Sundial – Page 2 – GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN

VILLEFRANCHE-DE-CONFLENT: DOUBLE DIAL

Published on January 22, 2021January 25, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

VILLEFRANCHE-DE-CONFLENT is a small medieval walled town in Catalan country. It is watched over by Fort Liberia, one of VAUBAN‘s massive defensive constructions in this historically strategic area. The town is charming, and additionally famous for being the start of the ‘Train Jaune’, a picturesque narrow-gauge railway that climbs high into the Pyrénées. The amazing altitude rise is from 1250 ft at Villefranche to 5000 ft at the track’s summit just above the village of Mont Louis (which has its own Vauban fort)

The sundial above is high up on a house in the church square, next to the Mairie with its Catalan flag. It doesn’t exactly draw the eye and would be very easy to miss. Its overall appearance is endearingly wonky.

TWO DIALS IN ONE

The main dial is etched and painted on cement, with roman numerals that mark hours, halves and quarters. The long gnomon is attached beneath a small sculpted head from which sun rays radiate – a simple representation of a solar deity. Above the head can be seen numbers, of which only 11 and 8 can be made out with any certainty. Possibly, it is a date: the dial (which is not ancient) is otherwise undated and it is very hard to guess its age. I can find no explanation for the initials DS (top left, Gothic font) and ER (top right, normal font).

The small dial-within-a-dial with graduated radials shows the hours only, with arabic numerals. The bent gnomon points straight down. I am unsure of its purpose as a supplementary – and rather overshadowed – dial on the same plane, but the overall effect is pleasing.

INSCRIPTION

The words “COM MES SOL FA MES BE ESCRIC” are Catalan and mean roughly “When it is sunny, I write (show the time) well”. This rather charming inscription was apparently added in around 2000 by the village pastor.

Credit: for information, Michel Lalos, who has compiled a comprehensive illustrated record of the sundials of the Pyrénées-Orientales.

STANTON GLOS (1) – VILLAGE CROSS SUNDIAL

Published on January 11, 2021January 19, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Village Cross with Sundial – Stanton Glos

STANTON is a most attractive Cotswold village four miles north of Winchcombe, with several other equally agreeable villages nearby – Stanway for example. Many of the local churches feature scratch dials – this area (and Glos. in general) being a hotspot. I will cover some of these in due course.

The Church of St Michael has – besides a scratch dial – a sundial over the porch. In addition, Stanton has a fine sundial in the main street, mounted on the village cross. The cross is a Grade II listed Scheduled Monument, with Calvary steps that are medieval and formed the base of a Wayside cross. The shaft is later, and the dial, orb and cross perhaps later still. The sundial, dated to C17, is just one part of the harmonious whole. It’s a fine dial but there are obvious reservations about the gnomon and its fixing…

LOCATION 52.0067 / -1.9013 / SP068342

GSS Category – Old Dial

HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE – ST MARY

Published on January 9, 2021January 20, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST MARY – 1123 (on earlier site)

LISTING † II*

LOCATION † SW of Yeovil, near E & W Coker 50.9048 / -2.6949 / ST512119

An extended village close to the A30 yet approached by lanes (as they are actually named) rather than roads. A peaceful feel to it, especially at dusk when this poor photo was taken. The church had ‘much work’ carried out in C15 and C18. Tower probably of 1123, in three stages, font possibly from same date. BLB

DIAL † At the W. end and quite easily overlooked. DEH did not investigate or list it in 1915. A full circle, one clear radial and a square style hole. Possible trace of outer circle top left.

NOTES † Not mentioned in BLB, HE. Not in TWC extensive list of Somerset dials. I found only one reference to this dial that led me here; since then, one passing reference to a sundial in the porch – perhaps this dial relocated in C15?

NOTADIAL † A plausible dial location quite low on arch of the W. door; apparent style hole but no detectable marks

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

BUCKLAND NEWTON – HOLY ROOD

Published on December 27, 2020January 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset

DEDICATION † CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROOD – from C13, mainly C15

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † Buckland Newton, Dorset 50.8461 / -2.4449 / ST687052

A peaceful village just north of the source of the River Piddle, lying discreetly in a valley amidst hills and downland. Roland Grant pronounced it “a lovely church”, adding that his first impression was unfavourable because the exterior had been rendered in cement, “giving the Perpendicular square tower the look of a Foreign Legion fort”. Notwithstanding, it has a terrific self-dating sundial (1704)

DIAL † High up at the centre of the embattled parapet above the substantial porch, an impressively angled dial. The perforated gnomon casts its date 1704 onto the face of the dial. I was lucky to visit in bright winter afternoon sunshine to catch the effect (Im.2). Incised initials IH & EC. 4 crosses around the dial edge.

*Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset* † Sundial

*Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset † Gnomon & date*

Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset † South Porch, Sundial, Cement

GSS Category – Old Dial

SUTTON BINGHAM – ALL SAINTS

Published on December 21, 2020January 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ALL SAINTS – C12 / C13

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † Closworth, Somerset (nr Yeovil) 50.8978 / -2.6443 / ST547111

Close to the W. shore of Sutton Bingham reservoir, tucked behind the Manor House up a track, a small and simple church dated from 1111AD with a wonderful interior, in particular the well-preserved wall paintings / murals of C13 / C14. One of the bells is dated to c1250

DIAL † DEH – dial 220 Type 3 June 16th, 1915

“This dial, which is faint, contains few lines and is probably in its primitive condition. The wall is Norman work and does not appear to have been restored. is on the s.w. corner of the nave. It is about 6 feet above the ground, the noonline is 9 inches in length, the stylehole, which is in a joint, is filled and does not show, and the aspect is s. by 10° e”

*All Saints Church . Sutton Bingham . Somerset*

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)