March 2012 page 1
John Davis

Addendum to Robert Stikford’s ‘De Umbris Versis et Extensis’

This article provides further research on Robert Stikford's manuscript 'De Umbris Versis et Extensis', pushing back its tentative dating from 1396-1401 to potentially the early last third of the fourteenth century based on newly uncovered records of his admission to holy orders.
Historical Dials

March 2012 page 7
John Davis

New Dials

This article describes a new 70 cm diameter stainless steel spherical dial by David Harber, unveiled at Balliol College, Oxford. It celebrates the thirtieth anniversary of women's admission to Balliol and includes features like calendar bands, tropic lines, and moon-dial scales.
Dials: Unusual, Construction Projects, Mottoes

March 2012 page 17
John Davis

An Unrecorded Stained Glass Dial

This article details a previously unrecorded 17th-century stained glass sundial. It's unusual for being a "great decliner" made for a latitude in the Scottish lowlands and for its unique motto, which suggests personal authorship rather than a known source.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2012 page 18
John Davis

A Portable Horologium

This article examines a medieval copper-based alloy device, found in Norfolk, which functioned as both a compass and a horologium. The fine engraving, including early Gothic lettering and 5° time subdivisions ("mileways"), suggests a 14th-century date and offers insights into medieval timekeeping and connections to local horology.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 12
John Davis

A Very Early Description of a Horizontal Dial in English

This article presents and translates a c.1440 manuscript from Aberdeen University Library, which contains what may be the earliest known description of how to make a horizontal sundial in English. It details a simple geometric construction method, discusses the design's unique features, and explores the type of gnomon described, providing insight into early scientific dials in England.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2012 page 47
John Davis

Book Review

This is a review of Alan Cook’s 'Addendum to Mass Dials on Yorkshire Churches' (BSS Monograph 9), an extension of a previous publication cataloguing mass dials in Yorkshire. The monograph provides scaled drawings and descriptions of dials across the county, completing a comprehensive survey and serving as a must-read for those interested in these intriguing dials.
Book Reviews, Dials: Mass Dials

September 2012 page 1
John Davis

Editorial

The editor explains the shortage of material for this issue, so that several articles have been written by the editor. He encourages members to contribute various content, from short pieces to full-blown research studies. This issue features further articles about polyhedral dials.
The BSS and Members

September 2012 page 8
Michael Lowne
John Davis

The Stereographic Projection and Quadrant by Henry Sutton

This article explores Henry Sutton's quadrant, which utilises a stereographic projection of the sky onto the equatorial plane, initially conceived by Thomas Harvey. It details the instrument's design, including scales for time-telling and other astronomical problems, and provides instructions for its use, such as finding the time at night using stars.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

September 2012 page 21
John Davis

The Clock and the Sundial

This brief piece features an early Netherlandish image, dating from the late 16th century, which combines a lantern clock and a sundial. It serves as a visual reminder that clocks merely indicate time, whereas sundials actively find time, subtly suggesting the clock's potential inaccuracy compared to the sundial.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2012 page 22
John Davis

Lost Bonar Dial Resurfaces (Briefly!)

This article reports the brief reappearance of a 1634 slate equatorial dial by John Bonar, originally from Loudon Castle, Scotland, at a German auction. Unsold, it subsequently disappeared from public view. Despite missing its gnomon and moon volvelle, the dial is considered an important artefact of early Scottish dialling, featuring detailed engravings.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2012 page 23
Heilke van der Wijk
John Davis

A Dutch Manuscript Showing Polyhedral Dials

This article describes a mysterious Dutch manuscript from 1670-75 containing over 40 drawings and calculations for sundials, including elaborate polyhedral designs. It features designs attributed to Benjamin Braemers and a complex lectern polyhedral dial similar to Scottish examples, challenging readers to construct a 3D model.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2012 page 28
John Davis

Upton Manor Farm, Cambs

This entry describes a multiple scaphe dial at Upton Manor Farm, tentatively attributed to Edmund Gunter, featuring 29 or 30 individual dials crafted from Ketton stone. Located in an orchard, the property was once owned by Bishop Thomas Dove and is noted for its complex, original delineation.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials

