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Historical Dials

Historical Dials

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 2
Maciej Lose

Samuel Saunders. A study of a London sundial maker. Pt. 1

This article investigates three London instrument makers named Samuel Saunders from the first half of the 18th century, with no direct family or professional relationships. It focuses on attributing gnomonic instruments to the correct maker through comparative analysis of signatures and engraving styles, and discusses specific horizontal dials.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 8
Mario Arnaldi

The Canterbury Pendant. Part 2: Relationships with the Libellus’ rule

This second part of the article investigates the Canterbury pendant, a 10th-century portable sundial. It compares its graphic layout with the Libellus de mensura horologii and the Roman cylinder dial of Este, exploring the use of two gnomons for different seasons and their relationship to hour curves.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

March 2012 page 13
Frank Coe

A.P. Herbert put to the test

The author tests A.P. Herbert's idea of using a sundial "in reverse" for navigation during a flight to Australia in 1975. He describes making his own "sun clock" and recounts an encounter with a pilot familiar with Francis Chichester's navigation methods, highlighting the practical challenges of such a device.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout, DIY Sundial Projects, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 14
Mike Cowham

The Dials of Saint-Hippolyte-Du-Fort, France

This article describes a walking tour of the 23 (or more) sundials in Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, France. It highlights attractive examples, including an equatorial dial, a church dial, and several made by local ceramic artist C. TINGAUD, noting features like 24-hour systems and Provençal mottoes.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, 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

March 2012 page 27
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 21: Lewes, East Sussex

This entry features an undated postcard (c.1930) of a spherical dial at Lewes Castle. It references "The Book of Sun-Dials" (1900) which describes the broken and mended stone ball, noting its unknown history and questioning its current existence.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 28
Dennis Cowan

Apparent Longitude Problems with some Scottish Sundials

This article investigates "longitude problems" on Scottish sundials from 1877-1913, including those by famous architects. The author discovers that the inscribed "longitude" is actually the time difference from Greenwich, making it more user-friendly for time telling and correcting previous assumptions about design errors.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 30
Malcolm Bishop

Gillot and Fragonard: two eighteenth century French artists’ conceptions of ball sundials

This article discusses two 18th-century French artworks depicting ball sundials: Claude Gillot’s etching for a fable and Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s painting "Rêverie." It argues that while artistically unrealistic, these dials serve a narrative purpose by precisely indicating time to convey moral or emotional messages within their respective contexts.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2012 page 36
Chris H. K. Williams

English Reformation and Protestant Scratch Dials of the 16th & 17th Centuries

This article examines how English church dials changed during the Reformation, contrasting the colorful, symbolic Catholic 360° dials with the minimalistic, functional Protestant 180° and 90° scratch dials. It uses dial data to inform historical debate on the pace and spread of Protestantism across England.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

March 2012 page 39
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2011

This article reports on sundial sales and auction results from 2011, noting strong sales for higher-quality dials despite a depressed market. It details several interesting pieces, including a stone polyhedral dial, ivory diptych dials, equinoctial ring dials, quadrants, and a double horizontal dial.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2012 page 42
Peter I. Drinkwater
Tony Wood
John Moir

Readers’ Letters

This section features letters from readers discussing various sundial topics. Peter Drinkwater discusses dial transmission and an Islamic scratch dial. Tony Wood offers insights into the progress of "scientific" sundials. John Moir describes "Suburban Reflections" from his front garden.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2012 page 43
David Brown

The Scaphe Sundial at Hever Castle, Kent

This article details the author’s investigation into the enigmatic scaphe dial at Hever Castle, often called the "Roman" sundial. It discusses its historical background, previous examinations by Ward and Vaughan, and the author's measurements and analysis, concluding it is likely an unworkable dial despite its ancient appearance.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe

June 2012 page 2
Allan A. Mills

Gaocheng Calendrical Observatory, China

This article details the historical Gaocheng Calendrical Observatory in China, focusing on its construction in 1276 AD by Guo Shoujing, its role in calendrical observations for the Yuan Dynasty, and its design principles for measuring solstices and equinoxes using a monumental gnomon. It also describes the 'shadow-definer' device used for accuracy and the methods for orientation and timekeeping.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2012 page 8
Maciej Lose

Samuel Saunders. A study of a London sundial maker – Part 2

This is the second part of a study on London sundial makers named Samuel Saunders. It identifies and attributes several equinoctial ring dials, a Butterfield dial, a plane table, and other instruments based on distinctive engraving styles and features.
Dials: Portable, 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 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

June 2012 page 18
Kuno Gross
Malcolm Barnfield

Sonnenkompass 41

This addendum describes the German Sonnenkompass 41, issued to the Sonderkommando Dora unit in North Africa during WWII. Based on an analemmatic sundial, it featured removable dial plates for different latitudes and seasons, including German Summer Time adjustments. Despite its design, field reports deemed it unsuitable for desert use due to gnomon issues, leading to its obscurity.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 22
David Le Conte

The Brunson Universal Sun Compass

This article describes the Brunson Universal Sun Compass (Model 7637B), an elaborate US Army instrument developed in the 1950s. Its innovations included usability at all latitudes and a clockwork mechanism to counteract Earth's rotation, making it a valuable complement to magnetic/gyro-compasses for true azimuth determination in navigation and surveying.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 30
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 22 – Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow

This entry discusses a postcard depicting a sundial at Powerscourt's Italian Garden in Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow. The sundial, declining 50° E, bears the motto 'Horas Non Numero Nisi Serenas' (I only mark the sunny hours) and is listed in the Register as SRN 3933, showing hours only from 5am to 1pm.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

June 2012 page 31
Dennis Cowan

In the Footsteps of Thomas Ross. Pt. 1. Scotland’s Oldest Sundials – the forerunners to lectern dials?

This article is the first part of a quest to track down and photograph sundials identified by Thomas Ross in his late 19th-century work. It focuses on Scotland's oldest dials, specifically three 16th-century examples at Cockburnspath, Oldhamstocks, and Seton Palace, and a fourth at Fogo, all similar in type and potentially forerunners to lectern dials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2012 page 36
Ortwin Feustel

Ivory Sundials of Nuremberg Incorporating a Scaphe Sundial

This article analyses the scaphe sundial component found in Nuremberg ivory diptych sundials. It uses vectorial representation and measured photographic distances to determine the intended latitude for three examples, concluding that Reinmann and Miller's scaphes were likely designed for 49° latitude, and Lesel's for 48°, primarily for Nuremberg.
Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2012 page 42
Mike Cowham

Latitude Determination using an Equinoctial Ring Dial

This article describes Gabriel Stokes' innovative 1735 design for equinoctial ring dials, which incorporated a direct readout declination scale for latitude determination. By setting the suspension point to the correct solar declination for the day, travellers could directly read their geographical latitude, simplifying a process that traditionally required calculations.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2012 page 44
Jérôme Bonnin

The Dial from the ‘Palais Farnèse’: Roman or Modern?

This article investigates a spherical sundial in the 'Palais Farnèse', Rome, questioning its Roman origin due to its perfect state of conservation and lack of gnomon hole. It hypothesises the dial is an 18th or 19th-century copy of a Roman original, potentially with a symbolic rather than functional purpose related to the palace's 'Trophées Farnèse' compositions about Time.
Dials: Scaphe, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2012 page 48
Chris Lusby Taylor

BSS Conference, Cheltenham, 13-15 April 2012

This report summarises the British Sundial Society's annual conference in Cheltenham. It covers various talks including Allan Mills on the Gaocheng Observatory, Kevin Karney on sundial software, Johan Wikander on Norwegian horizontal dials, and presentations by David Brown and Tony Moss on their dial designs. The conference also featured a discussion forum on the Society's future and a tour of local dials.
DIY Sundial Projects, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

September 2012 page 2
Daniel Brown

A Standing Stone and its Possible Astronomical Alignment—Using seasonal shadow and light displays in the Neolithic

This article examines a 2-metre tall triangular monolith at Gardom’s Edge, Peak District, suggesting it was intentionally erected and astronomically aligned in the late Neolithic/early Bronze Age. It highlights how the stone's north-facing side would be illuminated during the summer, serving as a seasonal marker for ancient communities.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2012 page 6
Peter I. Drinkwater

Reader’s Letter

A letter speculating on the origins of the Hever Castle Dial, proposing it was a Sicilian-modelled Roman sundial made for a Northern European patron.
Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

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 15
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 23—Churchill, Somerset

This entry describes a multi-dial sundial located at the Sidney Hill Cottage Homes in Churchill, Somerset, dating from 1907. It notes that the dial is situated within private grounds, making it inaccessible to the public, and speculates on the presence of east, north, and west dials based on an old postcard from 1929.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

September 2012 page 16
Dennis Cowan

In the Footsteps of Thomas Ross. Part 2: The sundials at Craigiehall

This article details two sundials at Craigiehall: a 4-metre high obelisk dial, restored in 1965 after being found in fragments, and a horizontal brass dial by John England, dating from 1702-1714. The obelisk is unique due to an 18th-century globe base, while the horizontal dial features an Equation of Time table and armorial devices.
Dials: Multi Faced, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2012 page 19
Tony Wood

Cathedral Mass Dials

The article discusses the scarcity of mass dials in larger towns and on ruins of abbeys and priories, noting only two found on cathedrals so far, both in Yorkshire: one on York Minster and another inside Sheffield Cathedral. It describes the Sheffield Cathedral's mass dial and a larger, now largely hidden, scientific dial beneath the clock.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass 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 29
Geoffrey Lane

The Tyttenhanger Sundial

This article details the rediscovery of a mid-17th century glass sundial at Tyttenhanger mansion, Hertfordshire, designed for Sir Henry Blount's arms and a 13-14 degree declination. It bears the motto "Lumen Umbra Dei" and is compared to similar dials by John Oliver, suggesting Oliver as its likely maker despite earlier attributions to Henry Gyles.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

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 2
Peter Kunath

Lost And Found: The Long Journey Of An Unusual Sundial

This article details the history and journey of a Henry Moore sundial, from its 1965 commission for The Times in London to its re-alignment in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany. It covers the creation of models, its sale, damage, recovery after theft in 2012, and precise re-installation, highlighting its remarkable travels and survival.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 5
Tony Wood

Haddon Hall Horizontal Dial

The article describes a 1591 horizontal sundial from Haddon Hall, Derbyshire, now in the Hall museum. Likely made by a clockmaker to regulate an early clock, the 300mm diameter dial displays hours and half-hours with its delineation origin correctly centred, correcting a historical misrepresentation in a previous sketch.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

December 2012 page 6
Dennis Cowan

In The Footsteps Of Thomas Ross: Part 3: The Sundials Of James Gifford

This third part traces sundials attributed to 17th-century Scottish stonemason James Gifford, following Thomas Ross's research. It examines various cube-and-sphere dials in West Linton and Newhall House, as well as the intricate multi-faceted dial at Lennoxlove, detailing their designs, numerals, and historical context within the Scottish Borders region.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 9
J. P. Lester

Blemish Or Blessing?

