Barrington Court is a fine county house near Ilminster in Somerset, now in the care of NT. There is wonderful multi-faceted dodecahedral pillar dial in front of the house that I have written about HERE.
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Barrington Court . Som . Horizontal Dial
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ROSE GARDEN DIAL
The sturdy horizontal pedestal dial stands on a double plinth in the centre of the large rose and iris garden. It has a sad recent history. In Spring 2000 the original C19 bronze dial plate by Carey was levered off and stolen. It has never been recovered.
Barrington Court . Som . Horizontal Dial after theft of plate in 2000
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On the bright side, a wonderful faithful reproduction by John Davis was installed in 2013, and the dial is restored to its glory for the future.
Barrington Court . Som . Horizontal Dial
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It is described as an attractive horizontal dial of some complexity. The Equation of Time scale is engraved around the dial; all points of compass are shown; and it has one minute time marks BSS. These complex features can be seen clearly in the final image below.
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Barrington Court . Som . Horizontal Dial
GSS Category: Horizontal Dial; Pedestal Dial
All photos: Keith Salvesen except NT / Simon Harris above
St Margaret & St Andrew . Littleham . Devon – Robert Cornford OS / CC
ST MARGARET & ST ANDREW . LITTLEHAM-cum-EXMOUTH . DEVON
GRADE II* ✣ Recorded from 1139; present building has C13 origins (chancel); 14th-century arcades; then Perpendicular with subsequent rebuilding and C19 restorations (Fulford). Resting place of Viscountess Nelson.
I have not visited the church myself, but Ian Logan contacted me about the vertical dial on the apex of the church porch. I have written this post around the dial, however Ian has produced an excellent detailed description of the church and its history that I highly commend.
St Margaret & St Andrew . Littleham . Devon – Ian Logan
St Margaret & St Andrew . Littleham . Devon
BSS record: A stone dial, rather crude in execution and in poor condition, is mounted on the church porch. It is about 600mm square and shows the hours VI – Vl undivided. Although the numerals look as though they are aligned with the hour lines, the hour lines themselves have disappeared. The church leaflet says that the dial dates from 1780.
St Margaret & St Andrew . Littleham . Devon
SCRATCH DIAL
There is an older dial – a scratch dial – on the right hand side of the porch doorway, probably C15. It is in poor condition, but there are 7 discernible lines radiating from the gnomon hole in the dial stone. These are two quite old photos of the dial (BSS). If anyone can provide a clear recent photo, it would be very welcome as an addition!
The ‘dawn’ line is now a prominent cleft in the damaged dial stone. The cluster of lines at and beyond noon LRQ indicate the most important part of the day for observance (none in canonical terms).
St Margaret & St Andrew . Littleham . Devon – Scratch Dial
MRS CROWLEY
This is an ideal place to use the wonderful drawing skills of Mrs Crowley to illustrate the vertical dial and scratch dial together. I have managed to obtain a copy of the comprehensive book of her Devon and Cornwall dial drawings, a work of wonder for dial-ologists.
GSS Category: Vertical Dial (1780); Scratch Dial
Credits: Keith Salvesen (photos); Ian Logan (photo, research); The Parish History Group (interesting and informative leaflet)
Trinity College Cambridge . Sundial – view from Master’s Lodge to Great Gate (Keith Salvesen)
TRINITY COLLEGE CAMBRIDGE . GREAT COURT
THE TALE OF TWO DIALS
GRADE II ✣ 1704, dial renewed in 1795 by Edward Troughton of London. Simple stone baluster with moulded base and cap, set on 2 steps. RCHM.
The fine C18 horizontal sundial in Great Court has a long history, and an intriguing twist in its story. Over a period of 3 years I must have walked past or near it thousands of times without giving it a glance. The passage of the day was marked by the chimes of the famous clock, a sound that stays with me even today.