September 2012 page 32
John Davis

The Old Meeting House, Norwich

This entry features an 1842 etching of the Old Meeting House, Norwich, depicting a vertical sundial that dates the building to 1693. The sundial, which has undergone refurbishment and regilding, is noted for its unusual hour-line shape and the building's historical significance as one of the country's oldest non-conformist places of worship.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2012 page 36
John Davis
Cai Mason

A Medieval Equinoctial Dial Excavated at St James’s Priory, Bristol

This article describes the excavation of a fragment of a medieval equinoctial (equatorial) dial at St James’s Priory, Bristol. Dated pre-1540 and likely late 14th/15th century due to the use of Arabic numerals, it is a significant find that reinforces awareness of early scientific dials in Europe, and is believed to be one of the oldest in Britain.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials

September 2012 page 40
John Davis

Holbein’s Cylinder Dial

This entry describes a drawing of a cylinder (or shepherd's) dial by Hans Holbein the Younger, dating from 1532-1543. It is speculated that the image depicts a real dial either made by or planned by Nicholas Kratzer, Holbein's contemporary and Henry VIII's horologist. The drawing's cut-out nature and right-to-left month inscription are notable features.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2012 page 43
John Davis
Jérôme Bonnin

Early 19th-century English Drawings of Greek Dials

This article details two 19th-century drawings by Charles Robert Cockerell of Greek sundials, possibly newly excavated. One depicts an unknown classical conical dial with "lion legs" and the other illustrates a rare planar, vertical east-facing dial from Delos, which later came to reside in the Louvre, recording significant ancient finds.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2012 page 18
John Davis

An Excavated Lead Sundial

This article details a small, robust lead sundial, 51.5mm in diameter, found in the River Avon at Barford. Dated between the late 16th and late 17th centuries, its equi-angular, anticlockwise numbered hour-lines suggest a vertical dial, possibly an attempt at an equal-hour dial by a provincial artisan lacking scientific knowledge, with possible initials C W.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 41
John Davis

Helical Sundials

The article discusses helical sundials, particularly one made by Aylmer Astbury. These are a form of equatorial dial, with a brass strip helix marking hours via small holes or a terminator shadow. They can be adjusted for longitude and Equation of Time by rotating the helix on its axis, as explained in a 1992 Bulletin article.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Unusual, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 41
John Davis

Mosque Of Uqba

This entry describes a modern sundial from 1843 in the courtyard of the Mosque of Uqba (Great Mosque of Kairouan) in Tunisia. Engraved in Arabic script on a marble slab, it was designed by Almed Essoussi, inspired by Ibn al-Shatir's dial. It uses four separate point gnomons to indicate prayer times.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 17
John Davis

Captain Sturmy’s Polyhedral Dial

This article describes a polyhedral dial from Captain Samuel Sturmy's 1679 'The Mariners Magazine'. It's a rhombic cubo-octahedron dated 1667, said to have 27 individual dials, and features an unusual globe dial showing stars. The dial's current whereabouts are unknown.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 20
John Davis

Book Reviews

This section contains reviews of several books related to sundials and timekeeping, including 'Sundials in Museums of the British Isles' by Butson, Wilson & Wood, 'Tempus et Regula: orologi solari medievali Italiani' by Mario Arnaldi, and 'Cadrans Solaires de Bretagne' by J-P Cornec & P Labat-Segalen.
Book Reviews

June 2011 page 8
Michael Lowne
John Davis

A Horizontal Quadrant of 1658 by Henry Sutton; Part 1

This article describes a unique 17th-century horizontal quadrant by Henry Sutton, detailing its stereographic projection, various scales for altitude, azimuth, time, and astronomical functions. It explains how the instrument, acting as a mechanical analogue computer, finds time from the sun's altitude.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2011 page 26
John Davis

The John Rowley Dial

This article details the rediscovery and reinstallation of a lost John Rowley azimuth and equation of time dial from Blenheim Palace. It describes its unique features, including the deep double-ogee rim and specific gnomon design, and its historical significance.
Dials: Unusual, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2011 page 51
John Davis

West Indies Dials

This piece reports on two horizontal sundials found in the West Indies. One at Nelson's Dockyard, Antigua, dated 18th-century and signed Gregory & Wright London, provides new information on makers' interconnections. Another by Henry Pyefinch in Barbados is also mentioned.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 2
John Davis

A Medieval Gunter’s Quadrant?

