![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/01-st-james-the-apostle-compressed.jpg?w=944)
GRADE II* † Mid C12 – C15; early frescoes; 1860s work by G.E. Street with additions & rebuilding. Remarkably squat tower, C15. Unexpectedly up a secluded narrow lane just E of the bustle of Cowley – no one would guess that there is a C12 building there. 51.7306 / -1.2197 / SP539038
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/302f593e-5e37-434d-bcd6-f2b96317d120.jpeg?w=1024)
DIALS
There are 2 dials, both inside the porch on either side of the entrance door. Disappointingly the porch gate was locked, so I could not get access. The photos of the pair taken late in the day are distinctly underwhelming…
DIAL 1
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/cowley-st-james-dial-1-bss-1.png?w=359)
Dial 1 is inside S porch LHS of the doorway, in the corner below the springing of the arch and above the moulding. 4 lines radiating from the style hole, with the noon line deeper cut.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/f8d1772b-3caf-4426-9d31-4a71e7fc39a1_1_201_a-1.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/41eae845-ea10-43b3-94e9-025884c12b26_1_105_c.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/556dade0-88c2-4fcd-af3c-9713130a5bf8_1_201_a-2.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/e36b9a0e-7566-4e2b-949e-40f9d63fe497_1_105_c.jpeg?w=1024)
DIAL 2
Dial 2 is also inside S porch, RHS of the doorway and above the capital of the pillar. There are 6 lines radiating from a quite noticeable style hole. BSS suggests there are 3 pocks (possibly more), though I could not see those details.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/8b95fb68-1664-44d8-bd94-c5d27368cabe_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bcab368b-8bef-4208-868d-413515eff965.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/c1fb813f-a863-4504-ae74-1fdc54ea7463.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/9dba5513-bc39-4124-b37a-c1d1701a5219_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/screenshot-2023-02-19-at-18.22.07.png?w=956)
OTHER MARKS
Besides the dials, there was a certain amount of graffiti with other scratchings in the area of the porch, not all of it medieval. There are a couple of Marian marks and what may be a very crude pentagram, a symbol to repel evil.
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/0c8dca6f-3cca-4df9-839d-f32804ce6238_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/04df56ee-d8c2-494c-b2e7-f158d37a8edc_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/f199b437-9580-4829-885f-35c1627d48d8_1_201_a.jpeg?w=1024)
![](https://gaudiumsubsole.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/bcb52457-2a8c-4fea-9dc8-abc09c8f8d86.jpeg?w=1024)
GSS Category: Scratch Dial; Mass Dial
All photos (for what they are worth) Keith Salvesen except header image from St James Parish website (their excellent photo replaces my poor ones taken from a different angle); and BSS (2 images)