Sundial Cards – GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN

WIMBORNE MINSTER . DORSET . ST CUTHBERGA – PILLAR DIAL

Published on November 7, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

ST CUTHBERGA . WIMBORNE MINSTER . DORSET

The origins of the Minster date back to the C8. The building seen today dates from early C12 with development during subsequent centuries. Leaving aside the merits of the splendid building, the impressively large stone block on the S side is unmissable. The plinth alone is 6′ high; S face is 4′ wide; E & W faces are 3′ wide. N face has an inscribed tablet only.

DIAL DATES

The images featured below give a good idea of each face, gnomon, and relative aspects, so I won’t go into more detail. However there is a conundrum about dates. There was at least one relocation of the dial, and areas of restoration / repair are evident. The inscription on N face is This ancient sun-dial was removed from the gable of the South transept at its restoration 1891 and was erected here 1894 George E Richards [and] Charles H Gush Churchwardens.

As seen today, the date 1676 is given top left of the south face on new stone. There is no date in the corresponding position on the right side. However in T G W Henslow’s delightful Ye Sundial Booke (1st ed 1914), his charming drawing shows the date 1732 in the top right of the south face with no date on the left side. And more confusingly, in the Wills’s cigarette card sundial series (1928, see below), both dates are shown.

SOUTH

SOUTH WEST

WEST

NORTH WEST

NORTH

EAST

SOUTH EAST

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE MINSTER

WILLS’S CIGARETTE CARD SUNDIAL SERIES 1928

FRY’S CHOCOLATE CARD SUNDIAL SERIES

SUNDIALS & COMMERCE: FRY’S CIGARETTE CARDS

Published on February 25, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

In the late C19, the first series of collectable themed cards were devised in America to encourage trade. The idea caught on, and these early examples of product placement gradually spread. Sportsmen (Cricketers), Nature, Actors, Military and Important People, were among the topics. By the turn of the century, British companies had taken up the challenge.

In 1924, Sundials became a novel theme, with an astonishing set of 50 cards produced by Fry’s. This was – until a takeover in 2011 – a long-established Bristol company founded in 1728 to process cocoa beans, and passed on down succeeding Fry generations.

Besides the large number of dials from all parts of Britain, each card had a sundial-and-product specific motto / pithy ditty on the back. The 5 collectors’ pages below show the front and the backs separately. Please note that you will have to read the text sides in reverse order to match the description to the correct dial. The centre one will be the same.

Following the example set by Fry’s, the cigarette company W.D. & H.O. Wills produced its own Sundial cards in 1928 with a set of 25. I have featured these HERE.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY Explore the Cigarette Card Collection HERE

GSS Category: Sundial cards; Sundial Art; Sundials in Commerce; Sundial picture sets; composed mottos

FRY’S ICONIC AD – THE ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN IN 1886

KELBURN CASTLE . LARGS . AYRSHIRE

Published on October 30, 2023February 11, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

KELBURN CASTLE . AYRSHIRE

The image above is enhanced to show this renowned castle in all its dramatic glory. The ancient seat of the Earls of Glasgow dates from C13 – one of the oldest castles in Scotland and the longest continuous family line of descent. This article is adapted from an earlier one published elsewhere. You will find further information about this magnificently daring blend of ancient and modern at the end.

A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE

If you want to find a good choice of multi-faceted sundials, Scotland is the place to go. A considerable number may be found at country houses and castles, or elsewhere having originated from a large estate. Many, perhaps most, are 200-300 years old. Some are relatively simple; others are so complex that their purpose is clearly as much ornamental as horological. Good examples can be found at Glamis, Haddo House, Castle Fraser and Culzean Castle.

The 1707 multi-faceted oblelisk sundial at Kelburn is one of the most important sundials in Scotland. Some restoration has been carried out, and it now appears to be in overall good condition. While there seems to be no agreed figure for the exact number of individual dials, the count starts at 70.

I’ve made no attempt to describe the dials for obvious reasons, but there are links at the end that will be helpful for those who want to investigate further than looking at the photos.

THE SUNDIAL FROM EACH ORIENTATION

EAST SIDE

NORTH SIDE

WEST SIDE

SOUTH SIDE

SPIRE

NOTES

Kelburn’s astonishing transformation from early medieval stronghold into an outrageous post-psychedelic House of Fun began in 2007. The building’s concrete cladding needed to be replaced, following which (and with official approval) four Brazilian graffiti artists were invited to let their imaginations run loose. And did.

There is plenty of material online about this remarkable building – see link to its website below. Enterprises on offer include weddings; yurts; summer music festival; a reputedly scary Halloween. Summed up in the estate material: It’s a cultural safari for the mind, body and soul.

GATTY (p 140)

BSS

The Kelburn Dial featured in Bulletin 1996 in connection with a later dial based on it

DESCRIPTIVE NOTE

LINKS

KELBURN CASTLE & ESTATE Castle website

ANCIENT SUNDIALS OF SCOTLAND (Somerville)

HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT SCOTLAND Listing details

CANMORE NATIONAL RECORDS

There is a second, smaller obelisk sundial NW of the castle that receives rather less attention: Sundial to west of Kelburn Castle, Kelburn Castle Estate, Fairlie (LB7298). Listing details can be found HERE

Image from the Canmore photographic records for Kelburn

GSS Category: Obelisk Dial; Multiple Dial; Scottish Sundial

All photos and material: Keith Salvesen except as indicated

SUNDIALS & COMMERCE . WILLS’S CIGARETTE CARDS

Published on October 25, 2023February 25, 2024 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

In the late C19, the first series of collectable themed cards were used in America to encourage trade. The idea caught on, and this early example of product placement gradually spread. Sportsmen (Cricketers), Nature, Actors, Military and Important People, were among the topics. By the turn of the century, British companies including W.D. & H.O. Wills had taken up the challenge. In 1928 they turned to Sundials**

A complete set of 25 Wills Cards was commissioned. The series began with scratch dials and included almost all known types of dial. On the back of each card, concise information was given. Smokers were at last able to indulge their habit with the added bonus of free specialist learning aids. By the 1960s almost every facet of life from tea and exotic animals (Hornimans via football to fighter planes had been covered. These days, we must rely on eBay to bring back the memories now that a cigarette costs 10x the price of an Airfix Tiger Moth kit.