This article discusses the excavation of a quadrant fragment in Norfolk in 2009, initially misidentified as an astrolabe plate. Further investigation suggests it's a hybrid device combining features of a quadrans vetus and a Gunter's quadrant, leading to questions about its medieval origins despite Gunter's later development of his eponymous instrument.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 23
John Davis

Daniel Delander Dial Recovered

This report details the recovery of a stolen large double horizontal dial by Daniel Delander from Stanford Hall, thanks to Polish dialling enthusiast Maciej Lose. The dial, catalogued as DH-17, SRN 3607, is a high-quality instrument with Equation of Time scales and geographical place names. The article also mentions Delander's apprenticeship under Thomas Tompion, suggesting close working relationships between notable clockmakers.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

September 2011 page 45
Michael Lowne
John Davis

A Horizontal Quadrant of 1658 by Henry Sutton. Pt. 2

This second part examines the scales and uses of a 1658 horizontal quadrant by Henry Sutton, collaborating with John Collins. It details the matched sine and tangent scales for astronomical calculations, star positions for night-time finding, calendar tables for moon age and high water, and shadow/quadrat scales for measuring building heights. It also provides biographies of Collins, Dary, and Sutton, highlighting their roles in 17th-century London's mathematical community.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

December 2011 page 24
John Davis

Robert Stikford’s ‘De Umbris Versis et Extensis’

This article discusses Robert Stikford, a 14th-century monk from St Albans, credited in Whethamstede’s Granarium (c.1430) with inventing the equal-hour sundial. His rediscovered extensive Latin treatise, 'De Umbris Versis et Extensis', describes geometric constructions for projecting shadow positions and includes tables for Oxford’s latitude. It showcases detailed designs for various vertical dials, revealing sophisticated early European scientific dialling.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2011 page 49
John Davis

The Art of Painting Sundials

This article, drawing on John Smith's 1676 book 'The Art of Painting', discusses the techniques and colours used for painting sundials, particularly stone dials. It provides practical advice on preparing surfaces, mixing pigments, and laying out dials, including recommendations for repainting and a note on a misconception about earth's motion affecting dial orientation.
Construction Projects, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2010 page 10
Valery Dmitriev
Harriet James
John Davis

New Dials

A collection of short articles describing new sundials. These include an equatorial 'solar acorn' dial in Solar, Russia; a vertical declining dial in Oxford inspired by Christopher Wren; and a mass-produced, flat-packed equatorial 'Sun Disc' from Australia designed for various latitudes.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Unusual, Construction Projects

March 2010 page 24
John Davis

Thomas Tuttell’s Playing Cards

Discusses two sets of playing cards published in 1701 by instrument maker Thomas Tuttell, which functioned as a trade catalogue. The cards illustrate instruments like elliptical dials, dialling globes, and projections of the sphere used in dialling.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

June 2010 page 10
John Davis

Glemham Hall Sundials

This article explores several sundials associated with Glemham Hall. It details a small, unsigned 17th-century horizontal dial, a large painted vertical dial from 1769, and discusses the 'Elihu Yale's sundial' mounted on a John Nost lead figure, whose current whereabouts are unknown but was possibly seen at Yale University. A modern 'Three Graces' horizontal dial is also mentioned.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2010 page 18
Michael Lowne
John Davis

The Horizontal Quadrant – Part 1, Introduction and Instruments

This paper introduces the horizontal quadrant, a less common but useful altitude sundial type, sharing its basic stereographic projection with the double horizontal dial. It discusses its history, including European precursors like Hartmann's compast and Apian's triens, and English developments by Delamain and Oughtred. The article describes the general form and known examples, detailing how it uses the sun's altitude to tell time.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

June 2010 page 51
John Davis

New Dials: Newton Abbot, Devon

This short note describes a new sundial under construction at Trago Mills retail outlet in Newton Abbot, Devon. The dial, facing close to south, features a gnomon with a slot for a narrow line of light at solar noon and a cylindrical cross-bar nodus to show solstice and equinox declination lines. The hour points and lines are currently painted, with hopes for more durable stainless steel fittings.
Construction Projects, Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2010 page 52
John Davis

Book Review (2): Monks, Manuscripts and Sundials: The Navicula in Medieval England