Trinity College Cambridge . Sundial – view towards the Master’s Lodge (Keith Salvesen)
BSS notes that the dial is showing its age to some degree. This rather weathered dial is nevertheless pleasing, equipped as it is with a sturdily elegant gnomon and some nice decorative fleurs de lys marking the half hours between its Roman numerals. The central compass has floral infill and there are Equation of Time rings running anti-clockwise which indicate whether a watch would be faster or slower than the dial.
Trinity College Cambridge . Sundial – view from above (Keith Salvesen)
The description ends with an intriguing footnote:The baluster pedestal on which the dial stands may be the same one which supported an earlier dial by John England (see BSS Register, SRN 5295). Which leads to the story of the original dial that was in place until Troughton’s renewal in 1795.
John England Dial Plate 1704
The image above shows a gnomon-less dial plate made by John England in 1704. Like the pedestal, the plate is octagonal. It was rediscovered in a cupboard in the College in 2002. BSS recorded the find as follows:
Perhaps because of its period of safe keeping, this horizontal brass dial by John England is in excellent condition, though the gnomon is missing. The engraved numerals are clear and the grooves still retain their wax infill. Small screws at the root of the style are conjectured to be pivots for an associated swinging telescope. Shows 4am to 8pm in intervals down to 1 min. Uses XII and IIII. Numerals read from outside the dial. Fleurs de lys half hour markers. Hours written in Arabic too (16-24 and 1-8) with 24 at Noon. Inscription mentions Trinity College. It is now stored in the Wren Library.
Trinity College Cambridge . Sundial – view S towards the Fountain (Keith Salvesen)
The area between Caen and Alençon contains a surprising number of churches with scratch dials. There are some rich pickings for scratch dial and church mark enthusiasts. It is not exactly a destination in itself, but is certainly vaut le voyage if you are in the region. Several churches have a plethora of designs and Urville is one of them. I gave up counting the dials and disentangling overlapping ones when the score reached twenty. 49° 01′ 31.44″ N, 0° 17′ 53.88″ W
There is no point in trying to analyse this amazing collection of dial art, nor guess its significance. It’s hard to find out much about the church at all except for the official write up to the effect This parish church, built in the village centre, replaced the former place of worship which had become too small. The present church is said to be C17. Using British churches as a guide, some of the dials & graffiti seem earlier. Presumably some of the original church’s stones were reused. It might make sense that the new church tempted the villagers to add to an existing display. Here is a varied selection.
DIALS
APOTROPAIC SYMBOLS, GRAFFITI and other designs
GSS Category: Scratch Dial (Normandy France); Mass Dial (Normandy France); Medieval Sundial (Normandy France); Church Graffiti; Apotropaic Symbols; Protection Marks
In a format variation, I will side-step the usual scene-setting para. In comparison with its host building, the somewhat elusive scratch-dial is an infinitesimal part. It is quite rare, I think, to find a scratch dial on a cathedral, abbey, or other major church building. Romsey has one that would be easily overlooked without clues. Next time I’m in Romsey I’ll take a proper camera on a sunny day.
DIAL
The dial is at the E end of the Abbey, inverted on the N face of the S buttress about 4 meters high.
The BSS record describes it as Accurately cut or made. Repositioned, eroded, damaged. Rudimentary (Norman) dial. Probably inverted (faint line and pock URQ. Too high for measurement.
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Norman Mass Dial
A diptych dial is a type of sundial with two hinged leaves which open like a book to use shadows cast by the sun to tell the time.
When opened, a cord holding the top leaf of the dial in its upright position acts as the gnomon. The dial is put on a horizontal surface and orientated so that the gnomon is pointing towards true north. This is done with the help of a compass embedded in the horizontal leaf within the main dial. As the Sun moves round, the shadow moves across the dial marking the passage of the day. Times in places of significance can also be calculated from the dial’s readings. MHS.OU
These beautiful pieces were intricate and costly, often made using ivory. The dial shown here is my own. I’d love to be able to say that it is a rather rustic version of a valuable diptych dial, but it is in fact a cheap knock-off from eBay that I bought to test the workings… or is it the real deal?