This article discusses lichens on stone sundials, defining them as symbiotic organisms and classifying their external forms. It explores their slow growth, substrate preferences, reproduction, and sensitivity to pollution. The author considers whether lichens enhance antiquity or are a disfigurement, touching on removal methods for restorers.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2012 page 12
Mike Cowham

The Equatorial Dials Of Kloppenburgh & Cremer

The article examines unusual 18th-century equatorial dials by Gerhard Kloppenburgh and Gerhard Cremer, made of gold-plated brass. It details their summer and winter sides, including hour lines, zodiac signs, and global noon times. The author discusses peculiar reversed Roman numerals, possible origins in northern Germany, and an anomaly in numeral thickness.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 17
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 24: St Peter’s, Bexhill, East Sussex

This entry discusses an undated postcard featuring a Dolland sundial in St Peter's churchyard, Bexhill, recorded as missing its gnomon. The image, by A. D. Hellier (1909-1938), shows the gnomon and an intriguing arc above it, raising questions about its purpose—whether support, another dial, or for raising the stone.
Dials: Vertical, 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 21
Dennis Cowan

The Strangest Place For A Sundial?

The article describes a 6ft high red sandstone cubic sundial atop an 8ft standing stone north of Luncarty, Perth & Kinross. Situated in a field, the dial's numerals and hour lines are indistinct, but gnomon holes are visible. Its century-long presence and origins remain a mystery.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2012 page 22
Jackie Jones

North-Facing Mass Dials

This article discusses mass dials on the north side of churches, specifically at Litlington and Firle in East Sussex. While a south-facing dial at Litlington is an early scientific dial, two north-facing mass dials, initially puzzling, were observed to work perfectly for evening use in summer, suggesting intentional placement.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

December 2012 page 23
Shaul Adam
Jérôme Bonnin

Mapping Greco-Roman Sundials Using GIS

This article details a project to map over 500 excavated Greco-Roman sundials across the Roman Empire using GIS. It describes georeferencing historical maps, digitising province boundaries, and creating a database to display sundials by location, type, shape, and period, thereby analysing them in their geographic context.
Sundial Design & Layout, 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

December 2012 page 34
Malcolm Barnfield

The Restoration Of A 19th Century Noon Cannon Sundial

This article describes the restoration of a 19th-century Negretti & Zambra noon cannon sundial. The author recreated missing brass parts, noting design anomalies like incorrect latitude calibration and an inappropriate date scale. The true maker and date remain uncertain, highlighting the common practice of firms selling goods made by others.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2012 page 36
Val Cowham
Leonard Honey
M Butson
Janet Jenkins
Doug Bateman
David Payne

BSS Sundial Safari To Catalonia, 13–18 September 2012

This report details the British Sundial Society's 2012 safari to Catalonia, covering visits to numerous sundials across Girona, Cabrils, Figueres, Barcelona, and other towns. Members explored diverse dials, including modern pillar dials, Salvador Dali's carved stone dial, multi-faceted and unusual museum pieces, showcasing the region's rich gnomonic heritage.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2012 page 40
Tony Wood
Johan Wikander

The Celtic Quartet Re-Visited And Augmented

This article revisits the Celtic Quartet of medieval mass dials, noting their unusual carving on separate stones. It introduces a newly discovered, similar slate dial from Vardøhus, Norway, dated 1480–1550, expanding the Quartet to six or seven examples and highlighting historical maritime trade connections between the regions where these dials are found.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

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 2
Harriet James

The Restoration of the Sundial at Stutton Hall, Suffolk

This article details the restoration of a Tudor sundial at Stutton Hall in Suffolk. It covers the history of the house and dial, archaeological findings suggesting its originality, and the methods used for cleaning, realigning the gnomon, and repainting based on known Tudor designs.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2011 page 5

A Polyhedral Dial

This entry briefly describes the multiple dial at Mount Melville, Scotland, identifying it as a rhombic cubo-octahedron rotated by 45 degrees, based on information from Gatty.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2011 page 6
Jérôme Bonnin

Symbolic Meanings of Sundials in Antiquity. Introduced by an Explanation of Ancient Timekeepers

This article explores the symbolic meanings of sundials in antiquity, drawing on literary and epigraphical evidence from the Greco-Roman world. It also introduces ancient timekeepers, including clepsydra and various types of horologia, and discusses the differences between Greek and Roman dials.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 12
Walter Hofmann

Seven Dials. The Investigations of an Austrian Tourist

An Austrian tourist investigates the mystery of London's 'Seven Dials' monument. The article details the history of the area, the original Doric pillar with six sundials erected in 1693/94, its removal in 1773, its relocation to Weybridge, and the eventual erection of a new column with seven dials in 1989.
Dials: Multi Faced, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 14

Queen Mary’s Dial

This entry briefly mentions the Holyrood Palace dial (SRN 1490), dating from 1633 and made by John Mylne, noting its basis on an icosahedron, a Platonic solid with 20 identical faces.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 15
Tony Wood

A Sundial and its Provenance

This article describes an equatorial sundial at Weston-under-Penyard, initially believed to be 17th-century due to its inscription. The author's investigation, including a 1932 sales receipt and a Christie's report, reveals it was made by Pearson Page in the early 20th century, highlighting the importance of provenance.
Dials: Equatorial, 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 22
Frans W. Maes

A Reconstruction of Ludwig Hohenfeld’s 1596 Polyhedral Sundial

This article describes the reconstruction of Ludwig Hohenfeld’s 1596 polyhedral sundial, a 26-sided rhombic cubo-octahedron, using distorted photographs and image editing software. It details the process of rectifying the faces and analyzing the sundials inscribed on them to estimate the design latitude.
Dials: Multi Faced, Sundial Design & Layout, Construction Projects, DIY Sundial Projects, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 27
Klaus Eichholz

The History and Symbolism of Ludwig Hohenfeld’s 1596 Polyhedral Sundial

This article delves into the history of Ludwig Hohenfeld’s 1596 polyhedral sundial, identifying the maker and recipient (Prince Johann Friedrich of Württemberg). It also explores the rich symbolism of the images and maxims on the dial's faces, which convey themes of time and education.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2011 page 31
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 19—Corhampton, Hampshire

This entry describes a Saxon dial on Corhampton Church, Hampshire, one of four similar octaval dials in the area. The author wonders if they were products of a regional sundial-making business, noting their division of the day into eight periods based on tides.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 36
Chris H. K. Williams

English Scratch (Mass) Dials: The Ravages of Time Revisited

This article revisits previous estimates of scratch dial loss, incorporating dial age structure to provide more precise understanding of historical and future loss dynamics. It analyzes the impact of rebuilding and weathering, noting weathering's increasing dominance over time and the implications for conservation.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

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

March 2011 page 41
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2010

This article reviews notable sundials and related instruments sold at auction in 2010, including a silver pocket compass dial by Richard Glynne, a double inclining string gnomon dial by Jacques Le Maire, Japanese scaphe dials, and an ivory and silver compass dial by Elias Allen.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 45
Tony Wood

Examine Your Dials

This article highlights three 'unique' sundials found in a collection of photographs, encouraging readers to identify similar features. It discusses a two-faced prism dial, a vertical dial with a bent gnomon, and a direct south dial with an unusual inscription, emphasizing the individuality of pre-mass production dials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2011 page 46
Peter Ransom

Polyhedral Ramblings

The author discusses the calculation of angles for polyhedral dials, drawing on historical texts like William Leybourn’s 'Dialling'. It covers Platonic and Archimedean solids, methods for finding dihedral angles, and illustrates how these concepts can be applied to sundial construction.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

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 13
Tony Wood

War Memorial Dials

This article discusses the discrepancy in the number of war memorial sundials identified by the British Sundial Society and the Imperial War Museum. It applies a probability theorem to estimate the number of unfound dials and lists several previously unrecorded examples in churches.
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

June 2011 page 20
Malcolm Barnfield

The Sundial Goes to War: Part 1

This article explores the military use of solar compasses, particularly during World War II, for navigation in unmapped desert terrains. It describes several models, including the Burt, Abrams, Cole Universal, Bagnold, and Union Observatory sun compasses, highlighting their principles and operational advantages.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

June 2011 page 25
Dennis Cowan

Readers’ Letters

This letter provides additional information on Scottish polyhedral dials, specifically clarifying the history of Queen Mary’s Dial at Holyrood Palace and providing an update on the Mount Melville Multiple Dial's restoration plans after its removal for safekeeping.
Dials: Multi Faced, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

June 2011 page 26
Jackie Jones

A Dial to Travel With

This note describes the discovery of the 'missing' John Rowley azimuth dial from Blenheim Palace, which was identified on a new passport design. It details the dial's distinctive features and its reinstallation in 2008.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members, Dials: Double Horizontal

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 36
Peter I. Drinkwater

The Ecclesiastical ‘Scratch Dial’ as a Serious Timekeeper

This article argues that medieval 'scratch dials' were serious timekeepers, not just symbolic. It describes their basic form, historical context of temporal hours, and connections to early Church observances and Islamic prayer times, asserting their utility at high latitudes.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

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

June 2011 page 48
Robert Ovens

Restoring the Sundial at St Nicholas’ Church, Leicester

This article describes the restoration of a 1738 vertical declining Swithland slate sundial at St Nicholas’ Church, Leicester. It details the process of in-situ gilding of the numerals and lines, using specific materials and techniques for durability, and notes a previous gnomon replacement in 1896.
Dials: Vertical, 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

June 2011 page 54
Malcolm Bishop

The Great Amwell Scottish Renaissance Obelisk Dial Boss. Part 1. Reading a Scottish renaissance sundial boss

This article describes the discovery and analysis of a 17th-century Scottish polyhedral sundial boss found in Hertfordshire. It establishes the boss's authenticity, its Mylne family provenance, and uses geometric analysis and inscriptions (Acra, Tangier) to date it before 1684, suggesting it's a significant missing link.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