This is a review of Catherine Eagleton's book, 'Monks, Manuscripts and Sundials: The Navicula in Medieval England,' which emerged from her doctoral research. The book focuses on the rare medieval navicula, or 'Little ship of Venice,' detailing known examples and newly uncovered 15th-century manuscripts that describe its making and use. It reveals that the navicula was likely more common than previously thought and predates other universal altitude dials.
Book Reviews, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

September 2010 page 8
David Brown
John Davis

New Dials

This section describes two new sundials: a 50 cm diameter slate horizontal dial by David Brown for a client in Derbyshire, resembling the Hampton Court sundial and featuring a nodus and coat of arms; and a Carrera marble house sign sundial by Harriet James for the BSS Editorial Office.
Construction Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2010 page 10
Michael Lowne
John Davis

The Horizontal Quadrant. Pt. 2: Use, and the Inverted Quadrant

This article details the use of horizontal quadrants for time-finding and surveying, including a rare 'inverted' variant. It describes how to determine time from solar altitude and declination, and from stars at night, discussing the historical accuracy and limitations of these instruments.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

September 2010 page 18
John Davis

A Benjamin Scott Horizontal Dial

This article describes a small horizontal dial by Benjamin Scott, believed to have been made for Lochnaw Castle, Scotland. It features transversals for minute resolution, an Equation of Time ring, and specific gnomon supporters, linking Scott to John Rowley and discussing its provenance.
Dials: Horizontal, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

September 2010 page 23
John Davis

Blagrave’s Armillary Sphere Unveiled

This article reports on the unveiling of a bronze armillary sphere by David Harber, created to celebrate his lineage to the distinguished 16th-century mathematician and diallist John Blagrave. The sphere represents Blagrave's 'Mathematical Jewel' and was unveiled at the Science Museum in South Kensington.
Construction Projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Armillary Sphere

December 2010 page 11
John Davis

Kratzer’s Lost Dial

This entry describes a now-lost sundial designed by Nicholaus Kratzer in 1520 for St Mary's churchyard wall in Oxford. Based on a design in Kratzer's MS De Horologiis it showed Babylonian hours in green on the East side, Italian hours in blue on the West, and ordinary hours and declinations on the south face.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2010 page 37
John Davis

Merton College Dial

This entry describes the sundial on the east side of the chapel at Merton College, Oxford. Dating possibly from 1629 or 1659, and potentially redesigned by Jo. Bainbridge or Henry Briggs, it uses a simple nodus on an adjacent buttress to cast a shadow with criss-cross lines, although an extension on the south side shown in a 1922 drawing is no longer visible.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 7
John Davis

Gérard Desargues

This piece discusses Gérard Desargues (1591-1661), a French mathematician and engraver known for his work on conic projections and perspective, which introduced key concepts of projective geometry. His book on sundials (1640) was theoretical, but his disciple Abraham Bosse published a more accessible version in 1643.
Book Reviews, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 20
John Davis

SUNDIALS AND THE RISE AND DECLINE OF COSMOGRAPHY IN THE ‘LONG’ SIXTEENTH CENTURY

This is a report on the Scientific Instrument Society's 16th annual invitation lecture by Dr Jim Bennett, titled "Sundials and the Rise and Decline of Cosmography in the ‘Long’ Sixteenth Century". The lecture explored how sundials were integral to cosmography, a comprehensive study of the universe during the Renaissance, covering both celestial and terrestrial measures.
Historical Dials

March 2009 page 31
John Davis

An Unusual Equation of Time Display

This article describes a unique Equation of Time (EoT) chart found in Nottingham, featuring straight lines for EoT values in whole minutes plotted against a non-linear calendar date axis. Dated possibly to the 1830s or 1840s, it differs from typical "Watch Faster / Watch Slower" scales.
Mathematics of Dialling, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 11
John Davis

The double horizontal dial—then and now; at the Oxford Museum of the History of Science

Reports on a mini-exhibition at the Oxford Museum of the History of Science featuring a new hand-engraved double horizontal dial by Joanna Migdal. The exhibition also included historical examples by Richard Glynne and Elias Allen, and related contemporary books.
Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

June 2009 page 12
John Davis

The ‘lost’ Barrington stained glass dial rediscovered

Announces the rediscovery of the Barrington (or Highworth) stained glass sundial, made in 1641 by Baptist Sutton. Previously thought lost, the dial was located with a private owner. The article details its features, including its coat of arms, a 3D-effect fly, and a scratched declination number.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 48
John Davis

