LISTING II* ❖ C13, C15 and early C16, good Victorian and later restorations. A link to the well-presented history of the church and its context in the village is given below. One bell is of particular historical interest. A multiple scratch dial church: BSS records 7 from a 1994 survey. I feature 9 candidates below, of which 2 are probably not-a-dials, leaving 7. But are they the same 7, I wonder? 6m E of Trowbridge. 51.3209 / -2.1195 / ST917579
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Multiple Scratch Dial Church
All photos: Keith Salvesen [
I am beginning to find my own photos borrowed for online use. I don’t really mind, especially for this sort of niche interest, but a link to this project might be good]
Padua . Palazzo della Ragione . Sundial . John Renner
PADUA . PALAZZO DELLA RAGIONE . SUNDIAL
A confident and assertive sundial to match the glory and prosperity of the city. The lines divide the hours from VIII to IV into quarters. Each has an arrowhead, with (?unusually) reversal of the ‘minor quarter’ arrows.
GNOMON
At first glance you may wonder why there’s just a dark splodge where one might hope to see a gnomon. It is the gnomon. In researching the dial I came across a really helpful photo by Richard Mortel* that reveals the gnomon to be the ‘pin-hole’ type, the effectiveness of which is clearly shown.
Padua . Palazzo della Ragione . Sundial Pinhole . Richard Mortel
The upper half of the dial has an angled line across the whole dial, leading from an indeterminate animal (in fact a sheep) to a set of scales: Aries and Libra in opposition (Note: this Zodiacal conjunction should not be investigated, for fear of unwanted advice about who you should be dating).
There is an additional aspect to this dial that I am currently researching. First of all I have to clear use permission, but I hope to add to write again soon about this splendid dial. The clue is ‘Meridian’.
Credits: John Renner for his excellent photos of this fantastic sundial taken recently; *Richard Mortel for his clear illustrative photo of the gnomon taken a while back (with apologies if I have wrongly taken it as CC / OS)
LISTING Grade I ✣ C12 origins with abbey links; C12 chancel; C13 nave and refenestration, porch; C15, tower. An astonishing church beyond the scope of this project. Besides the building itself, there are wonderful early C14 wall paintings to admire, also C16 wagon roof & C13 coffin lids. Major restoration in 1911. A very unspoilt church retaining many medieval features PEV. In the care of CCT. 5m SE of Blandford Forum 50.8307 / -2.1107 / ST922034
DIAL
A number of features make this dial rather special. It is inside an intriguing church; it is cut into the architrave of a (historically) relocated doorway; and the design is endearingly haphazard. There are 5 radials from the gnomon hole, mainly LLQ from (roughly) Terce to just past midday. The lines are uneven in length, depth, spacing and straightness ,not least because of the oddly squarish perimeter. One can’t tell what lies behind the cement repair, but it doesn’t seem that the perimeter continues beyond what one can see.
BSS Diagrams
APOTROPAIC CIRCLES
There are two circles cut into one of the window jamb, the lowest with a dot in the centre. These are a simple form of protection symbol, repelling evil and preventing it from entering the church. Some theorise that these and more complex designs (eg ‘daisy wheels’) trapped evil within the circle – so-called demon traps.
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Protection Mark, Apotropaic Symbol
GILLINGHAM in Dorset has a well-curated Museum spanning prehistory to our lifetime. The many and varied displays include a very special one, a handsome carved fragment of an Anglo-Saxon standing cross. Below are images of all four sides of this wonderful stone. It is enhanced by the later addition of an early dial – a Tide dial.
TIDE DIAL
The dial has a complete horizontal (‘6-to-6’) line, an emphatic noon line, and a short deep line corresponding to the canonical Terce, marking the significant part of the day for observance. An arc of circumference is below; there is no hint of a complete circle.
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MUSEUM INFORMATION SHEET
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DIAL TWO?
Above right on the stone is a smaller hole with (from some angles) 3 very faint lines radiating from it. Very doubtful, but mentioned for completeness. Possibly an imitative attempt by a bored sacristan.
Second Dial above right?
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THE OTHER THREE SIDES
Gillingham Museum, where the stone is on loan from the Church of St Mary the Virgin, Gillingham.
Dr John Shepherd: Shephard J F (2023) – Carved fragment from an Anglo-Saxon standing cross and the arrival of Christianity in Gillingham in Annual Report and Review, Dorset Historic Churches Trust18, 6-7.
David Lloyd – Gillingham Local History Society
Images courtesy Tom Wickson (Dorset Historic Churches Trust)
LISTING: II* . C12, C13 (of which remnants); C14, C15, 1868 restoration by G. G. Scott. C14 door. Good C14 stained glass. 53.3234 / -0.368 / TF088819
DIAL
Located within later porch, LHS of entrance door. 7 clear lines; probably one upper LHS, very faint. Deep gnomon hole. Noon line perhaps marked with a pock 2″ below? Of interest, the 2 deeper and longer cut lines LHS of the vertical. These suggest that the main time of day for observance was Terce, or (as cut) somewhere between that and midday.
Unrecorded by BSS. I am grateful to Keith Freeman for contacting me about this dial, and for his excellent photos
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Scratch Dial within porch
The church of St Gilles at Auderville is one of several churches in the region with similar dials located high up on one end, in this case the E buttress.