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 10
Malcolm Barnfield

The Sundial Goes To War. Part 2

This is the second part of an article exploring the use of sundials and solar compasses in military contexts. It describes instruments like the Marean-Kielhorn Director, Howard Sun Compass, Evans-Lombe, Richards, and Micklethwait sun compasses used by Allied forces. It also details German sun compasses, particularly the C. Plath device used by Rommel's Afrika Korps, and the astrocompass, discussing their applications and limitations in wartime navigation.
Dials: Portable, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 15
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 20—English Harbour, Antigua

This short article shares a postcard of a low-angle sundial at English Harbour, Antigua, previously discussed by John Davis. The author notes that the postcard, likely from the 1970s, offers another view of this dial, and references a related article about another low-latitude dial.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 16
Allan A. Mills

Ancient Egyptian Sundials

This article reviews ancient Egyptian timekeeping, debunking obelisks as gnomons and a Cairo Museum artifact as a sundial. It focuses on the ‘sloping’ or ‘inclined plane’ portable, seasonal-hour altitude dials, such as the Qantara dial, and earlier L-shaped 'shadow sticks' from the New Kingdom, discussing their construction, use, and the challenges in interpreting their time-telling functions.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2011 page 20
Chris H. K. Williams

English Mass & Scratch Dials c.1250–c.1650 Combining statistical and religious evidence

This article examines the evolution of English mass and scratch dials between c.1250 and c.1650, linking changes in their appearance to the Reformation. It argues that understanding these dials requires interpreting them within their contemporaneous religious and iconographic contexts, highlighting the dramatic shift from elaborate Catholic church decoration to Protestant minimalism, which significantly impacted dial design around 1500.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2011 page 22
Tony Wood

The Coronation Dial at Painswick

This article describes a souvenir Coronation dial in Painswick, commemorating King George VI's coronation in May 1937. The bronze garden dial, 8 inches in diameter, features a gnomon of 52° and the royal coat of arms. Its location at The Royal Oak pub and its 74-year survival are noted, along with the author's personal challenges in photographing it.
Dials: Horizontal, 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 24
Malcolm Bishop

The Great Amwell Scottish Renaissance Obelisk Dial Boss. Part 2: The Facet record

This article, the second part of an examination of the Great Amwell Scottish Renaissance Obelisk Dial Boss, details the archaeological record and incised marks found on its planar and scaphe dial facets. It identifies ten types of marks, including hour lines, solstice/equinox lines, numerals, and place names, discussing the sophisticated design and stonecutting, and determining an optimum latitude of around 55.5° N.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 28
Frank Evans

BSS Annual Conference, Wyboston Lakes, 29 April–1 May 2011

This report summarises the British Sundial Society's highly successful 2011 annual conference at Wyboston Lakes, attended by nearly 20% of its members. It covers various presentations, including Allan Mills on sun's position, Tony Moss on dial manufacture, Johan Wikander on a Norwegian soapstone dial, Fred Sawyer on Jean Picard's large dial layouts, and John Davis on the diffusion of scientific dials.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

September 2011 page 36
Peter Ransom

Another West Indies Dial?

Peter Ransom discusses a 9-inch brass horizontal dial, signed 'Parnell, London,' which he acquired online. The dial, optimized for a latitude of approximately 16.05° N (suggesting a potential link to Guadeloupe), features hours from 6 am to 6 pm, half and quarter-hour marks, and a central compass rose. The gnomon was detached upon acquisition and later restored.
Dials: Horizontal, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

September 2011 page 37
Michael Lowne
Chris H. K. Williams
Peter I. Drinkwater
David A. Young

Readers’ Letters

This section compiles several letters from readers. Michael Lowne provides a complex formula for calculating shadow length from gnomon angle. Chris Williams praises Peter Drinkwater's article on scratch dials, linking them to medieval manuscripts. Peter Drinkwater responds on the transmission of scratch dial technology and the function of water clocks. David Young corrects a historical detail about BSS conference venues.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, The BSS and Members

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 2
Mario Arnaldi

The Canterbury Pendant. Part 1: A New Insight from an Ancient Rule for Making Portable Altitude Dials

This article summarises the author's attempt to create a clear and correct edition of an ancient text, previously attributed to Bede, on constructing an altitude dial. The findings provide new insight into the famous ‘Canterbury pendant’ and suggest it was made more correctly than previously believed. The text describes a pendant altitude dial, possibly hexagonal, working like a cylinder dial, with specific dimensions and a calendar system.
Construction Projects, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

December 2011 page 10
Val Cowham
Jane Walker
David Hindle
Kate Hindle
Robert Sylvester
Geoff Parsons

The BSS Sundial Safari to Le Mans, France. 7-11 September 2011

This report covers the British Sundial Society's 2011 safari to the Sarthe and Perche regions of France, based in Le Mans. The group visited various sundials, historical sites, and chateaux, including a specific mean-time dial in Le Mans and other vertical and mass dials in surrounding villages. The trip offered cultural experiences and opportunities to meet fellow enthusiasts.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2011 page 14
Valery Dmitriev

Sundial Festival at the Gatchina Palace, St Petersburg

This article reports on a sundial festival at Gatchina Palace, St Petersburg, which included the unveiling of a replica historical sundial and an exhibition. The replica dial indicates true solar time according to 18th-century standards, based on historical photos and other archival material for restoration. The event celebrated the return of the sundial to its historical place after almost 80 years.
Sundial Design & Layout, Restoration projects, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2011 page 16
Stefano Barbolini
Giovanni Garofalo
Guido Dresti
Rosario Mosello

The Sundial of the Certosa of Florence (Tuscany, Italy) Restored to Working Condition

This article details the restoration of a pinhole sundial at the Certosa of Florence. The meridian line served as a calendar and true local noon marker. Investigations revealed inconsistencies, leading to the conclusion that the dial correctly determined the spring equinox, vital for calculating Easter, reflecting its religious institution setting. Historical interventions, possibly by astronomer G.B. Donati, are also discussed.
Dials: Noon Lines, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2011 page 22
J. P. Lester

A Stump-work Dial

This short piece describes a stump-work mirror frame from about 1650 in Montacute House, Somerset, which features an image appearing to be a declining west sundial. It possibly represents a dial found on the house itself. Little else is known about this embroidered dial, highlighting an unusual artistic representation of a sundial.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2011 page 23
Michael J. Harley

New Dials

This article describes a newly erected 180 cm high granite sundial in the Irish National Heritage Park, Ferrycarrig, weighing over 2 tonnes. Modelled on ancient monastic sundials, its temporal lines were designed to mark canonical prayer times rather than passing hours. Only twelve such ancient monastic sundials survive, making this reconstruction an important addition.
Construction Projects, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Unusual, 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 29
Chris H. K. Williams

Medieval Catholic English Mass Dials of the 14th and 15th Centuries

This article explores the original appearance and symbolic meaning of medieval Catholic mass dials, arguing they were vibrantly coloured and rich in symbolism, unlike their current monochrome remnants. It suggests symbolism, such as the sun representing God's light or 360-degree dials signifying day and night, was often more important than time indication, reflecting the deep religious context of the era.
Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

December 2011 page 38
Dennis Cowan

The Newstead Sundials

This article describes the author's quest to find and document sundials in Newstead, Scotland, following Thomas Ross's 19th-century account. It details several discoveries, including a cube dial, a semi-cylindrical dial, and other single-faced dials, some in private gardens, highlighting their historical significance and the challenges of locating them. The search continues for missing dials or fragments.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

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

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

December 2011 page 50
Frank Coe

BSS Newbury Meeting – 24 September 2011

This report details the British Sundial Society's Newbury meeting, featuring talks on topics such as a metal-detected Norfolk horologium, ceiling reflection dials, leap years and calendars, repairing old books, lifting heavy sundials, war memorial dials, and heliochronometers. Exhibits included a cross dial and an equation of time analogue computer, showcasing a diverse range of gnomonic interests.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Dials: Reflected, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2010 page 2
Simone Bartolini
Marco Pierozzi

The Restoration of Egnazio Danti’s Astronomical Quadrant on the Santa Maria Novella Basilica in Florence

Describes the history and function of Egnazio Danti's 1572 astronomical quadrant in Florence. It details the five systems of time measurement it displayed and outlines the methodology used to re-compute the missing gnomons for a modern restoration and the creation of a working copy.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2010 page 9
Peter Baxandall

Book Review

A review of the BSS monograph 'The Double Horizontal Dial - and associated instruments' by J. Davis & M. Lowne. The book covers the history, geometry, design, manufacture, and engraving of double horizontal dials, horizontal instruments, and horizontal quadrants from the 17th century onwards.
Book Reviews, Dials: Double Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2010 page 11

Archibald Handasyde

A brief note about the dial maker Archibald Handasyde of Fishberrow, who made a dial for Inveresk church, Midlothian, in 1735. The piece notes he is credited with several other dials and would be worthy of further research.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2010 page 13
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 15—Marsh Court, Stockbridge, Hampshire

Features a Pilkington & Gibbs heliochronometer at Marsh Court, Stockbridge, Hampshire, as seen on a postcard postmarked 1916. The article provides details about the heliochronometer and the history of Marsh Court, which served as a hospital during World War I.
Historical Dials, Dials: Heliochronometer

March 2010 page 14
Chris H. K. Williams

The English Scratch & Mass Dial Era: Origins to c.1250

Discusses the challenges of studying early English mass dials due to limited surviving evidence, with only about 50 Saxon dials recorded. It argues that the predominance of timber for early churches means most dials were wooden and have not survived, proposing a hypothesis of near-universal dial use.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

March 2010 page 18
Mike Cowham

The Dial Designed for Church Street, Sheffield, by E A Pippet

Explores the notebook of E.A. Pippet, detailing his original 1895 design for a west-declining vitreous enamel sundial for Cairns Chambers, Sheffield. It compares the design to the more modern stone dial currently on the building, which has a different declination.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2010 page 20
David Payne

Holiday Sightings (1)

A brief travel report on two noon-mark sundials found in Spoleto, Umbria, Italy. One is located in the park of the Villa Pianciani Delizia and another, similar one at the Villa Redenta. Both are described as being in need of restoration.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

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

March 2010 page 28
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2009

A review of sundials sold at auction in 2009. Notable items include a gilt brass compendium by Charles Whitwell dated 1608, a Panorganon by Joseph Wells, a Gunter's quadrant by Henry Wynne, and a silver Butterfield dial by Pierre le Maire.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