Chiming sundial

A short note featuring a 1645 drawing by Athanasius Kircher of an ‘Organum Heliocausticum’. This is a sundial designed to chime the hours by using a spherical lens to focus sunlight onto gunpowder, which in turn releases an arm to strike a bell.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2009 page 2
Michael Lowne
John Davis

A universal altitude dial by John Marke

Describes a unique universal altitude dial made by John Marke, possibly for Robert Boyle, now in the London Science Museum. The article details the instrument's provenance, its physical characteristics, and its complex operation as a combined clinometer and sundial. It provides an in-depth analysis of the mathematical principles involved and its potential accuracy.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

September 2009 page 20
John Davis

New dial

Describes a new declining vertical dial recently installed in the Midlands. The design is based on the dials at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. The article details its large size, construction materials including vitreous-enamelled steel and brass, and a unique feature: the coat of arms of Aston Villa Football Club.
Construction Projects, Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2009 page 42
Frank Evans
John Davis

Book reviews

Features two reviews. The first covers "Time in Antiquity" by Robert Hannah, a book on Greek and Roman timekeeping. The second reviews Denis Savoie’s "Sundials: Design, Construction, and Use," a modern, practical text on constructing various types of sundials, translated from the French original.
Book Reviews

September 2009 page 45
John Davis

Hans Holbein’s design for a clocksalt

Presents and discusses a drawing by Hans Holbein the Younger for a 'clocksalt'—a combined hourglass, clock, and salt cellar—designed as a gift for Henry VIII. The piece incorporates two curved sundials, whose design is attributed to Nikolaus Kratzer, and the author notes their curious and unusual delineation.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 6
Malcolm Young
John Foad
John Davis

William Watson of Seaton Ross (1784-1857)

A biography of William Watson, a farmer, surveyor, and self-taught sundial maker from East Yorkshire. The article details his life, his unique 'canted-over gnomon' dial designs, his publication on dialling, and other interests. An addendum discusses the surviving examples of his work.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 13
John Davis

BSS visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory

A short report on a British Sundial Society members' visit to the Royal Greenwich Observatory. The group received a guided tour, viewed famous horological exhibits like the Harrison chronometers, and were given special access to handle rare and notable sundials from the museum's storage rooms.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2009 page 20
John Davis

Robert Cutbush—a provincial dialmaker

An investigation tracing the history of a 1699 horizontal dial signed by Robert Cutbush. The author identifies the maker as part of a family of Kent clockmakers and discovers that the dial was stolen from Ightham churchyard before 1978. The article concludes with the dial's successful return.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2009 page 37
John Davis

Satellite dish sundial

A report on a commercial satellite dish, produced by the German firm Fuba, that incorporates a functional sundial on its parabolic surface. The author notes that the dial is designed for a specific latitude and satellite position and remarks on its similarity to a dish dial he built himself in 1999.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Unusual

March 2008 page 43
John Davis

Pat Briggs’ Meccano Models

Showcases Pat Briggs' Meccano models, ranging from simple equatorial dials to complex planetaria and astronomical clocks. It highlights his ingenious mechanisms, including a universal joint for shadow tracking, an Equation of Time clock, and a 'Meccano Analemmagraph' for drawing the analemma, using cunningly-designed gear ratios.
Dials: Equatorial, Equation of Time, Dialling Tools, DIY Sundial Projects

June 2008 page 64
John Davis

Charles Darwin’s Sundial

This article details Charles Darwin's horizontal sundial at Down House, used for regulating his clocks. It describes the dial's unpretentious design, its historical context, and recent restoration efforts after two accidents, including the discovery that the gnomon was a replacement.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2008 page 117
John Davis

John Marke’s Double Horizontal Dials

This article discusses John Marke's newly discovered double horizontal dial in North Wales, noting its significance as the first known by this maker. It provides background on Marke, his apprenticeship to Henry Sutton, and his work as a mathematical instrument maker, also linking him to Robert Boyle through an engraving and a Science Museum instrument.
Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

