GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN

BUCKLAND NEWTON – HOLY ROOD

Published on December 27, 2020January 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset

DEDICATION † CHURCH OF THE HOLY ROOD – from C13, mainly C15

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † Buckland Newton, Dorset 50.8461 / -2.4449 / ST687052

A peaceful village just north of the source of the River Piddle, lying discreetly in a valley amidst hills and downland. Roland Grant pronounced it “a lovely church”, adding that his first impression was unfavourable because the exterior had been rendered in cement, “giving the Perpendicular square tower the look of a Foreign Legion fort”. Notwithstanding, it has a terrific self-dating sundial (1704)

DIAL † High up at the centre of the embattled parapet above the substantial porch, an impressively angled dial. The perforated gnomon casts its date 1704 onto the face of the dial. I was lucky to visit in bright winter afternoon sunshine to catch the effect (Im.2). Incised initials IH & EC. 4 crosses around the dial edge.

*Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset* † Sundial

*Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset † Gnomon & date*

Church of the Holy Rood . Buckland Newton . Dorset † South Porch, Sundial, Cement

GSS Category – Old Dial

SUTTON BINGHAM – ALL SAINTS

Published on December 21, 2020January 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ALL SAINTS – C12 / C13

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † Closworth, Somerset (nr Yeovil) 50.8978 / -2.6443 / ST547111

Close to the W. shore of Sutton Bingham reservoir, tucked behind the Manor House up a track, a small and simple church dated from 1111AD with a wonderful interior, in particular the well-preserved wall paintings / murals of C13 / C14. One of the bells is dated to c1250

DIAL † DEH – dial 220 Type 3 June 16th, 1915

“This dial, which is faint, contains few lines and is probably in its primitive condition. The wall is Norman work and does not appear to have been restored. is on the s.w. corner of the nave. It is about 6 feet above the ground, the noonline is 9 inches in length, the stylehole, which is in a joint, is filled and does not show, and the aspect is s. by 10° e”

*All Saints Church . Sutton Bingham . Somerset*

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

THORNFORD (1) . DORSET . ST MARY MAGDALENE – Rare Sill Scratch Dials

Published on December 20, 2020August 20, 2022 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset (Keith Salvesen) — St Mary Magdalene, Thornford, Dorset

DEDICATION † ST MARY MAGDALENE – C14 / C15, later restoration

LISTING † Grade 2*

LOCATION † S. of the Sherborne – Yeovil A30 road, approx half way between the towns 50.9175 / 50°55’3″N / ST603132

One of the larger local villages, with more facilities than most inc. a school, a pub, a nearby station & a cricket club. In Doomsday book as Torneford

DIALS † Two unusual ‘sill’ scratch dials, both in the quoins of the E. corner of the window sills either side of the blocked chancel doorway, with the window jambs acting as gnomon. There is a rare internal dial in the chancel, to be featured when access to the church is possible (Covid).

ADDENDUM 2022: the rare interior dial on N side of the Chancel is now written up HERE

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 1a — Thornford – window scratch dial 1a

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 1b — *Thornford – window scratch dial 1*b

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 2a — *Thornford – window scratch dial 2a*

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial 2b — *Thornford – window scratch dial* 2b

NOTES † Stone screen, c15 font, early organ, a number of Consecration crosses, from badly eroded Hamstone to clear-cut. Tithe Tomb in the churchyard with a basin into which tenants contributed to the wealth of the Lord of the Manor by making an annual payment ‘on St Thomas’s Day’ to be allowed to keep their own hay

St Mary Magdalene Thornford Dorset Scratch dial location — Dial locations: E. corner of each window sill, jamb acting as gnomon

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

WRAXALL – ST MARY

Published on December 18, 2020November 4, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † ST MARY – C12 nave and chancel; later additions include bellcote & S. porch

LISTING † Grade 1

LOCATION † North-west of Maiden Newton 50.8054 / -2.6035 / ST575008

A very small secluded Dorset hamlet (comprising Lower & Higher) with a handful of houses, a handsome ford, and 2 rushing feeder streams for the upper River Frome.

DIALS † ‘On S. wall of nave, remains of two scratch-dials, reused’ (BHO)

GSS Category – Scratch Dial

Photos – Keith Salvesen

MINTERNE MAGNA – ST ANDREW

Published on December 15, 2020March 16, 2021 by Rolling HarbourLeave a comment

DEDICATION † St Andrew – early c15 (Saxon foundation)

LISTING † Grade 2*

LOCATION † Between Sherborne and Dorchester 50.837330 / -2.484810 / ST 6591.0426

A flint and Ham stone church in a small hamlet near the head of the Cerne Valley. Dominated by Minterne House (rebuilt 1900) and its extensive gardens with specialist trees & plants. Good walking country with a Hardy feeling. Minterne Parva is 1/2 mile S.

DIAL † S. Nave, W. of 1st window. Eroded, 3 clear radials. Square style hole.

NOTES † Dial not mentioned in RCHM / BHO / BLB / HE – only refs found in BE & a Dorset Life article; no query dials; 6 (possibly 7) Consecration Crosses