March 2010 page 32
Peter Ransom

Sundial Slides for Magic Lanterns

Discusses a collection of old magic lantern slides and glass negatives featuring sundials. The collection includes images of Dial Cottage at Seaton Ross, the multifaceted dial at Holyrood Palace from circa 1880, and a dial at Trinity College, Cambridge.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

March 2010 page 34
E. Th. Theodossiou
V. N. Manimanis

The Only ‘Mass Dial’ in Greece

Describes what is believed to be the only mass dial in Greece, on the 12th-century Byzantine church in Chonikas. The dial likely dates to the early 17th century and is accompanied by carved inscriptions marking total solar eclipses in 1661 and 1760.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

March 2010 page 37
Robert Sylvester

Holiday Sightings (3)

A photo feature of three dials on an obelisk at the Monastery of the Holy Trinity of Saint Sergius Lavra, near Moscow. The east-facing dial has declination lines for zodiac signs, while the west-facing dial shows the hours of daylight.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2010 page 38
Malcolm Barnfield

The Voortrekker Monument, Pretoria, South Africa

Describes how the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria functions as a timekeeper. An aperture in the dome allows a ray of sunlight to illuminate a cenotaph at Local Solar Noon on 16th December each year, commemorating the 1838 Battle of Blood River.
Dials: Unusual, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

March 2010 page 41
Tony Wood
Jill Wilson

West Indies Dials in Gloucestershire

Describes two 18th-century horizontal sundials, now in Gloucestershire, originally made for West Indies plantations. One by John Fowler was designed for St Kitts (17.5° latitude) and the other by his apprentice Henry Gregory for a latitude of around 13°.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

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 46
Peter Ransom

Question 87 from The Ladies’ Diary

A follow-up to a previous article about dialling questions in 'The Ladies' Diary'. This piece presents the published solution to Question 87 from 1790, which asked for the area of the curve traced by a gnomon's tip on the winter solstice.
Mathematics of Dialling, 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 13
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 16: Lake Annecy, France

This article features a postcard from 1908 depicting the impressive multiple-dialled structure, L'Unique, on the banks of Lake Annecy, France. Dated 1874 and named in 1876, the dial is credited to Frère Arsène. It features an equatorial dial, multiple gnomons on a 7-pointed star, and various dial plates indicating noon for several European cities and zodiac signs.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

June 2010 page 14
Chris H. K. Williams

English Mass & Scratch Dial Prevalence – a Preliminary Comparison with France

This article presents a preliminary comparison of mass and scratch dial prevalence between England and France, drawing on newly available French mass dial listings. It discusses the 'England different' versus 'England typical' hypotheses and concludes that English findings are of wider European significance at a fundamental and structural level, consistent with the universality and multiplicity of mass dials.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

June 2010 page 16
Irene Brightmer

Sundials and Forts in North Wales

This article explores three instances of sundials located within former fortifications in North Wales. It describes a recently repainted vertical dial on St Cybi’s Church in Holyhead, a modern cast dialplate at St Mary’s churchyard in Caerhun, and a vertical declining dial from 1898 at Fort Belan.
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 24
Mike Cowham

Update on the Tywyn Dial

This article provides an update on the Irish-style dial discovered at Towyn. Originally used as a milestone and later built into Ynysmaengwyn Hall, the dial has now been safely moved from outside the local Tourist Office to St Cadfan’s Church. The article details the process of moving the large stone and its new illuminated position next to the Cadfan Stone.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2010 page 38
Mike Cowham

An Unusual Slate Sundial

This article examines a unique slate dial from 1712, signed 'G B FECIT'. It notes several unusual features, including incorrect gnomon alignments on subsidiary dials, ornate rococo-like decoration, and French origin due to spellings and slate material. The article also highlights a large discrepancy between calculated latitude and gnomon angle, along with various other intriguing engravings like months, zodiac signs, lunar cycles, epacts, and a crest.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2010 page 45
Tony Wood

A Third West Indies Dial

This article introduces a newly discovered West Indies sundial, signed 'DICAS LIVERPOOL' with 'Latt 22°'. The gnomon is missing and the dial is worn, but it is identified as likely from the Turks and Caicos Islands. Research by Jill Wilson and John Davis attributes it to John Dicas (w.1774-1797), a Liverpool scientific instrument maker, or his daughters who ran the business after his death.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2010 page 46
Frauke van der Wall
Gerhard G. Wagner

An Obelisk-Shaped Sundial with Wind Indicator in the Mainfränkisches Museum, Würzburg, Germany

This article describes a unique obelisk-shaped sundial from 1742 in the Mainfränkisches Museum Würzburg. Made of Franconian sandstone, it features 10 sundials and a mechanical wind indicator with a rotating hand connected to a vane by internal gearing. The construction, with dials on inclined surfaces and a Turk's head sculpture, is highly unusual and suggests a learned, wealthy commissioner for an impressive park.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, 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 9
Chris H. K. Williams

Book Review

This is a review of 'Time Reckoning in the Medieval World – A study of Anglo-Saxon and Early Norman Sundials' by D. Scott & M. Cowham. The monograph is praised for its comprehensive cataloguing of 75 early dials and its nuanced approach to their context, challenging previous interpretations of dating and timekeeping systems.
Book Reviews, Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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

September 2010 page 24
Chris H. K. Williams

The Evolution of English Mass & Scratch Dials c.1250-c.1650. Pt. 1: Dial Categorisation

This article addresses the problematic categorisation of English mass and scratch dials from c.1250-c.1650, proposing a new threefold classification (360°, 180°, and 90° dials) based on surviving evidence of scratching and pock marks, intended to reflect genuine differences in original appearance and facilitate statistical analysis.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2010 page 27
Ian R. Butson

A Local Peculiarity

This article describes three scaphe dials found in close proximity in Buckinghamshire: one at All Saints Church, Hillesden (1601); one at The Five Elms pub in Weedon; and another at The Manor House, Creslow. It discusses their designs, orientations, and potential local influence.
Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2010 page 29
Mike Cowham

The Return of Two Dials

This article recounts the recovery and return of two sundials: a pedestal with carved navigational instruments, stolen from Myddelton House and later reunited with a replica dial plate; and an early Celtic sundial from Tywyn, moved inside its church.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects, The BSS and Members

September 2010 page 31
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 17—Stainboro Castle, Barnsley, Yorkshire

This article features a postcard from March 1932 depicting a living sundial with Roman numerals and lines laid out using plants or bushes, located at Wentworth Castle, Stainborough, and seeks information about the initials 'BW' visible on it.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2010 page 35
Edmund Knight

Holiday Sightings

This entry briefly describes a Greco-Roman conical dial at Side, Turkey, made of white marble with day curves for the solstices but unusually lacking those for the equinoxes.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials

September 2010 page 36
Jérôme Bonnin
Tony Wood (transl.)

Timekeepers in Britain, 43-780 AD: Origins, the Roman contribution, and Anglo-Saxon continuity

This article investigates the presence and influence of Roman timekeepers in Britain from 43-780 AD, noting the scarcity of archaeological finds compared to other Roman provinces. It explores historical, cultural, and military evidence, including a mosaic depiction and rudimentary sundial objects, and briefly discusses the obscure origins of Saxon dials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2010 page 40
Maciej Lose

An Unrecorded Silesian Sundial by John Rowley

This article describes an unrecorded octagonal brass horizontal sundial by John Rowley (early 18th century), commissioned for the Neidhardt von Spattenbrunn family in Silesia. It details the dial's features, engraving styles, geographical rings, and discusses the possibility of it being a royal gift, while also comparing its gnomon to one by Thomas Tompion.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2010 page 46
Irene Brightmer

Henry Sephton (1686-1756) – Architect, Mason and Diallist

This article examines Henry Sephton, an 18th-century Liverpool architect and mason, as a significant provincial diallist. It describes several dials attributed to him, including signed double horizontal dials at Croxteth Hall and Knowsley Hall, a horizontal dial at Ince Blundell Hall, vertical dials on churches, and two globe dials, highlighting his characteristic transversals and artistic style.
Dials: Horizontal, Construction Projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

December 2010 page 2
Simone Bartolini
Marco Pierozzi

The Equinoctial Armilla on the Façade of the Santa Maria Novella Basilica, Florence

This article describes the Equinoctial Armilla, built by Egnazio Danti in 1573 on the Santa Maria Novella basilica in Florence. Its purpose was to determine the Equinox time and tropical year length, contributing to calendar reform. The article discusses its historical context, Danti's observations, chronological discrepancies, measurement errors due to the armilla's size, and the instrument's features.
Mathematics of Dialling, 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 12
Doug Bateman

Four Sundials in Adelaide, South Australia

This report details four sundials in Adelaide. It includes the Olde Adelaide Sundial at Carrick Hill House with a unique equation of time reflecting South Australia's time zone, two dials at Seymour College, and an unusual polar meantime dial by Government Astronomer Charles Dodwell in the Pioneer Women’s Memorial Garden.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Polar, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2010 page 17
John Ward
Margaret Folkard
Ron Blum

The Benares (India) Sundial in Three Dimensions

This article discusses the Benares Sundial, one of five equatorial sundial observatories built in India by astronomer prince Sawai Jai Singh II in the 18th century to rectify astrological errors. The authors also describe their work with stereoscopic images and an autocyclostereoscope for viewing 3D images without special glasses, including a 1902 stereograph of the Benares sundial.
Dials: Equatorial, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

December 2010 page 22
A. Galanakis
E. Th. Theodossiou
V. N. Manimanis

The Construction of an Equatorial Sundial with a Reference to Anaximander’s Skiatheron

This article describes the design and construction of an equatorial sundial inspired by Anaximander's 'skiatheron,' aiming to be an operational work of art. Made from matted stainless steel, the dial uses dots instead of Arabic or Roman numerals for a timeless aesthetic. It also details the construction process, including computer design, prototyping, and addressing issues like rust and plate bending.
Construction Projects, Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2010 page 25
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 18: Lochgoilhead, Argyll

This article describes an early colour postcard of the multi-faceted obelisk dial at Lochgoilhead, Argyll, dating from 1696(?). The sandstone structure features initials DHM and SCC, five square panels, and six panels on the finial. The postcard, postmarked 1909, shows it on the lawn in front of ‘The Cottage.’
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