December 2008 page 157
John Davis

BSS Newbury Meeting—27 September 2008

A report on the BSS Newbury meeting on 27 September 2008, detailing talks on stainless steel sundials, polar dials, dynamic sundial design using calculators, and 3-D modelling for overshadowing. It also covers a survey of early horizontal dials in Flintshire, exhibits, and presentations on paper sundials and dials in Mexico and the southern hemisphere.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Polar, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

December 2008 page 188
John Davis

John Blagrave

This short note features an illustration from John Blagrave's "The Mathematical Jewel" showing a diallist determining wall declination. It briefly mentions Blagrave's life in Reading and the various tools depicted in the drawing, such as a square, plumb-bob, and simple theodolites.
Dialling Tools

December 2008 page 197
John Davis

Henry Gyles

This note presents a drawing of Henry Gyles, a celebrated glass-painter from York and prolific stained glass dialmaker, from the British Museum collection. It compares this effigy with a self-portrait Gyles used as his tradecard, highlighting the rarity of having multiple portraits of early dialmakers.
Historical Dials

December 2008 page 203
Nicola Severino
John Davis

A Puzzle at Ravello, Italy

This article investigates a puzzling sundial in the Rose Garden of Villa Cimbrone at Ravello, Italy. Despite its fine design and the builder's knowledge of clocks, the dial's inclination and gnomon angle are incorrect for its latitude, suggesting it was originally a horizontal dial for England or is a non-dial. It also mentions another horizontal dial at the villa.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2007 page 27
John Davis

Extract from Joseph Moxon’s ‘Mechanick Exercises’

John Davis presents an extract from Joseph Moxon's 1678 book, 'Mechanick Exercises,' detailing a method for laying moldings on round brass pieces without a lathe, invented after the Fire of London. This technique is suggested to have been used for horizontal sundials, offering insight into 17th-century sundial making practices and Moxon's ingenuity.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

March 2007 page 28
John Davis

The restoration of the dial on the Thomas Plume Library, Maldon

This article details the restoration of a vertical lead sundial on the Thomas Plume Library in Maldon, Essex. It describes the dial's historical context, its construction from lead sheet over oak boards, the damage caused by squirrels, and the repair process including repainting and gilding. The dial is a direct south design and dates from around the turn of the 18th century.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2007 page 50
John Davis
Trevor M Brown
Irene Brightmer

Brass or Bronze?

This article explores the material composition of historical horizontal garden sundials, specifically distinguishing between brass and bronze alloys. It discusses the challenges of visual identification due to patination and details an X-ray analysis method used to determine the actual metallic composition of dial samples.
Historical Dials

September 2007 page 123
John Davis

An Armillary Dial

This short piece features a 1928 photograph of novelist Edgar Wallace with a rather fine armillary sphere in his garden. It questions whether this dial, or one of the same design with an unusual bell-and-sphere supporter, dating from 1730 at Hever Castle, are unique or part of a production series from such an early date.
Historical Dials, Dials: Armillary Sphere

September 2007 page 128
Michael Lowne
John Davis

Lines of Declination and Two Seventeenth Century Dials

This article explores declination lines on sundials as conic sections and details methods for their delineation. It examines two 17th-century horizontal dials by Isaac Symmes (Science Museum, Oxford), noting errors in their declination lines and the presence of seasonal hours and lunar volvelles. A new graphical method for drawing declination lines is also presented.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2007 page 172
John Davis

Clock Ephemera and Sundials

This article discusses the historical connection between clocks, watches, and sundials, referencing an example on the cover. It examines images from J.W. Benson Ltd catalogues featuring sundials, including a horizontal sundial with a truncated gnomon creating a nodus. The author speculates whether these depicted dials are real or artistic creations.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

December 2007 page 179
John Davis

John Rowell: Plumber and Stained Glass Dial Maker

This biography details John Rowell (1689-1756), a provincial plumber and self-taught glass painter who became known for stained glass sundials in the 18th century. It covers his life, business, the influence of his clockmaker father-in-law, and two notable dials: the 'IR 1733' dial at Arbury Hall and the 1734 Purley Hall dial. The latter has undergone restoration, with analysis showing engraving errors and the design of a replacement gnomon.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

February 2006 page 33
John Davis
Michael Lowne

Henry Wynne’s Double Horizontal Dials - Update

This update provides further information on Henry Wynne’s double horizontal dials, including new historical evidence for the Staunton Harold dial’s position from 19th-century maps and photographs. It also discusses the Wrest Park replica and criticises the National Trust’s decision to preserve a bent gnomon on the Powis Castle dial as part of its history.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

June 2006 page 49
John Davis

Editorial

The new Editor of the Bulletin thanked his predecessors. He stated that any future changes to the Bulletin would depend on an analysis of the recent Readership Survey. He encouraged new authors to submit articles for the Bulletin.

