June 2012 page 34
Christopher Daniel

The Forsyth Sundial – Faversham

This article describes a custom-designed 'garden' sundial commissioned as a 40th birthday gift for Campbell Forsyth of Faversham. It is an inclining horizontal dial for latitude 40°N, tilted 11.5° southwards, with a unique gilded 'box' feature that indicates the exact date and time (8 December, 12 noon) on his birthday. The dial is a work of scientific art by Ben Jones, with a pedestal by Clive Sherwood.
Construction Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 47
Christopher Daniel

The Meridies Media Greenwich Noon Dial

This article details the 2012 reconstruction of the Meridies Media noon mark mean time sundial at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Originally designed by Dr Tadeusz Przypkowski in 1967 with a design error, the new Kirkstone slate dial, carved by Ben Jones, was meticulously crafted and unveiled on 10 October 2012.
Restoration projects, The BSS and Members, Dials: Noon Lines

March 2011 page 39
Christopher Daniel

Sundial Ephemera—Crested ‘Goss’ China Sundials

This article describes a collection of miniature crested 'Goss' china sundial ornaments produced from the 1880s. These decorative horizontal dials, typically featuring local heraldic arms, were collected as souvenirs and are now considered rare treasures, despite often having incorrect hour-line delineations.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2011 page 14
Christopher Daniel

Before the BSS—A Sundial Chronicle

This chronicle by a founding member of the BSS details his career at the National Maritime Museum, his early involvement with sundials, and his experiences designing notable dials like the 'Dolphin' sundial for the Queen's Silver Jubilee, leading up to the formation of the BSS.
Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2011 page 27
Christopher Daniel

Nature Club of Pakistan

This report highlights a successful gnomonical science studies programme by the Nature Club of Pakistan in Lahore and Faisalabad schools with support from the BSS.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Equatorial, How Sundials Work, DIY Sundial Projects, The BSS and Members

December 2010 page 26
Christopher Daniel

Meridies Media—An Historical Essay. The direct vertical noon mark mean time sundial at Greenwich

This historical essay details the Meridies Media sundial designed by Dr Tadeusz Przypkowski for the Old Royal Observatory at Greenwich in 1967. It describes the dial's function using an analemma to indicate standard mean time, true noon, and date. The article recounts the author's involvement in its installation, the initial design error, and the eventual reconstruction of the wooden dial in 1969, which remained until 1991.
Dials: Noon Lines, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2008 page 107
Christopher Daniel

The Belmont Sundial

This article recounts the theft and subsequent recovery of a brass horizontal sundial by George Adams Jnr from Belmont House. A BSS member, Andrew James, identified the stolen dial on a dealer's website, leading to its return. The piece highlights the crucial value of the BSS Register and members' expertise in recovering stolen historical dials.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 2007 page 69
Christopher Daniel

Shedding a Glorious Light—Stained Glass Sundials

This article, a re-publication, discusses the history and art of painted or stained-glass window sundials in Britain. It covers their construction, fragility, the challenges of preservation, and highlights notable examples and makers like Bernard Dininckoff and Henry Gyles.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2007 page 73
Christopher Daniel

Bird in Hand

This article focuses on a famous 17th-century stained-glass sundial from Nailsea Court, featuring a bird and a fly, known for its multiple copies and eventual theft. It details the dial's artistic elements, motto Dum Spectas Fugio and discusses its provenance through later copies and historical records.
Historical Dials

March 2005 page 28
Christopher Daniel

A Salutation to David Young

Celebratory poem in the style of Lord Macaulay's "Horatius" honouring David Young’s organisational role in the Society’s Italian sundial tour. Names participants, guides and hosts, and recounts itinerary highlights in rhyming verse, blending humour and historical references to classical and modern sundials encountered on the journey.
The BSS and Members

June 2005 page 61
Christopher Daniel

The Dandelion – Nature’s Sundial

A short, light-hearted poem likening the dandelion flower and seed head to a natural sundial, marking sunny hours by its bloom and dispersal of seeds.
Mottoes

September 2005 page 91
Christopher Daniel

The Equation of Time: The Invention of the Analemma. A brief history of the subject - Part 1

This article traces the history and invention of the analemma, a 'figure-of-eight' shaped curve that corrects for the equation of time on a sundial. It discusses the contributions of Jean-Paul Grandjean de Fouchy and Johann Philipp von Wurzelbau, and notes that the analemma first appeared in English publications in 1889.
Equation of Time

December 2005 page 142
Christopher Daniel

The Equation of Time: The Invention of the Analemma. A brief history of the subject (Part II)

This part of the article discusses the history and application of the analemma in equinoctial sundials, particularly in Great Britain and the Netherlands. It details inventions by Major-General John Ryder Oliver, William Pilkington, and William Homan, and provides strong evidence suggesting Johann Philipp von Wurzelbau invented the analemma around 1716, predating Jean-Paul Grandjean de Fouchy.
How Sundials Work, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Dials: Heliochronometer