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

December 2010 page 31
Mike Groom

Newbury 2010

This report summarises the British Sundial Society's Newbury Meeting on 25 September 2010, attended by 36 members. It highlights short talks on scientific sundials in Britain, Essex dial restorations, and Devon/Cornwall dials. Exhibits included devices for determining sun direction, reproductions of historical dials, and modern designs.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, The BSS and Members

December 2010 page 33
David Scott

The Perception of Time in Anglo-Saxon England

This article explores how time was perceived and reckoned in Anglo-Saxon England, drawing on surviving sundials and manuscripts. It covers heathen time-reckoning based on natural cycles, the introduction of systematic time-reckoning by Christian missions (including the Julian calendar, horologia, and Canonical Hours), and later monastic and village time-marking methods like shadow-length horologia and mass-dials, which evolved until the advent of mechanical clocks.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

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

December 2010 page 42
Chris H. K. Williams

The Evolution of English Mass & Scratch Dials c. 1250-1650. Pt. 2. Age Ranking Dials by Type

This second part of an article series establishes a method for age-ranking English mass and scratch dials (360°, 180°, and 90° types) from c.1250–c.1650. It uses cross-sectional analysis to demonstrate that 360° dials are the oldest, with their use ending around 1500 in favour of 180° and 90° types. The article also accounts for dial loss and regional adoption variations.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass 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 16
Chris H. K. Williams

The Mass Dials of Continental Europe

This review examines the status of mass dial recording in Continental Europe, noting that while British dials are well-surveyed, Continental efforts have historically been less intensive. It compiles evidence from various countries, highlighting the widespread geographical presence of mass dials, including on Orthodox churches.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass 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 22
Valery Dmitriev

Sundials of St Petersburg

This article explores the history of sundials in St Petersburg, Russia, from the early 18th century. It describes various notable examples, including the armillary sphere on the Kunstkammer, the double sundial on the Menshikov Palace, solar milestones, and dials in Peterhof, Gatchina, Pavlovsk Park, and Demidov’s manors, as well as modern additions.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Dials: Armillary Sphere

March 2009 page 27
Jill Wilson
Tony Wood

Is that a Dial? Barcheston, Warwickshire

This article describes the discovery of a unique sundial carved into the base of a former churchyard cross at Barcheston, Warwickshire. The stonework was trimmed to a 52° slope on the south side, with recessed flat regions revealing traces of hour lines. It is classified as a large horizontal in stone with a notably wide gnomon.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, 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

March 2009 page 32
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings

This article reviews notable sundials and scientific instruments seen in sales throughout 2008. Highlights include an 18th-century horizontal dial by Richard Hintonn, a French silver string gnomon dial, a gilt inclining dial by Chapotot, a rare 16th-century Nuremberg star-shaped polyhedral dial, an ivory diptych dial by Lienhart Miller, a Butterfield universal equinoctial ring dial, and a Gunter quadrant by Nathanaell Heighemore.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 36
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 11: All Saints’ Church, Hillesden, Bucks

This entry describes a scaphe dial carved into a buttress at All Saints' Church, Hillesden, Buckinghamshire, recorded as SRN 5016. The dial is a quarter sphere with a motto and the date "1601 Georg De Fraisne" inscribed. It features full and half-hour divisions and has undergone some restoration since the postcard image.
Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe

March 2009 page 38
David Gauld

The Sundial at Glamis Castle

This article describes the magnificent 21-foot high Glamis Castle sundial in Scotland, tentatively dated around 1683. It is an elaborate obelisk dial featuring 84 time-recording faces, lion dials for cardinal points, and a complex \pineapple\ (stellar rhombicuboctahedron) with numerous declining and reclining faces. The article also discusses its Equation of Time inscription and possible mathematical contributions by James Gregory.
Dials: Multi Faced, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 42
John Baxandall

Jane Austen and a “Small Astronomical Instrument”

This article refers to a letter from Jane Austen to her brother in 1805, mentioning a small astronomical Instrument believed to be a compass and sundial, found among their late father's possessions. The exact type of sundial is unknown, but it highlights the historical significance and potential value of such instruments.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2009 page 43
John Wall

Graveyard and other Memorial Sundials

This article explores sundials used as memorials, discussing their historical significance from Roman times. It details numerous examples, including tombstone dials, pillar-mounted dials in churchyards (e.g., St Mawnan's, Dryburgh Abbey), and war memorials. The article highlights epitaphs, theft incidents, and the symbolic connection between sundials and the passage of time.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Mottoes

June 2009 page 2
Mick Le Moignan

The 67 sundials of Caius Court, Cambridge

An exploration of the sundials at Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge. It details the six dials on the Gate of Honour, a lost fantastical column with 60 dials by the architect Theodore Haveus, and a rediscovered ‘great mural dial’ on the Chapel wall.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 9
Elizabeth Hutchings

Two newly discovered sundials on the Isle of Wight

Describes two horizontal dials found on the Isle of Wight. One is a 7-inch brass dial by Benjamin Cole (c. 1751-1766). The other is a Georgian sundial dated 1735, originally from Swainston Manor, which was purchased at auction in 1985.
Dials: Horizontal, 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 13
Tony Wood

Early east-facing dials

Discusses two potentially very early examples of direct east-facing vertical sundials. One is carved into the stonework of a house in Eydon, Northamptonshire. The other is carved on the church at Great Washbourne, Gloucestershire, and may be the earliest of its type.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 34
Peter Baxandall

A lead domestic windowsill dial

An analysis of a fragmented lead horizontal 'windowsill' sundial found in Dorset. The author reconstructs its likely original octagonal design, discussing its features, numeral conventions, and a possible skewed layout to compensate for magnetic variation, suggesting a date of around 1710.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2009 page 40
Peter Ransom

Postcard potpourri 12—Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, USA

Features a 1909 postcard depicting a horizontal sundial at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, which was dedicated in 1877. The author comments on the dial's pedestal, the surrounding cannonball piles, and a personal connection to the location through a Johnny Cash song.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 2009 page 43
Chris H. K. Williams

The prevalence of English mass (scratch) dials c. 1650—part 1

Establishes a benchmark for the number of mass dials in England around 1650, when their use was at its peak. Using data on surviving dials and estimated loss rates, the author models the original frequency distribution, suggesting there were on average two to three dials per church.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

June 2009 page 46
Roger Bowling

The gravestone of a sundial maker

Identifies the gravestone of Samuel Turner (1716-1784), a shepherd who became a dial-maker and engraver. The slate memorial in Market Harborough, likely self-designed, features an engraved west-facing sundial and tells his life story.
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 9
Tony Wood

Modern mass dials and an experiment with time

Discusses modern scratch dials made since the medieval period for various reasons other than marking mass times. It presents several examples, including a decorative dial in Scotland, a memorial dial in Macclesfield, unusual dials on windowsills on the island of Canna, and the 'Toucan Dial' at Leeds Castle.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2009 page 10
Michael J. Harley

Prehistoric sundials in Ireland

Explores potential prehistoric sundials within the megalithic passage tombs of Brú na Bóinne in Ireland, including Newgrange, Dowth, and Knowth. The article examines specific stone carvings, such as the 'Stone of the Seven Suns' and Kerbstones K7 and K15 at Knowth, discussing theories that they may be sundials or calendars.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2009 page 15
Peter Ransom

Postcard potpourri 13: Rémalard, France

Features an early 20th-century postcard showing a sundial in Rémalard, Normandy, France. The postcard was used to guide a modern restoration of the dial. The article briefly describes the dial, its motto, and the author's visit to the Perche region, which is rich in sundials.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes, The BSS and Members

September 2009 page 16
Bryan Waites

Searching for lost time: Finding sundials in Rutland

Provides a historical survey of sundials in the county of Rutland, from early scratch dials on churches to more scientific vertical and horizontal dials on mansions and public buildings. The article highlights significant local examples, discusses common mottoes, and suggests a route for a sundial tour of the area.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

September 2009 page 25

Mystery inscription

A query seeking help from readers to decipher a mysterious inscription on a vertical south dial from 1782, now in Keighley Museum. The dial was formerly at the Fleece Inn, Keighley, and the puzzling inscription reads: "C.G · 1 51 33·34·1450".
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2009 page 32
Roger Bowling

Two Manchester glass dials

Discusses two now-lost stained-glass sundials from the Manchester area. One, at Didsbury Old Parsonage, was designed in 1903 by Fletcher Moss. The author describes the second, an 18th-century dial at Kersal Cell, and speculates it may have been instigated by its owner, the prominent Jacobite John Byrom.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2009 page 34
Chris H. K. Williams

The prevalence of English mass (scratch) dials c.1650—part 2

Continues a statistical analysis of the prevalence of English scratch dials around 1650. The article explores the geographic distribution of surviving dials, arguing that the significant regional variation is due to differential loss rates over time, rather than differences in the original number of dials constructed.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

September 2009 page 36
Mike Cowham
Bill Linnard

The recently discovered Irish-style dial at Tywyn

Details the discovery and preservation of an Irish-style pillar dial (c. 700-1000 AD) in Tywyn, Wales. Found in 1986 among rubble, the dial was later used as a milepost. The article describes its features and recounts the successful effort to have the vulnerable stone moved to St Cadfan's Church.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

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 2
Robert Hannah

The Pantheon as a timekeeper

This article argues that the Pantheon in Rome functions as a large-scale timekeeper, similar to a roofed spherical sundial. It examines how sunlight entering through the oculus marks specific times of the year, such as the equinoxes, and compares its astronomical features to those of Nero's Domus Aurea.
Dials: Hemispherical, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 5
Kevin Karney
Colin Davis

Reader’s letter

The first letter describes an innovative focusing sphere lens made of lucite and copper sulphate, designed for use in a sundial. The second letter confirms that Samuel Turner, a diallist, was also the sculptor of his own tombstone which features a direct west dial.
Dials: Unusual, How Sundials Work, 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 9
Peter Ransom

Postcard potpourri 14 - The Butter Cross, Witney, Oxfordshire

This piece analyses a vintage postcard of the Butter Cross in Witney. By comparing the time shown on the clock with the local solar time on the sundial, and accounting for British Summer Time and the equation of time, the author deduces the exact date the photograph was taken.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2009 page 10
Allan A. Mills

A tribute to Robert Hooke

This article celebrates the genius of Robert Hooke, highlighting his key scientific contributions. It covers Hooke's Law and its application to timekeeping, his work on a universal joint for delineating sundials, and his pioneering (though unpublished) insights into the catenary arch. It proposes a sculptural memorial to Hooke.
How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout, 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 15
Peter Ransom

Dialling from “The Ladies’ Diary”

Introducing a series of articles on dialling problems from 'The Ladies’ Diary', a popular 18th-century almanac. The author presents the first question, from 1720, along with its original geometric construction and calculated solution, providing insight into the historical mathematics of dialling.
Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 17

Collectors’ dials

This brief feature highlights a universal inclining dial by the London firm Thomas Harris & Son from a member's collection. The dial is noted as a genuine antique from the 19th-century firm of opticians, rather than a modern replica, and an appeal is made for other members to share their interesting dials.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2009 page 18
Chris H. K. Williams

The English scratch and mass dial era: The evidential period c.1250 to c.1650

The article analyses the prevalence of scratch and mass dials during the period following the Great Norman Rebuilding. Using a 'life cycle model', it argues that the era was highly dynamic, with dials frequently lost to rebuilding or abandoned, having an average in-use lifespan of about 100 years.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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 38
Tony Wood

Prism dials—a regional variety?

