GRADE II ✣ C12 traces (BHO); then C13 on; C15 tower; Wyatt rebuilding 1860s. A few early features remain. An interesting, well-kept building and churchyard. 6m NW of Salisbury via Wilton. 51.1079 / -1.8758 / SU087342
DIALS
Two scratch dials are recorded with descriptions, with a third mentioned in tentative terms (BSS). When I visited, the only dial I found didn’t match the descriptions nor was it in any location mentioned. There were a few quite plausible gnomon holes but none had any additional dial-ish features, not even eroded traces. Clearly I need to return and try harder next time I’m in the area.
DIAL
A very basic dial with the gnomon hole in the mortar line. Two clear lines either side of noon, possible terminal pocks (if so, perhaps later additions). LLQ there’s a faint trace of a third line.
The dark blue circle in image 1 below marks the dial above; the pale blue circle marks image 2. Image 3 is one of several examples that, apart from holes, have no visible dial characteristics.
The Atkins longcase clock above has the initials FA and the date 1781 scratched in a corner of the glass. One year earlier, Francis Atkins had been elected Master of the Clockmakers Company in recognition of his standing. Perhaps this clock was first to be made when his term came to an end.
Opening the door at the front reveals a feature so unexpected that it is hard to believe: a full-scale Table Shewing every Day in the Year at Noon, how much the Equal or Mean Time is Faster or Slower than a Sundial. Maybe this is not so unusual, but I have never come across it.
I’m making no attempt to analyse what can clearly be seen. There may be several ways in which the Table can be read, so I’ll leave it to the reader to interpret.
There is one further interesting feature, perhaps not a rare one. The hand on the lower dial (in fact, counter-dial) has to be gently removed in order to wind up the clock. That’s where the key goes. The clock was Cleaned by Mr. Gallop, Horsecastles, Sept. 1971.
The drawing pin has its own story…
GSS Category: Equation of Time; Sundial Accuracy; Longcase clock with sundial table
St Mary Penzance . Bill Henderson . Geo / Wikimedia
ST MARY . PENZANCE . CORNWALL
GRADE II* ✣ Originally a chantry chapel of Madron parish; records from 1321. In due course rebuilt, and reconsecrated 1838. Destructive arson in 1985; 2 recent attempts. 8 bells of interest. Some traces of the past remain, eg memorial tablets*. 50.1165 / -5.533 / SW475300
VERTICAL DIAL
This slate dial with its bronze gnomon was originally made for a chapel near the church. The BSS records indicate that the dial declined 12º W in that position, but needed to be canted in its new position to correct for the different declination of the buttress of St Mary’s where it is now to be found.
The dial clearly predates the building of St Mary. Perhaps ± 1800 would cover it. For a chapel, the 5 minute intervals noted below suggest a quite sophisticated dial.
MOTTOES
There are two learned mottoes cut inside the arch at the top, with Father Time below them.
Solem quis dicere falsum audeat Who would dare to call the sun false (Virgil) Tempus edax rerum Time the consumer of all things (Ovid)
CONSTRUCTION
Mrs Crowley, who sketched dials of Devon & Cornwall, noted a difference between stone top and bottom; and the horizontal line seems too high to be an indicator of the equinoxes and, in any case, there is no nodus on the gnomon. The engraving is good, there are decorative half-hour markers and the hours are divided down to five minute intervals.
In the sanctuary is a Baroque tablet to John Tremenheere, d. 1701, with Doric columns, broken segmental pediment and a winged skull at the base (HE). His tomb is in a family vault below the centre aisle. I am a direct descendent, but unlikely to join him.
Dusk on a rainy November evening is not an ideal time to photograph high-up sundials, especially ones with intricate but delicate gnomons. Entering the Great Quadrangle, the sundial is visible on the Muniment Tower, beyond which is the Garden Quad. The position of the dial somewhat limits the photographer. A certain amount of refining has been needed in presentation, which I hope will be excused. The dial face is pale blue (white in some photos I have come across). The light conditions resulted in a rather startling blue that I have attempted not very successfully to tone down.
New College Oxford . Vertical Sundial
The New College Millennium dial is on the S facing wall of the Muniment Tower. Quite apart from photographic considerations, the high position means that it is not possible to see the whole dial from ground level. One cannot, for example, see that the M M at the top is matched by W W at the bottom, standing for William of Wykeham who founded New College in 1379; nor that noon is marked by a golden cross.
New College Oxford . Vertical Sundial
The dial marks quarter hours, as indicated by the chequered perimeter. Margaret Stanier mentions a wall-mounted plate showing the EQUATION OF TIME ; and she notes that there was a vertical dial in the same position from 1696 until c1850, then being obliterated by restoration and refacing.
BRITISH SUNDIAL SOCIETY ARTICLE – HARRIET JAMES
This excellent article from the BSS Bulletin Vol 12 .1 of Feb 2000 was published very shortly after the installation of the dial. It has all the material you need regarding the dial, and there are some very clear images that give a view of the whole dial. It also covers the original C17 dial in the gardens.