The dial is both canted and also slightly angled downwards, enough to notice from ground level. The Roman numerals are Blackletter, as can be found on other churches in the area. I haven’t come across the ‘horseshoe’ 9 before. The modern angled gnomon is plain and functional.
A fine Romanesque church (C11 / 12) in the far NW of the Cotentin peninsular. From its elevated position in the coastal landscape, the sea can be seen on both sides. Of several good dials in the area (other posts will follow), this is the one that is closest to being a scratch dial, being cut directly into the gnomon stone. Other church dials in the region are vertical dials on, rather than cut into, their location.
DIAL
The dial is high up on the E buttress. Seen from the ground, the dial stone blends with the surrounding stones. Seen close to, the awkward setting – shaped angled top with filling around it – suggests relocation. Wherever originally positioned, the height of the dial on the buttress must have been an effective way to use the church’s prominent position to mark passage of the day for the local community.
The dial face has a layout similar to other dials in the area, 12 lines inside a double circle containing the numerals. A possible noon hole on the inner circle; possible noon line extending below it. The short pointed gnomon is a much later addition. LLQ is badly damaged. Beneath the angled top is an eroded inscription, the clearest letter being E. ‘RIEN’?
Finally, this photo from the excellent Michel Lalos french sundial site. I’m not sure when it was taken, but I expect within the last 20 years or so. It graphically shows how degraded and damaged the dial has come during a mere couple of decades. Sadly, LLQ is falling apart.
GRADE I ❖. C11 – evidenced from 1078, probably on site of a wooden church. C14, C17, mid-C18 alterations / additions. Major restoration 1874-76 (Butterfield). One of several excellent and varied Wylye valley churches with dials (eg Stockton (18); Heytesbury; Chitterne; Sutton Veny). Wonderful C11 / Saxon tympanum. 3m SE of Warminster. 51.1755 / 2.0908 / ST937418
DIAL
The dial is in a privileged position high on a quoin stone next to the tympanum. It is in fact the LRQ of a complete dial that must have been divided during restorations.This quarter includes the noon line.
TYMPANUM
The dial is LHS at tympanum height, just visible behind the elder
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Wiltshire Sundials
LISTING: II* ❖ Records from 1302; mainly C15. ‘Extensive restoration’ 1865 (J Hicks). A fine church set in a large, sloping churchyard. 4m S of Sturminster Newton. 50.8965 / –2.2753 / ST807108
DIAL
No need to pass through the Lych-gate to find it. 20 yards to the left on the outside of the wall, you will find the dial reset ‘with other architectural fragments, probably placed there during restoration of 1865‘ GLP.
The dial is a spidery creation (‘a six-pointed star formed of three intersecting lines’ GLP). It’s hard to imagine how, in its original position, it could have been very useful. Perhaps the rustic work of a sacristan in idle moments? Possibly it is not a dial at all.
UPPER STONE
LOWER STONE
The stone below (a different type?) has a half-circle, and a promising gnomon hole above left. Neither has other dial features.
SHOE OUTLINES
Without being unduly dismissive of the dial, the most interesting features of these stone fragments are the outlines of 2 small shoes – one incomplete, the other cut off by the edge of the stone. The iconography of medieval protection marks is a whole separate subject of study, outside my remit. In brief some recurring features found on or in buildings – both religious and secular – are defined as protection marks. Specific examples include outlines of hands (eg North Cadbury), feet, and shoes. Other counter-witchcraft methods involved items being walled up in dwellings. These include childrens’ shoes and toys; glass phials; bones; animal skulls; and dead cats. To explore further, the excellent book by Brian Hoggard ‘Magical House Protection’ should be your guide.
Of St Andrew’s 6 bells, one has an excellent inscription worth mentioning: I OFTEN HAVE BEEN BEATE AND BANGED MY FRIENDS REJOICE TO SEE ME HANGED AND WHEN MY FRIENDS DO CHANCE TO DIE THEN I FOR THEM WILL LOUDLY CRIE
Another fragment incorporated into the wall
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Re-sited Dial; Shoe protection mark
GRADE II* ✣ C13; C15 chancel rebuilt; C16 porch, bell-cote; later restorations esp 1847. A fascinating small church with plenty to offer the visitor besides the look of it including: medieval protection marks and graffiti; remains of wall paintings; tiles; good pew ends; an intriguing porch; a nice memorial horizontal dial in the churchyard; and the grave of Noel Thelwell (beloved pony cartoonist) and his wife. The church information sheets are models of their kind. 3m N of Romsey; 8m S of Stockbridge. 51.0193 / -1.5084 / SU345245
The dial was recorded in April 1922 by ARG, the originator of scratch dial research in Hampshire. He, like pioneer Somerset dial researcher DEH 10 years earlier, was equipped with a camera.
ARG noted 4 definite lines of equal length, perhaps more under the lichen. Located on SE quoin stone of the chancel, facing due S. Style hole about 4 ft high, in mortar line (thus forming the horizontal / 6-to-6 line).
There were several later descriptions of this dial. The last official BSS record (photo below) was made in 1994.
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DIAL IN JANUARY 2024
The condition of the dial may have deteriorated from weathering, however the apparent repair work since 1994 may be the reason why the lines are now so indistinct.
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GRAFFITI and PROTECTION MARKS
FUTHER READING
HAMPSHIRE FIELD CLUB & ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY HERE
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial; Church Graffiti; Protection Mark; Marian Mark
GAUDIUM SUB SOLE . SUNDIALS . MEDIEVAL TO MODERN 