June 2006 page 61
John Davis

Sir Christopher Wren’s Dial to be Moved?

This article discusses the potential relocation of a sundial designed by Sir Christopher Wren at All Souls’ College, Oxford. It details the long-standing grievance of traditionalists about its current misaligned position and the condition in a will left by Oxford librarian John Simmons for its return to its original location.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2006 page 99
John Davis
Harriet James

The Stanwardine Hall Dial

This article details the rediscovery of a rare 1560 English horizontal garden sundial, previously mentioned in Mrs Gatty's book and thought lost. It describes the dial's physical characteristics, unique mottoes, heraldic engravings, and the historical context of its ownership by the Corbet family, discussing its provenance, repairs, and original location.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2005 page 34
John Davis

Sir Isaac Newton Sundial Unveiled at Leicester University

Describes unveiling of a bronze casting of Sir Isaac Newton for the new sundial at Leicester University. Covers lost-wax casting, assembly of multiple bronze sections, dimensional realignment, and recalculation of hour and date lines for new geometry. Discusses site installation, setting for local latitude and polar alignment.
Construction Projects, Dials: Equatorial

June 2005 page 65
John Davis

A Just Punishment?

Historical account of a 1743 theft trial at the Old Bailey where a man was sentenced to transportation for stealing a sundial. Includes details of the dial’s maker, Thomas Wright, and speculation on its fate.
Historical Dials

June 2005 page 66
John Davis

More on the Equation of Time on Sundials

Continues analysis of how the Equation of Time was represented on sundials, with historical examples and refinements in accuracy by 17th and 18th century astronomers.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

September 2005 page 101
Harriet James
John Davis

A Close Look at a Salisbury Dial

This article provides a detailed analysis of a horizontal sundial in Salisbury, noting its age and features. It describes the gnomon, which has a nodus that casts an ellipse of light on a black dot on the panel below the dial. It also examines the hour and declination lines, and discusses the decorations, such as the gilded letters and fleurs-de-lis.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2004 page 7
John Davis

Sundials at Trinity College Cambridge

Provides a comprehensive overview of sundials and related astronomical instruments at Trinity College, Cambridge, highlighting the college's rich history in mathematics and natural philosophy. It describes early dials, the Trinity Observatory's instruments including those by Henry Sutton and John England, and more recent installations like the First World War Memorial dial.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 2004 page 57
John Davis

A Buried Sundial

Description and analysis of a small 1652 copper horizontal sundial found buried in a Suffolk house, possibly commemorating a solar eclipse, with historical and design observations.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

September 2004 page 96
John Davis

Restoration of the Houghton Hall sundials — a study in patience

Account of discovering four large vertical dials on an octagonal cupola, surveying gnomon positions, choosing vitreous-enamel steel faces, manufacturing setbacks (overseas enamelling) and the final installation with alignment and conservation choices.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Restoration projects

September 2004 page 110
John Davis
Michael J. Harley
Harriet James

Joseph McNally’s slate sundials

Survey of Joseph McNally’s early 19th-century slate dials (mainly Portaferry area): characteristics of multiple-gnomon plates, chapter rings with alternate longitudes, mottos, colouring evidence and the regional slate-working/dial-making context.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2004 page 135
John Davis

Thomas Wright’s horizontal sundials

Study of Thomas Wright's horizontal dial work (c.1718–1747). Analyses design features such as transversals, equation-of-time rings, geographical place-name rings, gnomon forms, engraving patterns and lettering. Includes a table of known surviving dials, drawings, a modern replica and assessment of Wright's sources.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2003 page 6
John Davis

Some 18th Century Dialmakers in the Grocers' Company

A historical study of mathematical instrument makers affiliated with the Grocers' Company, focusing on 18th-century horizontal and geographical dials and their design traditions.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2003 page 47
John Davis
Michael Lowne

