June 2012 page 17
John Foad

The Scoreboard Sundial

This article describes a unique direct south vertical slate sundial found in Wimborne Minster, made by clockmaker W.B. Kerridge. Its distinguishing feature is a system for displaying the Equation of Time and longitude correction using interchangeable 'FAST'/'SLOW' iron plates and possibly minute/second plates, resembling a cricket scoreboard, for public use.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

December 2012 page 26
John Foad

Nine Newly Reported Dials

This article reports on nine previously unrecorded or undocumented sundials. Highlights include a 1723 vertical dial at Windsor Castle, a Scottish-style cube dial at Restoration House, a pre-1752 horizontal dial by John Davis of Windsor, and various vertical, geographical, and unusual fixed horizontal analemmatic dials across England.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2011 page 43
Gordon E. Taylor
John Foad

Readers’ Letters (continued)

Gordon Taylor describes challenges in orienting the Seven Dials monument. John Foad, the Registrar, corrects the number of war memorial dials in the BSS Register, increasing the total and, consequently, the estimated number of unfound dials using Tony Wood's formula.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2011 page 41
John Foad

A Painted Polyhedral Dial

This article discusses a polyhedral dial from Loudoun Castle, Scotland, that was restored and controversially painted in the 1990s using 17th-century colours. The paint was later removed, and the lines re-engraved. The author expresses concern that the dial's current location at Jodrell Bank Observatory is unknown, raising questions about the preservation and tracking of historical sundials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2011 page 47
Sue Manston
John Ingram
Nick Nicholls
Frank King
John Foad
Anthony Turner

Readers’ Letters

This section contains letters from readers discussing various sundial topics. These include formulae for horizontal shadow length, a query about the oldest scientific sundial in the British Isles, sundials in family crests, proposed organisational changes within the BSS, and the historical transmission of scratch dials and water-clock functionality. It highlights ongoing member engagement and research interests.
Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members, Mottoes

March 2010 page 42
John Foad

The Noel Ta’Bois Fixed Dial Archive

An overview of the photographic archive of Noel Ta'Bois, an early sundial enthusiast. The archive contains around 1,500 slides of fixed dials from the 1980s, which form a valuable record in the Society's collection and have helped identify unrecorded dials.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2010 page 47
John Foad

Mystery Dials

A request for help in identifying three sundials from an unidentified roll of film found in the Noel Ta'Bois archive. The images include a substantial octagonal dial, another photographed from a moving car, and a canted dial in a gable.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical

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

March 2008 page 16
John Foad

The Swear-Box Sundial

This article recounts the legend of Sir Henry Yule, a Bengal Engineer in the 1840s, who, vexed by his own temper and his native workmen's unpunctuality, fined himself two rupees each time he lost his temper. He used the accumulated money to erect a 'handsome' sundial at Roorkee to teach the locals the value of time.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 30
John Foad

The Hole Park Cary Dial

Describes a Cary dial in Hole Park, Kent, which was stolen but later recovered from an antique shop thanks to photographs. The recovery highlights the importance of documentation for proving ownership of valuable sundials.
Historical Dials

June 2008 page 88
John Foad

Lutyens’ Vertical Sundials

This article explores vertical sundials designed by architect Edwin Lutyens for his gardens and houses, including examples at The Salutation, The Pleasaunce, Overstrand Hall, Tigbourne Court, Hampstead Garden Suburb, Greywalls, and Mothecombe. It highlights his meticulous design, integration with architecture, and use of specific mottoes and materials.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2007 page 96
John Foad

‘Sundial Notes’ calendar

This entry presents a page from Nellie Stearns Goodloe's 1893 Sun-Dial Notes calendar, featuring a sundial from Kells, Co Meath, Ireland. It notes the calendar is correct for 2007 and mentions a fuller note on the book will appear later.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

March 2005 page 36
John Foad

An Ecliptic Calendar Dial

Introduces a novel ecliptic-aligned sundial for direct solar date indication on a linear scale. Describes aligning the dial plane with the ecliptic, date scale calibration, equation of date application, and improved prism-based design. Demonstrates lunar path visualization and usage for sun compass orientation.
Dials: Unusual, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2004 page 172
John Foad

Church tower horizontal sundials

Survey and technical notes on horizontal sundials placed on church towers for regulating the church clock
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2003 page 33
John Foad

To Estimate the Declination of a Dial

Method for determining the declination of a sundial using shadow observations and calculations, useful for dating or assessing alignment.
How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2003 page 85
John Foad

The Poor Man's Dyal

An article based on a historical text about a specific type of portable ring sundial. It provides a detailed account and instructions on how to use it, emphasizing its historical significance and practicality.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

December 2003 page 153
John Foad

Thomas Hogben

Biographical article about Thomas Hogben, an 18th-century Kent dial maker, exploring his work and its technical and historical context.
Historical Dials

March 2002 page 17
John Foad

A Derivation of the Equation of Time

Accessible derivation of the EoT formula using orbital eccentricity and axial tilt, with historical and mathematical context.
Equation of Time, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2002 page 71
John Foad

An Unusual Indoor Sundial

Report on a sundial situated on a church windowsill in Dartford, Kent.
Dials: Unusual

December 2002 page 156
John Foad

Tenterden Time

Discussion of a historic vertical dial in Tenterden and its restoration, with background on local timekeeping and recent dial condition.
Historical Dials

June 2001 page 82
John Foad

The Laid Dial and the Rain Dial

John Foad proposes new categories for sundials designed to prevent rain accumulation: the "Laid Dial," a reclining dial with an "Angle of Lie," and the "Rain Dial", featuring a conical raised centre. He discusses the practical advantages of these forms in preserving dial plates and enhancing readability, and the pleasing play on words.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout