
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
ALTON PRIORS Wilts – All Saints
ASHILL Som – Blessed Virgin Mary
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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
BUCKHORN WESTON Dorset – St John the Baptist
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CHARLTON HORETHORNE Som – St Peter and St Paul
CHARLTON MUSGROVE . Som – St Stephen †
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
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EAST CHINNOCK . Somerset- St Mary
EARDISLAND . Hereford – St Mary
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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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HARDINGTON MANDEVILLE Somerset – St Mary
HAZELBURY BRYAN Dorset – St Mary & St James
HERMITAGE Dorset – St Mary (2)
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KINGS SOMBORNE Hants – St Peter & St Paul
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LIMINGTON Som – Blessed Virgin Mary †
LODERS Dorset – St Mary Magdalene
LONGDON Staffs – St James the Great
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
MELCOMBE HORSEY Dorset – St Andrew
MINTERNE MAGNA Dorset – St Andrew
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ODCOMBE Somerset – St Peter and St Paul
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PEWSEY Wilts – St John the Baptist
PULHAM Dorset – St Thomas à Becket
PURSE CAUNDLE Dorset – St Peter
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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 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
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
THORNFORD Dorset – St Mary Magdalene † (inside church)
TOLLER PORCORUM Dorset – St Andrew and St Peter
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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
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)
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UPAVON Wilts – St Mary the Virgin
URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 1 – 4
URCHFONT Wilts – St Michael Dials 5 – 8