There are many museums with watch and clock collections – for example (in the south) Oxford (Museum of the History of Science), London (V&A, Science Museum), and Greenwich (Maritime Museum).
3 PRECIOUS IVORY DIPTYCH DIALS
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford University – DIPTYCH DIALS
GRADE II ✣ C12, C15; T.H.Wyatt restoration 1845. A fine church by the R. Avon, with plenty of interest. Focus here is on the splendid C12 inner doorway of the porch with nook shafts and scalloped capitals, and an outer order of arch lozenges, inner of horizontal chevronsBHO. See below for Church History. 5m N of Salisbury. 51.1244 / -1.8301 / SU119361
SCRATCH DIALS
DIAL 1
Dial 1 is by the capital LHS of the door, and quite easy to overlook. Weathered and damaged, with 3 lines visible within what remains of a double circle. Filled gnomon hole.
DIAL 2
Dial 2 is RHS on the arch of the doorway, and much easier to read. A morning dial with 4 clear lines from 9 (terce) to noon, and another fainter line earlier. The random line LRQ was evidently added some time later. Filled gnomon hole and remnants of a narrow double circle, as with dial 1. Perhaps this dial was cut as a replacement for dial 1 which certainly seems earlier; they could hardly be contemporary.
DIALS 1 AND 2
CHURCH HISTORY
VERTICAL DIAL (CHANCEL BUTTRESS)
The dial is on a south buttress. Motto across the top in angular lettering reads: ‘Tempus Fugit’. Upright Arabic numerals – 10, 11, 12, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 still just visible. Divided to 5 mins? Three-dot half hours (remnants of fleur-de-lys? Square frame with wide border, inset into stone of second buttress RHS of south porch. Needs restoring soon if it is to be saved. Would have been quite a good dial originally BSS
The most recent report was in 2005. Given the details mentioned above, the prediction of further deterioration has sadly come to pass.
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Scratch Dial within porch; Vertical Dial
Not strictly within the scope of this site, but these photos – taken about 5 years ago – of the splendid astronomical clock on the City Hall in Oslo were rescued from a large folder of ‘delete me’ images. Worth saving and displaying, I decided.
The clock is situated on the north side of the west tower of the building. It shows the time and month; the positions of the sun and moon; and the signs of the Zodiac.
The Rådhus was built during the 1930s, but the outbreak of war delayed iinauguration until 1950. It is home to the presentation of the Nobel Peace Prize. It also houses a 49-bell carillon that chimes every hour.
GRADE I ✣ Saxon origins (c995?) perhaps on pagan site; Norman with continuing development. Vicars recorded from 1269. Careful restorations. Among the oldest and most architecturally significant parish churches of DevonSJ. A lovely location, concealed from potential marauders from the sea. Of great interest both inside and out; a church to explore thoroughly. The Church Guide (40pp) is excellent. Midway between Sidmouth and Seaton. 50.6902 / -3.1403 / SY195884
DIALS
There are three completely different dials. Dial 1 is a linear dial thought to be unique in Britain, with a buttress acting as gnomon. Dial 2, cut on the lintel of a blocked doorway, may be Saxon. Dial 3 is relatively conventional and located high on E corner quoin of the chancel.
DIAL 1
This remarkable dial is not circular but linear, and is thought to be unique. Roman numerals are cut in an approximate row along the chancel wall, so that the chancel buttress acts a gnomon casting a shadow that moves across the longitudinal numbers. XI is obscured behind the drainpipe.
VI, VII and VIII are thought to be original numerals; IX, X and XI are larger and later. The Guide to the church describes this dial as a ‘sun-clock’, which is surely a more appropriate and accurate name for it than ‘scratch dial’, and reflects its uniqueness.
There is another notable ‘buttress gnomon’ dial of a different kind at St Mary the Virgin, Iffley. It has 4 vertical incisions in a row, a compact marker of the passage of the day. Presumably it was designed to focus seasonally on the significant part of the day for Mass.
