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The entire contents of Sandford Orcas Manor, a fine example of country house Tudor, have been auctioned following 4 days of viewings. The sale has generated much interest and excitement both locally and well beyond. Such a complete disposal – even the family Bible (1702) was included – is quite rare. The house dates from mid C16 and has been in the same family for 300 years. It has a reputation for being ‘the most haunted house in England‘. The task of gathering statistics to support this proposition must have been a nightmare.
Two sundials were sold and are now removed from the property. One is a conventional garden dial, gnomon-less, on a baluster stone pedestal. The other is an armillary sphere grandly resting on a substantial triple plinth and supported by a tall ironwork obelisk.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/armillary-celestial-sphere-1.webp?w=147)
HORIZONTAL DIAL (C18) BY NAIRNE & BLUNT
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![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/armillary-celestial-sphere-1.webp?w=147)
Edward Nairne and Thomas Blunt established themselves in London as scientific instrument makers. They worked together between 1774 and 1793 and this dial must be from that period.
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![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/armillary-celestial-sphere-1.webp?w=147)
ARMILLARY SPHERE
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/74df63fb-4010-47b2-be8c-517b1a17cad0_1_201_a-2.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/armillary-celestial-sphere-1.webp?w=147)
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![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/screenshot-2024-03-07-at-11.58.02.png?w=1024)
GSS Categories: Horizontal Sundial; Garden Sundial; Pedestal Dial; Armillary Sphere
All photos Keith Salvesen except header, Dukes Auctioneers