This article examines 'prism dials', a form of multi-faced dial created from a diagonally sliced cube, resulting in south-east and south-west declining faces. The author provides a gazetteer of several examples found within a specific area of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, questioning if they represent a local style.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 40
Mike Cowham

Gnomon supporters

A survey of the artistic and decorative supports used for gnomons on different types of sundials. The article presents numerous photographs of historical and modern examples, including dolphins, snakes, butterflies, skeletons, and intricate scrollwork, and invites readers to share pictures of other interesting designs.
Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

December 2009 page 43
Val Cowham
Tony Moss
Jim Marginson
Frank Evans
Mike Isaacs
Claus Jensen

BSS East Anglian safari: 19-25 September 2009

A multi-authored, day-by-day account of the society's annual week-long tour, this year through East Anglia. The report details the many historical and modern dials visited in Suffolk, Norwich, Essex, and surrounding areas, providing a travelogue of the group's discoveries and activities.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2008 page 3
Stefano Barbolini
Guido Dresti
Giovanni Garofalo
Rosario Mosello

The Sundial at the Pitti Palace in Florence

This article details the restoration and description of a 1696 pinhole sundial in Florence's Pitti Palace, designed by Vincenzo Viviani. It served for astronomical observations and calendar functions, notably for determining Easter. The piece also explores its historical context within the Medici court and its allegorical frescoes.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

March 2008 page 11
Chris H. K. Williams

Historical Overview of the Listing/Recording of English Scratch (Mass) Dials

This article outlines four historical periods of listing and recording English scratch (mass) dials, noting over 5000 recorded dials. It highlights the significant contributions of interwar studies, the isolated work of post-war individuals, and the British Sundial Society's Mass Dial Group in preserving this record.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

March 2008 page 12
Doug Bateman

Another Scaphe Dial by Mary Watts

Describes a scaphe dial by potter Mary Watts, similar to one in the Watts Gallery. This particular dial, located in Farnborough, Hampshire, serves as a memorial to aviation pioneer Edward T. Busk, who died in 1914. It was moved in 1970 and is now housed at the Farnborough Air Sciences Trust.
Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 13
Graham Stapleton
John Moir
Ken Head
George White

Readers’ Letters

A collection of letters. Graham Stapleton suggests new glossary terms; John Moir corrects a previous 'Almost Sundial' entry; Ken Head clarifies how to use analemmatic dials; George White discusses the Bath Tompion dial and its uncertain link to the Pump Room clock.
Dials: Analemmatic, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 14
Mike Cowham

Finding the Sun’s Position in the Zodiac

This article explains how to use Solar Course diagrams found on historical instruments, such as an Edmund Culpeper universal equinoctial ring dial and Italian quadrants, to determine the sun's position in the Zodiac. It details calculation methods, including adjustments for Old Style and New Style calendars, and notes rare instances of early Gregorian calendar pre-emption.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

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 17
Graham Aldred
Tony Ashmore

Book Reviews

This section reviews 'Biographical Index of British Sundial Makers from the Seventh Century to 1920 (2nd Edition)' by Jill Wilson, praising its enhancements, new names, and comprehensive scope beyond simple indexing. It also reviews 'The Astrolabe' by James E. Morrison, highlighting it as a much-needed, comprehensive guide to astrolabe design, function, and construction.
Dials: Astrolabe, Book Reviews, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 26
Fiona Vincent

Astrological Symbols on Sundials

Discusses the historical use and modern relevance of astrological symbols on sundials to indicate dates like solstices and equinoxes, despite astronomical shifts like precession. It examines symbols for Zodiacal signs and those used on lunar volvelles, such as sextile, square, and trine, explaining their relation to moon phases and elongation.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Sundial Design & Layout

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

March 2008 page 31
Tony Ashmore

Astrolabes: Pt 4 Universal Astrolabes

This fourth part of a series describes universal astrolabes, focusing on the Saphea, Rojas, and De la Hire projections. These instruments, developed from the 11th to 17th centuries, could be used at all latitudes, offering flexibility for astronomical and timekeeping purposes, despite the increasing complexity of their design.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

March 2008 page 38
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2007

Reports on sundial sales at major auction houses in 2007, noting a shift away from scientific instruments by Christie's and Sotheby's. It details sales at Bonhams, including a 19th-century cube dial, a 17th/18th-century Polish slate dial, and a medieval astrolabe quadrant found in Canterbury. Other notable sales include portable dials by Edm. Culpeper and a double crescent dial by Johann Martin.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Cube, Dials: Double Horizontal

March 2008 page 40
Tim Hunkin

Sundials

Reproduces Tim Hunkin's 'Rudiments of Wisdom' cartoon strip on sundials from the Observer newspaper. It offers a general introduction to sundials but points out historical inaccuracies, such as the Roman, not Egyptian, use of obelisks as gnomons and details regarding Charles Wheatstone's polarised light sundial.
Dials: Reflected, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

March 2008 page 42
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 7 - Polam Hall, Darlington

Features a c.1920 postcard depicting a large horizontal sundial at Polam Hall, an independent girls' school in Darlington. The author notes the presence of scholars in the image and expresses uncertainty about whether the dial is still in place.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 42
Mike Shaw

Then & Now

Compares an early 20th-century postcard of a Pilkington & Gibbs heliochronometer at Thornton Manor with a modern photograph. It notes the dial's original purchase by Lord Leverhulme, its continued presence on its pedestal, and the replacement of its glass dome with a chemistry bell jar.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 47

Mystery Dial

Presents a photograph from an old glass lantern slide of a high-quality churchyard dial, believed to date before World War I. The author seeks help in identifying the church, noting a cross on the porch as a potential diagnostic feature.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

March 2008 page 48
Roger Bowling

A Grinling Gibbons Dial

Describes a non-working universal equinoctial ring dial, about 12cm in diameter, incorporated into a 1684 lime-wood carving by Grinling Gibbons. This carving, representing arts and sciences, is located in the saloon of Lyme Hall, alongside other astronomical and navigation instruments, reflecting Sir Richard Legh's interest in the sciences.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2008 page 50
Mike Cowham

Sundial Faces

This article explores the depiction of faces on sundials, primarily smiling suns on vertical dials and replica horizontal dials, as well as moon faces and other figures like angels. It showcases various examples from Britain and Europe, discussing their symbolism and design variations.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2008 page 61
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 8 - Petts Wood, Chislehurst

This entry features a vertical sundial in Petts Wood, Chislehurst, dedicated as a memorial to William Willett, the campaigner for daylight saving hours. The dial, dated 1927, is adjusted for summer time and carries the motto 'HORAS NON NUMERO NISI ÆSTIVAS'.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

June 2008 page 62
Michael Maltin
Roger Bowling

Readers’ Letters

Michael Maltin speculates on the original location and an engraving error of a Melville dial, suggesting it was for the Midlands but ended up in Salisbury. Roger Bowling shares a 'sad story' about a stolen churchyard dial from Prestbury Parish Church, mistakenly printed reversed in the Bulletin, and mentions its appearance in Alice Morse Earle's book.
Historical Dials

June 2008 page 63

George Watts’ Dial

This entry discusses a terracotta dial made by the Arts & Crafts Association of Compton, believed to be modelled on traditional Scottish dials, for the Victorian artist George F Watts RA in his garden at Limnerslease. It poses the question of the dial's current whereabouts.
Historical Dials

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

June 2008 page 75
Chris H. K. Williams

The Geographic Distribution of Surviving English Scratch (Mass) Dials

This article analyses the geographical distribution of surviving English scratch (mass) dials using a composite national database. It identifies a marked watershed and regional clustering, with higher survival rates east of the watershed, and discusses the importance of recording churches without dials for statistical accuracy.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

June 2008 page 77
Chris Lusby Taylor

The 2008 BSS Conference, Latimer

This report summarises the 2008 BSS Annual Conference at Latimer, highlighting various talks including Piers Nicholson on Jantar Mantar, Chris Williams on scratch dial statistics, Fred Sawyer on Michnik's bifilar sundial, Celia James on James Richard's dial, Julian Lush on Armenian scallop dials, and John Davis on John Rowley's work.
Dials: Bifilar, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

June 2008 page 82
J. P. Lester

In Mrs Crowley’s Footsteps

John Lester describes his extensive project to edit Mrs Crowley's Sundial Sketchbooks of Devon and Cornwall, which involved visiting and photographing all 216 recorded dials. He details the challenges of surveying in the West Country and his efforts to uncover facts about Mrs Crowley's life and methods, resulting in a published edition.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

June 2008 page 83
Mike Isaacs

Book Review

This is a review of 'Mrs Crowley’s Sundial Sketchbooks of Devon and Cornwall', edited by John Lester. It praises Lester's detailed commentaries, photographs, and wit, highlighting its value as a contribution to dialling history and a companion for West Country trips. The book compiles Mrs Crowley's pencil sketches and Lester's updated records of 216 dials.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

June 2008 page 84
Tony Wood
Finola O’Carroll

A Celtic Quartet

This article investigates five slate mass dials found in 'Celtic' areas (Cornwall, Ireland, Scotland, Wales), which share common features like 15° interval hour lines. It discusses their unusual horizontal forms, 'secretary hand' numerals, and archaeological backgrounds, exploring a potential 'Celtic' connection despite dating challenges.
Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass 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 2008 page 91
Dennis Stukenbroeker

The Dial that Never Was

This brief entry describes a stone plaque on a house in Eynsham, Oxfordshire, which, though not a dial itself, occupies a recess where a direct west dial could have been placed. The house was extended by architect Clough Williams-Ellis, and the plaque features a quotation from Robert Burns.
Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2008 page 92
Ortwin Feustel

A Vertical Arachnidean Sundial Indicating Islamic Prayer Times and the Direction of Mecca

This paper describes the design of a vertical south arachnidean sundial to indicate Islamic prayer times (Zuhr, Asr) and the Qibla (direction to Mecca). It explains the astronomical principles and mathematical formulae used to calculate the specific prayer curves and Qibla curve, making it readable from a significant distance.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2008 page 95

There’s a Lovely Sundial in that Garden...!