DIAL 2
Incised in the grey stone lintel of a blocked doorway believed to be Saxon. Unusual in that it has 6 lines (2 on the horizontal) cut almost with vertical symmetry, with no visible noon line. The 2 deeper cuts RHS suggest the time of day for the main Mass (None). The gnomon hole is big, perhaps enlarged at a later date. The BSS record includes the note Late Saxon / Norman? Originally on earlier church?
DIAL 3
A more familiar dial design high on a quoin stone at E end of chancel. There are 7 lines within a double circle. BSS notes that it has been re-sited, the top of the dial being on an adjacent stone. The gnomon is filled in a rectangle. Again, the two deeper cut afternoon lines suggest None as the main Mass time.
Drawings displayed inside the church
GRAFFITI
If you climb the stairs, as you surely will during your visit, you will find plenty of graffiti, much of it overpainted with long-weathered whitewash.
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Sun-clock; Unique Linear Sundial; Buttress as Gnomon; Medieval Graffiti
All photos Keith Salvesen; Drawings from Church & BSS
Kenilworth Castle has a long and intriguing history, with royal, civil and military significance over C7 centuries or so. There is an excellent Wiki entry HERE . Anyone who learnt history at any level will be transported back to the classroom. Simon de Montfort C13; the insulting gift of tennis balls from the French to Henry V; Lady Jane Grey; Civil War(s); slighting. The entry is erudite yet clear and concise.
Erika Clarkson
HE Historic Print Archive
In the grounds close to the C14 gatehouse is a small 2-storey building known as the Barn, now thought unlikely to have been built as, or used as, a barn. The general view seems also to be that it had no monastic function. There were 2 latrines, which makes me wonder if it might have been some sort of lodging house for low-level family, or for visitors with a servant or two. The barn now serves as the Kenilworth Abbey Museum & Heritage Centre.
For present purposes, the barn’s significance is the scratch dial LHS on the front of the building. It is relatively rare for a dial to be cut on a secular building. Where found, it is most likely to be on a barn (Bradford-on-Avon has one on its famous tithe barn).
Erika Clarkson
DIAL
The dial is within a double circle. It has suffered from both erosion and damage – it has indeed been in the wars. There appears to be a complete set of 24 lines spaced fairly equally at 15º to form a complete circle of radials. Unusually I think, each line is matched to a small terminal pock on the ridge between the 2 circles. Those at 3, 4, and 5 have double pocks, perhaps an indication of the most important part of the day for observance. It corresponds with the canonical mid-afternoon hour NONE. The lines are also deeper cut (and thus less eroded), a common form of emphasis. It’s difficult to say whether the other more random pocks on the dial face were intended as part of it.
The gnomon hole is clearly not as it was originally. I expect there was a conventional central hole, (as the curve LHS hints) and at some stage something wedge-shaped was a clumsy substitute or replacement; or perhaps sword tips were sharpened there.
Motacilla . WIKI . OS / CC
The dial is difficult to date. Various features suggest a later date than medieval. The full 24 hour ‘clock’; the reasonably accurate c15º divisions and double circle; the decorative use of the little pocks. Overall a degree of sophistication compared with earlier dials. My uneducated amateur guess is late C15 / early C16.
One mystery is why a dial was cut onto the barn at all – why did it need one? Perhaps my ‘occasional lodging’ theory has a place here – to assist outlying guests to comply with Castle timings for Mass, feasting, or jousting.
The building has been liberally decorated with musket shot (cf All Saints Alton Priors, below), most plausibly during the Civil War, in which the Castle played a significant part. For building mark / symbols / graffiti enthusiasts, there are quite a few masons’ marks to collect.
All Saints . Alton Priors . Wilts – Musket damage
GSS CATEGORY: Scratch Dial; Scratch Dial on Barn; Scratch Dial on Secular Building
CREDITS: Erika Clarkson (dial detection, images); Motacilla (image OS CC); HE print archive; Kenilworth History and Archaeology Society; Warwickshire World Article by George Evans-Hulme
GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN 