MEDIEVAL DIALS

MEDIEVAL DIALS

SCRATCH DIALS & MASS DIALS

The idea of this project is to locate, photograph, research and record medieval dials on churches. I generally refer to them throughout as scratch dials, the term most widely used as general description though it also has a more with a specific meaning. Usage here will mainly (and probably incorrectly) include medieval mass dials and tide dials to avoid repetition.

The dials 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 differ even between adjacent villages. As the 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. There is other material here that expands on this progression.

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CUMULATIVE LIST OF CHURCHES RECORDED

Churches that have dials inside porches are marked †

ALFRISTON E Sussex – St Andrew

ALSTONE Glos – St Margaret of Antioch

ALL CANNINGS Wilts – All Saints

ALREWAS Staffs – All Saints

ALTON BARNES Wilts – St Mary

ALTON PRIORS Wilts – All Saints

ASHILL Som – Blessed Virgin Mary

ASHINGTON Som – St Vincent

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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

BROAD HINTON Wilts – St Peter ad Vincula

BRYMPTON Som – St Andrew

BUCKHORN WESTON Dorset – St John the Baptist

BUCKLAND NEWTON – Holy Rood

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CHARLTON HORETHORNE Som – St Peter and St Paul

CHARLTON MUSGROVE . Som – St Stephen †

CHARMINSTER Dorset – St Mary

CHESELBOURNE Dorset – St Martin

CHIDEOCK Dorset – St Giles

CHILTON CANTELO Som – St James

CHURCH STRETTON . Shrop – St Laurence

CLUNGUNFORD . Shrop – St Cuthbert

COLTON . STAFFS – St Mary

COMPTON PAUNCEFOOT Som – St Mary

CREWKERNE Somerset – St Bartholomew

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EAST CHINNOCK . Somerset- St Mary

EARDISLAND . Hereford – St Mary

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FEOCK Cornwall – St Feock

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GLANVILLES WOOTTON (1) Dorset Jan 21 – St Mary

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

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HAMMOON Dorset – St Paul †

HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE Somerset – St Mary

HAZELBURY BRYAN Dorset – St Mary & St James

HERMITAGE Dorset – St Mary

HERMITAGE Dorset – St Mary (2)

HOLTON Somerset – St Nicholas

HOLWELL Dorset – St Laurence

HOUGHTON Hants – All Saints

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IFFLEY Oxon – St Mary

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KINGS SOMBORNE Hants – St Peter & St Paul

KINGTON . HEREFS – St Mary

KNIGHTON Powys – St Edward

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LEIGH Dorset – St Andrew

LILLINGTON Dorset – St Martin

LIMINGTON Som – Blessed Virgin Mary †

LODERS Dorset – St Mary Magdalene

LONGDON Staffs – St James the Great

LONGBURTON Dorset – St James

LONGBURTON Dorset 2 (‘new’ dial) – St James

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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

MELBURY BUBB Dorset – St Mary

MELCOMBE HORSEY Dorset – St Andrew

MINTERNE MAGNA Dorset – St Andrew

MONTACUTE Som – St Catherine

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ODCOMBE Somerset – St Peter and St Paul

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PEMBRIDGE Herefs – St Mary

PENDOMER Somerset – St Roch

PEWSEY Wilts – St John the Baptist

PODIMORE Somerset – St Peter

PUDDLETOWN Dorset – St Mary

PULHAM Dorset – St Thomas à Becket

PURSE CAUNDLE Dorset – St Peter

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QUEEN CAMEL Som – St Barnabas

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RIMPTON 1 Somerset – St Mary

RIMPTON 2 Somerset – St Mary

ROCKBOURNE Hants – St Andrew

RUGELEY Staffs – Old Chancel (St Augustine)

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SANDFORD ORCAS Dorset – St Nicholas

SIXPENNY HANDLEY Dorset – St Mary

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

STOUR PROVOST Dorset – St Michael

STRATTON Dorset – St Mary

SUTTON BINGHAM Somerset – ALL SAINTS

SUTTON MONTIS Som – Holy Trinity

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TARRANT GUNVILLE Dorset – St Mary

TATENHILL Staffs – St Michael & All Angels

TEMPLE GUITING Glos – St Mary

THORNFORD Dorset – St Mary Magdalene † (inside church)

TODBER Dorset – No Dedication

TOLLER PORCORUM Dorset – St Andrew and St Peter

TOLPUDDLE Dorset – St John

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WAYFORD Somerset – St Michael & All angels †

WENTNOR Shropshire – St Michael & All Angels

WEST CAMEL Somerset – All Saints

WESTON BAMPFYLD Somerset – Holy Cross †

WHITCHURCH CANONICORUM Dorset – St Candida & Holy Cross

WILCOT Wilts – Holy Cross

WINSHAM Somerset – St Stephen

WINTERBOURNE BASSETT Wilts – St Katherine & St Peter

WOOTTON RIVERS Wilts – St Andrew

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

WRAXALL Dorset – St Mary (2 dials)

WRAXALL Dorset – St Mary (3 dials)

WYCHNOR Staffs – St Leonard

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UPAVON Wilts – St Mary the Virgin

URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 1 – 4

URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 5 – 8