This short piece discusses the common misconception that the pedestal is the sundial, highlighting the importance of the support's beauty. It mentions architect Lutyens' appreciation for pedestals and features a P&G heliochronometer at Marshcourt, posing a question about its current status.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2008 page 99
Irene Brightmer

A Millennium Dial in Cheshire and an 18th Century Treatise on Dialling

This article links a new millennium sundial at Marbury-cum-Quoisley church in Cheshire, designed by Dr W.E. Flewett and adjusted for longitude and British Summer Time, to an 18th-century treatise by Robert Moody. It also discusses William Emerson, a mathematician and diallist whose work influenced Moody and the millennium dial.
Construction Projects, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

September 2008 page 102
Doug Bateman

An Early Meridian Line in a Former Stately Home, Hampshire

This article describes a meridian line at Bramshill House, Hampshire, believed to be the earliest in the British Isles, dating to around 1720. It also describes a west declining dial and a now-missing horizontal dial.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

September 2008 page 106

Watts’ Dial

This piece follows up on the whereabouts of George Watts' sundial, confirming Mary Watts as its maker. It reports that the terracotta dial was stolen from a private garden in the 1990s and remains unrecovered, appealing to readers for information. The text also mentions the existence of a better photograph in Veronica Franklin Gould's biography of Mary.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

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

September 2008 page 110
Chris H. K. Williams

English Scratch (Mass) Dials: The Ravages of Time

This article scientifically estimates the rate of loss for English scratch (mass) dials, revealing a significantly higher loss than previously understood. It quantifies 20th-century weathering loss at 0.5% annually and estimates an additional loss of 4250 dials due to church rebuilding. The author concludes that only a fraction of historical mass dials now survive.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

September 2008 page 116
Irene Brightmer

Over Three Hundred Years in the Sun: Thoughts of an Old Double Horizontal Dial

This article, narrated from the perspective of a 17th-century double horizontal dial by John Marke in a North Wales garden, recounts its history. It reflects on its past importance for timekeeping, its relocation, slight misalignment, and a recent renewed interest in its preservation, highlighting its rarity and unique survival.
Dials: Double 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

September 2008 page 118
Irene Brightmer

Readers’ Letters

Irene Brightmer shares details of a vertical surrealist sundial by Salvador Dalí in Paris, featuring a blue-eyed female face. She also describes two historic meridians nearby: one in the Church of Saint-Sulpice, commissioned from Henry Sully, and the official Paris meridian marked by over a hundred Arago medallions.
Dials: Noon Lines, Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2008 page 119
Frank Coe

The Dillington Double-Horizontal Dial and John Marke

This article reports the addition of the Dillington double-horizontal dial to the BSS Register, identifying its maker as Johannes Marke, London, 1678. It details the dial's history, from its installation at Knighton Manor to its current protected location in Newchurch, Isle of Wight, and its unique inscriptions in English, Latin, and Greek.
Historical Dials, Dials: Double Horizontal

September 2008 page 121
Roger Bowling

Liverpool Road Railway Station, Manchester

This paper describes the 1833 sundial at Liverpool Road Station, Manchester, the world's oldest extant railway station. It details the brass dial's features, its historical significance in railway timekeeping disputes, and its role as a public relations tool. The original dial is now in a museum, replaced by a 'dummy' dial on site.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2008 page 130
Tony Ashmore

Astrolabes, Part 5 - Other astrolabe related instruments

This part of the Astrolabes series covers instruments related to, but distinct from, planispheric astrolabes. It discusses the rare spherical and linear astrolabes, monumental and domestic astrolabe clocks, mariner's astrolabes (not true astrolabes), and various types of quadrants, including horary and astrolabe quadrants, detailing their history and use.
Dials: Astrolabe, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2008 page 136
Ian R. Butson

Some Hertfordshire Sundials

This article details a survey of sundials in Hertfordshire, reporting 56 fixed dials, 24 missing pedestals, and 68 mass dials across 27 church locations. The author highlights various interesting examples, including commemorative dials, vertical dials on cottages, historic horizontal dials, and unusual designs like a pestle and mortar scaphe dial.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2008 page 141
Tony Wood
Jill Wilson

Readers’ Letters (cont.)

Tony Wood writes about a porcelain dial from 1766 at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Museum, describing its detailed delineation. Jill Wilson responds to Chris Williams' mass dial article, noting a correlation between dial distribution and geology, and suggesting further research into building materials and church histories for a complete picture of dial loss.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2008 page 144
Andrew James

A Happy Ending: The Preston Gubbals Sundial

Andrew James recounts the recovery of a stolen 1638 copper alloy sundial from St Martin’s church, Preston Gubbals. He identified the dial for sale, leading to its return. The article details the dial's early 'centred' design and the unique significance of its gnomon supporter being cut from a 15th-16th century memorial brass.
Dials: Horizontal, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

September 2008 page 148
Julian Lush

Sundials in Armenia

Julian Lush explores the prevalence of sundials in Armenia, linking their abundance to the nation's ancient veneration of the sun deity 'Ar.' He describes the common 'shell' or 'scallop' dial form found on 5th-13th century churches and monasteries, noting unique Armenian alphanumeric hour numbering and the enduring sun disc emblem on khachkars.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2008 page 151
Jill Wilson

Readers’ Letters (continued from page 141)

Jill Wilson provides further thoughts regarding Chris Williams' mass dial article, suggesting that areas with low numbers of recorded mass dials might be poor in suitable stone. She emphasizes the need for a full record of churches surveyed, including those without extant mass dials, highlighting the challenges for mass dial researchers.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

September 2008 page 152
Jack Bromily
Jim Marginson

A Visit to Belgium by Two Innocents Abroad

Jack Bromily and Jim Marginson recount their trip to Belgium to visit the Sundial Park in Genk. Guided by a Dutch Sundial Society member, they explored the park's tastefully located dials and visited the Astronomical Museum. They also visited La Musée de la Vie Wallone in Liège, which houses over 150 portable dials.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

December 2008 page 162
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 10: Wimborne Minster, Dorset

This note discusses the sundial at Wimborne Minster, Dorset, based on a 1908 postcard, a 1928 cigarette card, and an 1830 print. It observes the dial's historical repositioning from a gable to ground level between 1830 and 1908, clarifies Mrs. Gatty's potentially inaccurate references to its date and location, and encourages a visit to the Minster.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

December 2008 page 163
Tony Wood

The Malvern Pillar Dial

This article reports on the Malvern pillar dial, noting its removal from an old cross shaft and replacement with a gabled cross. The original cube dial has been refurbished or replaced, and is now mounted on a short column in the churchyard. It also mentions a modern cube dial by Liz Leighford based on a similar design.
Dials: Cube, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

December 2008 page 164
Chris H. K. Williams

The Life Cycle of English Mass (Scratch) Dials

This article explores the evolution and loss of English mass (scratch) dials, viewing it as a continuous dynamic process. It highlights the destructive forces of weathering and church rebuilding and suggests that there was universal adoption of these simple devices in medieval churches before their displacement by scientific dials and mechanical clocks, mostly in the 17th century.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

December 2008 page 166
Malcolm Barnfield

Timbouctou Sine Quadrant

This article details the reproduction of a sine quadrant from a preserved Timbouctou manuscript for a documentary film. It describes the instrument's function in solving trigonometric problems without manual calculation, like determining unequal hours, and its historical context as a teaching tool in Islamic astronomy. The author discusses the challenges of interpretation and the modern construction using laser-cut perspex.
Construction Projects, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

December 2008 page 172
Anthony Capon

A Sundial at the Bodleian Library in Oxford

This article investigates the historical existence of a sundial on the south wall of the Bodleian Library, depicted in Loggan's 1675 drawing and a later 1818 engraving. It provides evidence for its reality, discusses its disappearance by 1814-1880 due to redundancy and weathering, identifies Richard Hawkins as its painter in 1641, and suggests its original positioning.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2008 page 176
John Wall

Liverpool Road Station Sundial, Manchester—a second view

This article complements a previous one on the Liverpool Road Station sundial, Manchester. It discusses the dial's positioning at first-floor level, its installation in 1833, and its crucial role in regulating train timings by local apparent time before the introduction of uniform Railway Time in the 1840s, highlighting the sundial's importance in early railway operations.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

December 2008 page 178
Mike Isaacs

“Meet me in St Louis” at the 14th NASS Conference, 7-10 August 2008—a UK visitor’s impressions

A UK visitor's account of the 14th NASS Conference in St Louis, covering the coach tour to various sundial sites like the Jefferson Barracks and Missouri Botanical Gardens, presentations on topics such as digital wall dials and the equation of time, and the distribution of dialling software. It notes the smaller attendance compared to BSS meetings but high standard of events.
Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout, The BSS and Members

December 2008 page 193
Val Cowham
Janet Jenkins
Graham Aldred
Doug Bateman
Fred Sawyer
Don Petrie
Gillian Nicholson

BSS Sundial Safari to the Alsace, 6-10 September 2008

A report on the BSS Sundial Safari to the Alsace region of France, detailing visits to various towns and villages. It describes numerous sundials encountered, including those at Strasbourg Cathedral, Soultz, Guebwiller, St-Marc convent, Colmar, Eguisheim, Riquewihr, Bergheim, Mont Ste-Odile (featuring a polyhedral dial), and Freiburg (Germany), as well as the Kirschgarten Museum in Basel.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

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 198
Doug Bateman

An Early Meridian Line in a Former Stately Home, Hampshire—Additional Information

This article provides additional information about a meridian line at Bramshill House, Hampshire. It details a 1770 manuscript by S. Dunn containing notes on spherical trigonometry and meridian line calculations. It confirms the line's date before 1770 and discusses the context of 18th-century mathematical sophistication and notes from Mrs. Gatty that imply the existence of other dials at the location.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