March 2004 page 3
Christopher Daniel

The Society's New Patron: The Hon Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd

This article announces Sir Mark Lennox-Boyd as the new Patron of the British Sundial Society, succeeding the late Earl of Perth. It details Sir Mark's background, including his education, parliamentary career, and long-standing interest in sundials, noting his design achievements like the Holker Hall scaphe sundial. His diverse interests and expertise are presented as qualifications for this role.
The BSS and Members

March 2003 page 43
Christopher Daniel

The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Perth P.C. (1907–2002)

Obituary for the Society’s Patron, acknowledging his contributions to the BSS and interest in sundials.
The BSS and Members

June 2003 page 73
Christopher Daniel

The Gavel: A Note from the Chairman

This note from the chairman thanks Dr. John Lester for crafting and presenting a gavel to the Society. It describes the gavel's construction from cherry and padauk woods and its clever design.
The BSS and Members

December 2002 page 150
Christopher Daniel

The Dinton Church Sundial

Scholarly study of a rare palimpsest dial-plate from Dinton, including historical context, inscriptions, and its re-attribution from 1395 to late 16th century.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 1998 page 26
Christopher Daniel

Conservation: The Restoration of Sundials, Some Necessary Questions

An article that defines conservation and restoration in the context of sundials and highlights the ethical and practical difficulties. It discusses the British Sundial Society's policy on the matter and the cautious approach of conservators.
Restoration projects

October 1998 page 18
Christopher Daniel

Obituary: Charles Kenneth Aked (1921-1998)

This obituary pays tribute to Charles Kenneth Aked, a principal 'founding father' and first editor of the British Sundial Society's Bulletin, who passed away on 22 April 1998. It details his diverse career in engineering and horology, his extensive gnomonic bibliographies, and his significant contributions to the BSS, highlighting his dedication and personality.
The BSS and Members

July 1997 page 32
Christopher Daniel

'I am a Sundial'

The author recounts giving a speech about sundials at the Royal Astronomical Society Club. He presents a witty poem that he wrote in response to a verse by Hilaire Belloc that claimed watches are better than sundials. The poem highlights the various functions and advantages of sundials.
The BSS and Members

February 1996 page 16
Christopher Daniel

The Shadow of Respect

A description of a large vertical sundial erected in Chatham to commemorate Admiral Nelson, designed to mark the time of his death at Trafalgar.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 1996 page 9
Christopher Daniel

Bicentenary of the Hydrographic Office

Commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Hydrographic Office with the unveiling of a specially commissioned horizontal sundial, exploring its design, construction, and maritime symbolism.
Dials: Horizontal

June 1995 page 36
Christopher Daniel

A Modern Reproduction of an 18th Century Universal Equnoctial Sundial

An article about recreating historical sundials using modern methods, reflecting on the balance between authenticity, materials, and function.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Restoration projects

June 1993 page 30
Christopher Daniel

From the Chairman's Pen, Errors and Misconceptions

The Chairman reflects on the importance of acknowledging errors in the field of dialling and maintaining high standards within the British Sundial Society. He shares personal anecdotes of past mistakes and discusses common misconceptions about sundials, such as their role in timekeeping, reasons for their decline, and the historical evolution of their appearance, emphasizing the need for accuracy and critical examination.
The BSS and Members

February 1992 page 3
Christopher Daniel

From the Chairman's Pen

The chairman discusses the British sundial heritage, noting its rapid decline due to neglect and vandalism. He emphasizes the importance of the Society's ongoing work to catalogue, record, and research sundials in Britain for their preservation and restoration. He also cautions members about offering restoration advice without professional expertise and highlights the need to identify outstanding sundials for national protection.
The BSS and Members

June 1992 page 3
Christopher Daniel

The Sundial at Sea

This lecture explores the practical aspects of 16th and 17th-century navigation, highlighting the crucial role of sundials and similar instruments for determining time at sea. Mariners used celestial observations for latitude, magnetic compasses for direction, and various tools like traverse boards, sand-glasses, nocturnals, astrolabes, and cross-staves for navigation and timekeeping.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

October 1992 page 2
Christopher Daniel

Domus Coelestis

This article describes 18th-century slate sundials at Tawstock and Marwood churches by John Berry, the Tawstock dial being notable for its "domifying circles" or "circles of position". Berry, a local stonemason probably had help from a Cambridge don in laying out these sophisticated dials. These unusual domus lines indicate which astrological (rather than astronomical) zodiacal house the sun is in. The dial also features zodiacal signs, time of noon in various places, azimuth lines, and diurnal arcs for day length.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1991 page 20
Christopher Daniel

Symbols of Society: The Emblem of the BSS

Christopher St. J.H. Daniel discusses the significance and selection of emblems for scientific societies, using nautical examples. He explains why the British Sundial Society chose the equinoctial sundial as its emblem, symbolizing gnomonics and its fundamental role in dialling. Despite some member criticism, the equinoctial dial design is deemed simple, clear, and representative of the art's ancient origins and scientific principles.
The BSS and Members