Tag: St Mary the Virgin Colton Staffs Medieval Sundial

COLTON . STAFFS . ST MARY THE VIRGIN – Scratch Dial

Published on by Rolling Harbour1 Comment
St Mary the Virgin . Colton . Staffs (image from the Church FB page)

ST MARY THE VIRGIN . COLTON . STAFFS

GRADE II* † C13 2-stage tower, chancel, chapel incorporated into C19 church (G.E.Street). An attractive juxtaposition of squat tower and much later elongated expansion. A couple of miles from Rugeley.  52.7813 / -1.9309 / SK047204

DIAL

St Mary the Virgin . Colton . Staffs

A small and crude dial, perhaps (given the C13 origins) an early one. After centuries of erosion of the sandstone, it remains deeply cut. 4(?) lines descending from the style hole. It’s hard to tell the significance of the upward line that cuts deeply through the hole and downwards. This is not an extended noon line, yet obviously it has a purpose – maybe to add emphasis to the main service of the day (the Mass time Nones?). It’s unclear whether the dent in the stone RHS is anything to do with the dial – it doesn’t directly relate to the style hole. Probably unconnected damage.

St Mary the Virgin . Colton . Staffs – scratch dial

GSS Category: Scratch Dial

Photo Credits: Dial by Erika Clarkson; header image from the St Mary Colton FB page HERE