GSS Category: Vertical Dial; Millennium Dial; University Dial
All photos: Keith Salvesen. Source material: Margaret Stanier ‘Oxford Sundials’ 2003. College diagram: BLB; tip of the hat to Michael Lalos, a fellow dial enthusiast, who also used the BSS Bulletin
GRADE II ✣ Early CI4 origins. St Peter is a delightful small church a short distance SW of Oxford, close to Boar’s Hill and the unrivalled views over the fields towards the dreaming spires. 51.7092 / -1.3122 / SP476013
DIAL
During a recent visit to Oxford to see some of the College sundials, I found an earlier note of a possible dial at St Peter’s. I eventually found it on the E jamb of a tiny window now overgrown by a substantial laurestinus bush and protected by sharp rose thorns. Blood was drawn but it was worth the sacrifice.
The dial stone is near the centre of the photo above. Apart from the gnomon hole, it is just possible to make out traces of what must have been a full circle. There is a slight hint that it may have been a double circle. The noon line (perhaps with a terminal pock) is faint. A second line (XI) is close beside and slightly shorter.
There is a single pock on or close to what would have been the perimeter of the circle. Its position at approx None might support a theory that it belonged to the dial and indicated mid-afternoon Mass.
The dial’s angle adjusted to a more front-on view
NOTE: St Peter has an interesting concave vertical dial at the apex of the porch, to be written up separately in due course with a LINK
GRADE I † C13 origins; C14, C15 development; extensive restoration 1873 (Carpenter). C12 font. 3 scratch dials; and a fine Millennium dial LINK. 10m NW of Salisbury. 51.1363 / -1.9493 / SU036374
DIALS
All Saints is unusual in having 3 dials of very similar design, without the often-found stylistic developments on churches that have more than one dial.
DIAL 1
The most complete dial in terms of information for the passer-by. A complete circle with several lines clear and faint, some with a terminal pock. The noon line extends beyond the circumference, with the lines RHS indicating an afternoon dial.
DIAL 2
The dial’s circle is clear and the gnomon hole is large (with signs of recent enlargement). Apart from that only the faintest traces of lines remain, presumably lightly cut initially and eroded over the centuries.
DIAL3
A partially obliterated circle; a gnomon hole; hints of 3 pocks LRQ. Perhaps we can deduce that this was the first of the dials. Of course, even a stick in the centre hole would give a fair idea of the time of day to the passing parishioner.
This famous Tompion dial in the Privy Garden at Hampton Court is one of a pair, the other being transferred in due course to Kew Gardens. The BSS Bulletin Jan 1997 includes side-by-side photos of both. The dial that stayed in situ, featured here, being on the left. The other dial was transferred to Kew in 1832 and not restored to Hampton Court until 1995.
I took these photos in 2011 when I was dialling-lite, and probably with an iPhone 3. Revisiting these images, I’m pleased at what a good job it did. Puzzlingly, during a quick trawl through the usual resources, inc. the Royal Collection, I have found it difficult to find any detailed images of this dial, though I found a RC image of dial 2.
Only the front of the plate is clear, and it is in remarkable good condition. There is just enough definition to give a good idea of the complexity of the calendar further back on the plate.
The precise date for the two dials in unclear. Tompion was baptised in 1639 and died in 1713. I have seen ‘towards the end of C17’; and the excellent Border Sundials points to evidence of installation in 1699.
Probably, in a sundial resource, it is permissible to include an occasional linked item, and the wonderful Hampton Court astronomical clock merits admiration at any time. I was pleased to get a straight-on shot without resorting to trickery (of which there was not much available in 2011).
The image above is enhanced to show this renowned castle in all its dramatic glory. The ancient seat of the Earls of Glasgow dates from C13 – one of the oldest castles in Scotland and the longest continuous family line of descent. This article is adapted from an earlier one published elsewhere. You will find further information about this magnificently daring blend of ancient and modern at the end.
A FINE MULTI-FACETED SCOTTISH SUNDIAL AT KELBURN CASTLE, AYRSHIRE
If you want to find a good choice of multi-faceted sundials, Scotland is the place to go. A considerable number may be found at country houses and castles, or elsewhere having originated from a large estate. Many, perhaps most, are 200-300 years old. Some are relatively simple; others are so complex that their purpose is clearly as much ornamental as horological. Good examples can be found at Glamis, Haddo House, Castle Fraser and Culzean Castle.
The 1707 multi-faceted oblelisk sundial at Kelburn is one of the most important sundials in Scotland. Some restoration has been carried out, and it now appears to be in overall good condition. While there seems to be no agreed figure for the exact number of individual dials, the count starts at 70.
I’ve made no attempt to describe the dials for obvious reasons, but there are links at the end that will be helpful for those who want to investigate further than looking at the photos.
THE SUNDIAL FROM EACH ORIENTATION
EAST SIDE
NORTH SIDE
WEST SIDE
SOUTH SIDE
SPIRE
NOTES
Kelburn’s astonishing transformation from early medieval stronghold into an outrageous post-psychedelic House of Fun began in 2007. The building’s concrete cladding needed to be replaced, following which (and with official approval) four Brazilian graffiti artists were invited to let their imaginations run loose. And did.
