MEDIEVAL DIALS

SCRATCH DIALS & MASS DIALS

The emphasis of this project is weighted in favour of medieval dials. I shall refer to them throughout as scratch dials, a term with a specific meaning that can usefully be applied more generally. Usage here will, probably incorrectly, include medieval mass dials and tide dials. They may differ in purpose, in form, in construction, and from crude to elegant. Most dials featured in this section will be ones scratched / cut / incised directly into the stone walls of a church at some time between C13 and C16 . Early dials were intended to mark the general passage of the day rather than a specific o’clock, at a time when the concept of time (as we know it) was fluid and might even differ between adjacent villages. As understanding of the concept of ‘time’ advanced – especially with the invention of clocks in C14 – so did the construction and accuracy of the dials. Eventually they were outcompeted by clocks and became obsolete.

Churches that have dials inside porches are marked †

ALSTONE Glos – St Margaret of Antioch

ALL CANNINGS Wilts – All Saints

ASHILL Som – Blessed Virgin Mary

ASHINGTON Som – St Vincent

BATCOMBE Dorset – St Mary Magdalene

BISHOP’S CAUNDLE Dorset – St Peter & St Paul

BLACKFORD Somerset – St Michael †

BRADFORD ABBAS Dorset – St Mary the Virgin

BRAMPTON BRYAN . Herefordshire – St Barnabas

BRATTON Wilts – St James the Great

CHARLTON HORETHORNE Som – St Peter and St Paul

CHARMINSTER Dorset – St Mary

CHESELBOURNE Dorset – St Martin

CHILTON CANTELO Som – St James

CHURCH STRETTON . Shrop – St Laurence

CLUNGUNFORD . Shrop – St Cuthbert

COMPTON PAUNCEFOOT Som – St Mary

CREWKERNE Somerset – St Bartholomew

EAST CHINNOCK . Somerset- St Mary

EARDISLAND . Hereford – St Mary

FEOCK Cornwall – St Feock

GLANVILLES WOOTTON (1) Dorset Jan 21 – St Mary

GLANVILLE’S WOOTTON (2) Dorset Apr 21 – St Mary the Virgin

HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE Somerset – St Mary

HERMITAGE Dorset – St Mary

HERMITAGE Dorset – St Mary (2)

HOLWELL Dorset – St Laurence

HOUGHTON Hants – All Saints

IFFLEY Oxon – St Mary

KNIGHTON Powys – St Edward

LEIGH Dorset – St Andrew

LILLINGTON Dorset – St Martin

LIMINGTON Som – Blessed Virgin Mary †

LONGBURTON Dorset – St James

MAIDEN NEWTON Dorset 1 – St Mary

MAIDEN NEWTON Dorset 2 – St Mary

MANACCAN Cornwall – St Manaccus

MANNINGFORD BRUCE Wilts – St Peter

MAPPOWDER Dorset – St Peter & St Paul

MARSTON MAGNA Som – St Mary

MINTERNE MAGNA Dorset – St Andrew

MELBURY BUBB Dorset – St Mary

MELCOMBE HORSEY Dorset – St Andrew

MONTACUTE Som – St Catherine

ODCOMBE Somerset – St Peter and St Paul

PENDOMER Somerset – St Roch

PEWSEY Wilts – St John the Baptist

PODIMORE Som – St Peter

PULHAM Dorset – St Thomas à Becket

PURSE CAUNDLE Dorset – St Peter

QUEEN CAMEL Som – St Barnabas

RIMPTON 1 Somerset – St Mary

RIMPTON 2 Somerset – St Mary

SANDFORD ORCAS Dorset – St Nicholas

SOUTH CADBURY Somerset – St Thomas à Becket

STANTON Glos. – St Michael

STANTON ST BERNARD Wilts – All Saints

STOCKBRIDGE Hants – St Peter Old Church

STOCKBRIDGE Hants – St Peter New Church

STOKE-sub-HAMDON Som – St Mary the Virgin

STRATTON Dorset – St Mary

SUTTON BINGHAM Somerset – ALL SAINTS

SUTTON MONTIS Som – Holy Trinity

TEMPLE GUITING Glos – St Mary

THORNFORD Dorset – St Mary Magdalene

TODBER Dorset – No Dedication

TOLLER PORCORUM Dorset – St Andrew and St Peter

WAYFORD Somerset – St Michael & All angels †

WENTNOR Shropshire – St Michael & All Angels

WESTON BAMPFYLD Somerset – Holy Cross †

WILCOT Wilts – Holy Cross

WINSHAM Somerset – St Stephen

WINTERBOURNE BASSETT Wilts – St Katherine & St Peter

WORMINGTON Glos. – St Katherine (also, St Catherine)

WRAXALL Dorset – St Mary (2 dials)

WRAXALL Dorset – St Mary (3 dials)

UPAVON Wilts – St Mary the Virgin

URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 1 – 4

URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 5 – 8