Douking

JEAN COCTEAU – LES LÉZARDS

Lizards are the historic symbol of the village

coaraze-sundial-3b.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Jean Cocteau

GILBERT VALENTIN – LES TOURNESOLS

coaraze-sundial-4a.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Gilbert Valentin

FABIENNE BARRE (2008)

On the side wall of the Marie, with a view of the village

coaraze-sundial-5a.jpg (1280×1049) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Fabienne Barre

coaraze-sundial-5c.jpg (1280×963) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Fabienne Barre

ANGEL PONCE DE LÉON – BLUE TIME (1961)

coaraze-sundial-6a.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Angel Ponce de Léon

HENRI GOETZ – LE PYTHON ET SA COURONNE EN VERT ET OR (1961)

coaraze-sundial-7a.jpg (1280×1006) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Henri Goetz

SACHA SOSNO (2007)

coaraze-sundial-8a.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Sacha Sosno

“BEN” – BENJAMIN VAUTIER (2008)

coaraze-sundial-9a.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Benjamin Vautier

coaraze-a.jpg (1280×978) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence

coaraze-sundial-10.jpg (1280×960) — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence

Coaraze Sundial 11 — Cadrans Solaires . Ceramic Sundials . Coaraze . Provence – Benjamin Vautier

WIMBLEDON (SW London) . Fitness Centre . Modern Dial by Christopher St.J.H. Daniel

Published on September 22, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

WIMBLEDON . FITNESS CENTRE . MODERN DIAL 1996

Christopher St.J.H. Daniel MBE, the maker of this dial, was the pre-eminent and most prolific sundial designer of the modern era. With 3 others, he was a founder member of the British Sundial Society BSS. He died in 2022, leaving a rich legacy of erudition and skill within his specialised sphere and beyond. His sundial book, published by Shire, is an excellent place to learn about sundials and their continuing relevance in a somewhat esoteric field.

JARDIN PRÉVERT . COTENTIN . MANCHE – Armillary Sphere

Published on September 12, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

JARDIN DE PRÉVERT . COTENTIN . MANCHE

This idiosyncratic garden is close to Port Racine in the NW corner of the Cotentin peninsular, in the Vallée des Moulins. There is a tumbling stream that at one time flowed past more than a dozen mills, of which some ruins remain. The garden was created in homage to the poet and screen-writer Jacques Prévert. After his death (1977), trees were planted by his wife, Yves Montand, Juliette Gréco, and Picasso among others, a quality tribute to his artistic achievements.

Amid the peaceful woodland bordering the stream are artfully twisting paths. These reveal clusters of metalwork sculptures, inscribed poems hanging from trees, and plenty of somewhat surreal creations. In amongst the foliage I spotted this sphere. Enjoy the poem.

An orange on the table
Your dress on the rug
And you in my bed
Sweet gift of the present
Freshness of the night
Warmth of my life

GSS Category: Armillary Sphere; Sundial Art

All photos Keith Salvesen except JT (os)

BOROUGH GARDENS . DORCHESTER – Analemmatic Sundial

Published on September 4, 2024September 4, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

NOTE: 2 years on from my previous visit here on a very damp autumn day, I have returned on a sunny late-summer day. This post replaces the rather enervating photos from then with some brighter and more legible ones now.

The Borough Gardens in Dorchester are close to the centre of town. They were laid out and opened in the 1890s as ‘pleasure grounds’, as they remain. There is plenty to offer for all ages in an agreeable undulating space. Lawns, tennis courts, bandstand, paddling pool, playground, fountain, a memorial obelisk, and more.

ANALEMMATIC SUNDIAL

Amongst the attractions, close to the bandstand, is a modern analemmatic sundial. I don’t know the actual date it was laid out, but the BSS record is 1998 with the note: The dial is laid out in the play area near the bandstand. Hour markers adjusted for longitude, an hour added for summertime use. Shows hours from 7am to 7pm.

CALENDAR

analemmatcic-sundial-dorchester-pamphlet-yougov Download

GSS Category: Analemmatic Sundial

All photos: Keith Salvesen; written information from municipal sources with thanks

COGOLIN . VAR . FRANCE – Vertical Dials

Published on August 24, 2024August 25, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

L’ÉGLISE SAINT-SAUVEUR et SAINT ÉTIENNE . COGOLIN . VAR

COGOLIN is an attractive and relatively small town with a harbour close to Port Grimaud. Both towns are a short jet-ski ride from St Tropez. The church, with its double dedication, may date to C11.

CHRIST IS THE LIGHT OF NATIONS

This intriguing dial was created by M. Garde-Lebreton in 2018. It manages to combine accuracy, legibility, and charm. An excellent bonus is the very careful explanation of the dial on a separate plate. An object lesson of modern dial design and analysis.

DIAL 2

St-Sauveur has a second attractive dial, another good example of a modern dial that combines its purpose with cheerful style. Engraved and painted on cement.

GSS Category: Vertical Dial; Dial on Church Wall; Modern Dial; France Sundial

CREDITS: Charly Salvesen with many thanks; R Collins; booking.com; Michel Lalos

BELCHALWELL . ST ALDHELM . Vertical Dial

Published on August 13, 2024August 15, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

ST ANDREW . BELCHALWELL . DORSET

Listed II* ❖ South door, part of S nave wall c.1190; C15 nave, south tower, porch, part of chancel; C18 works and restorations. A lonesome church in the heart of the Blackmore Vale. If unfamiliar with the area use a map or satnav. You’ll find a fascinating little church. 4m S of Sturminster Newton. 50.8873 / -2.2964 / ST792098

DIAL

A conventional dial, simple and a bit incongruous high up on the SW buttress of the tower. It is in fact a locally-made replica of a dial which had existed in the same position on the church since the late 18th or early 19th century (BSS). It is very slightly canted on the angled buttress, with the lines cut from VIII to VI. Including the horizontal line, this is (unusually?) a VII – VII dial.