There is plenty of material online about this remarkable building – see link to its website below. Enterprises on offer include weddings; yurts; summer music festival; a reputedly scary Halloween. Summed up in the estate material: It’s a cultural safari for the mind, body and soul.
GATTY(p 140)
BSS
The Kelburn Dial featured in Bulletin 1996 in connection with a later dial based on it
There is a second, smaller obelisk sundial NW of the castle that receives rather less attention: Sundial to west of Kelburn Castle, Kelburn Castle Estate, Fairlie (LB7298). Listing details can be found HERE
Image from the Canmore photographic records for Kelburn
In the late C19, the first series of collectable themed cards were used in America to encourage trade. The idea caught on, and this early example of product placement gradually spread. Sportsmen (Cricketers), Nature, Actors, Military and Important People, were among the topics. By the turn of the century, British companies including W.D. & H.O. Wills had taken up the challenge. In 1928 they turned to Sundials**
A complete set of 25 Wills Cards was commissioned. The series began with scratch dials and included almost all known types of dial. On the back of each card, concise information was given. Smokers were at last able to indulge their habit with the added bonus of free specialist learning aids. By the 1960s almost every facet of life from tea and exotic animals (Hornimans via football to fighter planes had been covered. These days, we must rely on eBay to bring back the memories now that a cigarette costs 10x the price of an Airfix Tiger Moth kit.
** Wills were slow off the mark: in 1924, Fry’s had already produced a colourful 50 card set, of which more another time. NOW FEATURED HERE
NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY Explore the Cigarette Card Collection HERE
GRADE 1 † Mid-C13 with earlier origins; expansion to C16; restorations by Ferrey and Scott 1860 and later. A most impressive Parish church with a 4-stage tower. Admired by PEV as one of the loveliest of Somerset churches on account of its splendid Perp. work on the nave; and for being remarkably airy and spacious. 50.9693 / -2.7687 / ST461191
DIALS
A most rewarding multi-dial church. As often, estimates of the number vary. DEH recorded 5 dials in June 1915 and included a photograph of the dial above in his book.
BHO refers to 7 dials [and also notes that one buttress on the north side has footholds cut in it to aid the recovery of fives balls from the leads when the game was played there in the 18th century. There’s a whole book to be written about the fives courts of Wessex] BSS records 7 dials, without details.
There are so many excellent dials to admire that I am not including interpretations of individual dials. The light was good for photos and the various designs speak for themselves. I haven’t given locations either. Most are in obvious places; also check sides of buttresses. It was a lot of fun finding a couple of new dials, and anyone reading this may prefer to investigate for themselves. DEH’s record is given at the end.
DIAL 1
✣
DIAL 2
✣
DIALS 3 & 4
DIAL 3
DIAL 4
✣
DIAL 5
✣
DIAL 6
✣
DIAL 7
✣
DIAL 8
✣
DIAL 9
✣
DIAL 10
✣
DIAL 11
ARCS etc
Having recently written up Winterbourne Stoke and a few other multi-dial churches, I have decided not to include a plain arc as (part of) a dial unless there’s at least one other dial-ish feature – evidence of a centered hole in the mortar line; perceptible lines; pocks; and so on. I’ll still feature them but not as part of a dial count. Unless corrected of course – please do.
✣
CONSECRATION CROSS OUTSIDE PORCH
ADDITIONAL NOTES
The pride of Martock Church is its superb angel roof, installed in the first decade of the 16th century and completed in 1513. The roof design is a king-post style with tracery infill between the truss beams. There are central pendants from each cross-beam, above which rise beautifully carved figures. (David Ross, Britain Express)
DOM ETHELBERT HORNE’S 5 DIALS
200. (1) This dial is on the w. side of the s. porch. It is 6 feet 1 inch above the ground. The noon line is 3 3/4 inches in length, the style hole is 1 inch deep, and is in a joint. The aspect is s. by 5° e. (See No. 12.)
201. (2) This dial is under the first window E. of the s. porch. It is 4 feet 7 inches above the ground, the noon line is 3 inches in length, the style hole is 1 3/4 inches deep, and the aspect is s. by 15° e. Type 6.
Dial No. 2 is of the unique shape that exists at Tintinhull (224) and Swainswick (25).
202. (3) This dial is on the second buttress e. of the s. porch. It is 5 feet 9 inches above the ground, the noon line is 3 1/2 inches in length, the style hole is very shallow, and the aspect is s. by 15° e. Type 3.
203. (4) This dial is under the third window e. of the s. porch. It is 3 feet 10 inches above the ground, the noon line is 2 inches in length, the style hole is If inches deep, and the aspect is s. by 15° e. Type 10.
204. (5) This dial is on the fifth buttress e. of the s. porch. It is 5 feet 1 inch above the ground, the noon line is 5 1/4 inches in length, the style hole is 1 1/4 inches deep, and the aspect is s. by 15° e. Type 5c.
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Multiple Dial Church
GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN 