Henry Wynne's Double Horizontal Dial at Staunton Harold

An analysis of one of the most sophisticated 17th-century dials made by Henry Wynne. The article describes the history, features (including its use as a moondial, star dial, and geographical dial), and modern restoration efforts of this large bronze dial.
Dials: Double Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2003 page 68
John Davis

A 17th Century Churchyard Dial

A historical study of a 17th-century churchyard dial in Weston Colville. The article provides details on the dial's physical characteristics, composition, and historical context.
Historical Dials

September 2003 page 122
John Moir
John Davis

An Armillary Octahedron

This article details the design and construction of an armillary octahedron, a complex sundial structure. It describes the process of making the intersecting V shapes and the challenges of assembly due to thermal expansion.
Construction Projects, Dials: Unusual

December 2003 page 135
John Davis

The Equation of Time as Shown on Sundials

A comprehensive study of how the Equation of Time has been represented on sundials from 1672 to the 20th century, analysing data sources, engraving methods, and dating implications.
Equation of Time

December 2003 page 148
John Davis

The Gnosall Dial

Analysis of a 1721 dial with unusual semicircular scales used to estimate sunrise and sunset times; includes mathematical reconstruction of how the dial may have been intended to work.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

March 2002 page 4
John Davis

An Isaac Newton Sundial

Describes the design and creation of a unique sundial featuring a statue of Newton holding a prism, inspired by his optical work and historic dials at Woolsthorpe.
Construction Projects, Dials: Polar, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2001 page 56
John Davis

A Pocket Gnomon Protractor

John Davis introduces his design for a flexible, wallet-sized gnomon protractor, aimed at overcoming difficulties in measuring gnomon angles on buttressed sundials. The device expands the scale for better precision within typical UK angles and can be photocopied by readers to create their own. He details its construction from laminated paper and auxiliary scales.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools

September 2001 page 117
John Davis

Tudor Dials in Ipswich

This article details the discovery of an earlier pair of wooden Tudor sundials hidden beneath later ones during demolition at Smart's Wharf in Ipswich. The original dials, dating around 1600, featured a "Protestant work ethic" motto. Analysis revealed the replacement dials were more accurate and likely installed in the mid-1700s, showcasing the efforts made to maintain dial accuracy.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2001 page 160
John Davis
Michael Lowne

The 'Bacon' Double Horizontal Sundials

This article investigates the 'Bacon' double horizontal dial, an intriguing 17th or early 18th-century brass instrument of unknown origin. Its unique Equation of Time table and stereographic grid are detailed. Analysis suggests it predates 1752 and aligns with Tompion's calculations. A modern replica, crafted using CAD and photolithography, is also described, featuring updated EoT values and modern heraldry, signed by its maker.
Construction Projects, Dials: Double Horizontal, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

June 1999 page 77
John Davis

Satellites and Sundials

This article explores the unexpected link between satellite dishes and sundials, including the use of knowledge of the sun's movement to align satellite dishes to satellites. It delves into the geometry of satellite dishes as a basis for sundial design and discusses practical details for using a satellite dish into a sundial, including gnomon options and microwave-transparent planar dial face materials.
DIY Sundial Projects, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1999 page 144
John Davis

A Lightweight Laser Trigon for Lay-out of Sundial Lines

This article describes the design and construction of a lightweight laser trigon for accurately laying out sundial lines. Inspired by difficulties with traditional string methods, the author developed a compact perspex instrument that uses a laser pointer to project declination and hour lines onto any dial surface. The design addresses issues of gnomon flexing and portability, and uniquely proposes linking the trigon's axes to trace analemmas mechanically, offering a universal tool for precise dial delineation.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools

June 1998 page 37
John Davis

A Test Table for Horizontal Dials

This article describes how to build a simple, portable test table for horizontal sundials using a photographic tripod. The table allows for fine adjustments to be made to test dials for different latitudes without needing to find a perfectly horizontal surface.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools

April 1997 page 40
John Davis

In Arthur Mee's Footsteps

A narrative retracing the travels and dial discoveries of author Arthur Mee, connecting past observations with present-day visits.
Historical Dials

July 1997 page 10
John Davis

When the Sun Shines

An article discussing the amount of actual sunshine received in a given year in Ipswich, England, compared to the theoretical maximum. It includes graphs of daily sunshine data from 1996 and notes how environmental factors like trees can affect a sundial's performance.
How Sundials Work