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 2
Maxwell Craven

Derbyshire sun dials

This article provides an overview of sundials found in Derbyshire, from ancient scratch dials on medieval churches to more sophisticated wall and public sundials. It highlights notable examples like the Eyam parish church dial and various works attributed to the Whitehurst family of clockmakers. It also touches on the historical context of timekeeping for ordinary people and the aristocracy.
Dials: Vertical, Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Cube

March 2007 page 12
E. Th. Theodossiou
A. Dakanalis

The vertical sundial of the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin at Agia Trias in the Argive Plain

This paper describes a significant, well-preserved medieval Byzantine vertical sundial found at the Church of the Dormition of the Virgin in Agia Trias, Greece. It explores the dial's historical context, its connection to William of Moerbeke's translation of Ptolemy, and its design featuring Greek capital letters for hour lines. The authors also discuss its construction and possible dating.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2007 page 15
Mike Cowham

Dial dealings 2006

This article reviews sundial sales and auctions from 2006, highlighting notable items such as a 1545 book with an early gold sundial, a perpetual calendar from around 1700, and a brass horary quadrant by Tho: Poole. It also mentions a standing ring dial, a Butterfield dial, and a rare Henry Sutton quadrant with 'New Style' dating.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2007 page 18
Patrick Powers

Beccles—an epilogue ‘milestone’

This note follows up on a previous discussion regarding curious holes in the lettering of an old dial at Beccles Church. It reports on a milestone discovered 20 miles from Bury St Edmunds where a similar technique (holes for lead infill) was used, with some lead still in place.
Historical Dials

March 2007 page 19
Mike Cowham

Early French ‘shell’ dials

Mike Cowham describes a survey of early French 'shell' dials, often found carved into church walls, dating between 1050 and 1200 AD. He details 11 examples, noting their varying numbers of divisions, high mounting positions, and possible connection to pilgrimage routes. The article speculates on their purpose, mainly to record solar noon and indicate church services.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

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

March 2007 page 31
Peter Lane

Cooke’s new sundial and the Beadsmoore heliochronometer

This article discusses Ernest Beadsmoore's construction of a heliochronometer, inspired by Professor W. E. Cooke's 'New Sundial' design published in 1924. It details Beadsmoore's background as an engineer, his process of building and testing the dial, and its impact on local timekeeping precision. Cooke's later 'Sunclock' patent, connecting the dial to a clock for standard time, is also mentioned.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

March 2007 page 33
Stefano Barbolini
Guido Dresti
Frank King
Rosario Mosello

The sundial in La Specola Museum, Florence

This paper describes the pinhole sundial in the Grand-Ducal Astronomical Observatory (La Specola) in Florence. It covers the observatory's history, the sundial's design as a string-gnomon meridian line, its restoration in 2005, and a comparison of measured zodiac point positions with calculated values. It highlights the instrument's historical importance for astronomical studies and calendar reform.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Restoration projects

March 2007 page 39
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 3—Wilton Bridge, Ross on Wye

Peter Ransom describes a sundial on Wilton Bridge near Ross on Wye, using postcards from the early 1900s to note a change in its orientation, where the north face now points south. He also deciphers a motto from an old postcard that is no longer readable on the dial itself.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2007 page 45
Patrick Powers

Book review

Patrick Powers reviews the 'Catalogue of the Fixed Dials of Austria – 2006 (3rd edition),' edited by Karl Schwazinger. The review highlights the catalogue's comprehensive coverage of over 3500 dials, its German language, and the included CD-ROM version with HTML-based content and PDF explanations.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2007 page 46
Ken Head

Orientation of St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon, Surrey

This article re-examines the orientation of St Mary’s Church, Stoke D’Abernon, considering the 7th-century Saxon church and its 13th-century chancel misalignment. It calculates sunrise azimuths for the Feast of the Annunciation, accounting for horizon elevation and atmospheric refraction, to explore the hypothesis that church alignment relates to sunrise on the patron saint's day.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

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

June 2007 page 63
Patrick Powers

Chatsworth and our Chairman...

This article recounts the discovery of an unrecorded horizontal sundial at Chatsworth House, initially prompted by a film, and reveals that BSS Chairman Chris Daniel had photographed it 30 years prior but not recorded it. It highlights the importance of Peter Baxandall's observation.
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

June 2007 page 81
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 4—Haulfre Gardens, Llandudno

This entry presents a postcard from 1935 showing a floral sundial in Haulfre Gardens, Llandudno. It describes the dial's mottoes (I count the bright hours only and Tempus fugit) and notes a potential omission in the afternoon hour lines, inviting further information on the dial's current existence.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

June 2007 page 82
Fred Sawyer
Michael Faraday
Tony Wood

Readers’ Letters

This section contains reader correspondence. Fred Sawyer corrects an article on dual sundials, attributing the self-setting property to Vaulezard (1640) rather than Tuttell (1698). Mike Faraday asks for a website to track the terminator for sunrise times. Tony Wood clarifies the location and movement of the Ross-on-Wye pillar dial.
Dials: Analemmatic, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

June 2007 page 84
E. Th. Theodossiou
Y. Kouris
V. N. Manimanis

The Vertical Sundial of Panaghia Vlaherna Convent in Kyllene, Pelloponnese

This article describes a unique vertical sundial at the Byzantine Panaghia Vlaherna Convent in Kyllene, Greece. Made of white marble, it features 13 fan-shaped petals representing hours without numerals, reflecting local tradition and contrasting with Western sundial practices. It discusses the monastery's history and the dial's architectural integration.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2007 page 86
Chris Lusby Taylor

BSS Annual Conference—Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge

This report summarises the 2007 British Sundial Society Annual Conference in Cambridge. It highlights talks on calendar history, the Equation of Time, analemmatic sundials, astrolabes, and beehive sundialling. It also covers walking tours of Cambridge dials, including Pembroke and Queens' Colleges, and the Andrew Somerville Memorial Lecture on calendar accuracy.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, The BSS and Members

June 2007 page 91
Tony Ashmore

Astrolabes—Part 1, Introduction

This is the first part of a series introducing astrolabes, describing them as two-dimensional analogue computers for solving spherical trigonometric problems and finding time. It covers their history from Greek origins through Arab development to European decline, and explains the principles of their design including the rete and engraved plates for different latitudes.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

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

September 2007 page 105
Piers Nicholson

Noon Cannons: A Sundial Conceit

This article discusses noon cannons, devices that fire at solar noon using a magnifying glass to ignite powder. It describes preparing and firing a cannon, noting it's more for fun than accuracy. It also mentions historical examples from the mid-17th and 18th centuries, modern versions, and current licensing restrictions in England. A specific F. Barker and Son cannon is detailed.
Dials: Noon Lines, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2007 page 107
Tony Ashmore

Astrolabes: Pt. 2. European Astrolabes

This second part details the characteristics and scales of European astrolabes. It covers the use of Latin script and numerals, simple throne designs (with some Flemish exceptions), and variable rete strapwork. The article also explains the zodiac/calendar scales, shadow squares for surveying, and three methods for determining unequal (planetary) hours found on these instruments.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

September 2007 page 112
Elizabeth Hutchings

Isle of Wight Sundial Mystery Solved

This article solves the mystery of a sundial pedestal at Farringford, Alfred, Lord Tennyson's home. It was designed by Mary Seton Watts, wife of the painter G.F. Watts, likely as a memorial for Tennyson and his wife Emily. The pedestal features carvings related to Tennyson's poem The Sundial and a motto.
Historical Dials, Mottoes, Dials: Scaphe

September 2007 page 113
Irene Brightmer

Snippet from a Church Leaflet

A brief note from a church leaflet describes a medieval churchyard cross in Llanarmon, North Wales, that was converted into a sundial in 1772 for three shillings. Sadly, the sundial has since disappeared, leaving the cut-down cross bare in the churchyard.
Historical Dials

September 2007 page 116
Vicki de Kleer

A Rare Dial in the Far North: Sumburgh, Shetland Islands

This article details a rare 1890 brass sundial from the Sumburgh Hotel, Shetland. Commissioned by Laird John Bruce and made by C. Baker, it features a peripheral calendar combining longitude and equation of time corrections, plus unusual additional instructions. It is noted as the most northerly dial in the BSS Register.
Dials: Horizontal, Equation of Time, 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 123
Patrick Powers

The Strange Case of Half a Motto

This article describes an unrecorded, vertically split sundial on St Andrew's Church, Kenn, Devon, with its left half missing. Only a partial date (??83) and motto fragment (...eagum) are visible, which doesn't match known mottoes. The author seeks help from members to solve this mystery and complete the record.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

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

September 2007 page 141
John Wall

The Dial of Ahaz

This article examines the biblical Dial of Ahaz where a shadow reversed ten degrees or steps. It explores the linguistic ambiguity and historical interpretations, including a 1578 replica claiming to demonstrate the miracle via water refraction, a claim experimentally disproven. The text discusses if it was a primitive dial or a scientific instrument.
Historical Dials

December 2007 page 146
Michael J. Harley

Daniel O’Connell, Teacher and Slate Sundial Maker

This article details an 1853 slate sundial by Daniel O’Connell, a teacher from Rathmines National School, Dublin, later of Shrule, Co. Mayo. The elaborate dial, now in the National Museum of Ireland, functions as a horizontal dial, geographical clock, perpetual almanac, quadrant of altitude, and circumferentor. It is considered a teaching aid and highlights O'Connell's master engraving skills.
Dials: Horizontal, How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

December 2007 page 152
Ian R. Butson

A Strange Creature

This article explores the mythical creature known as a Sciapod, known for sheltering under its own enormous foot. It highlights a unique 15th-century carving of a sciapod in St Mary’s Church, Dennington, Suffolk, and draws a humorous parallel between sundial enthusiasts and sciapods. The church also features medieval benches and mass dials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

December 2007 page 156
Tony Ashmore

Astrolabes: Pt.3 Arabic Astrolabes

This article, part three of a series, delves into Arabic astrolabes, noting their historical significance in Islamic cultures from before the tenth to the nineteenth century. It describes their general characteristics, such as the use of Arabic scripts, the absence of equal hour scales, and the prominence of astrological scales. It also details specific features like thrones, retes, plates, and scales on the back, including shadow squares and sine/cosine grids.
Dials: Astrolabe, Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials

December 2007 page 164
Hugh McCague

The Method of Equal Altitudes or the Indian Circle

This article describes and historically surveys the method of equal altitudes, also known as the Indian Circle, used for determining the meridian and cardinal directions by observing a gnomon's shadow. It covers the practical steps, potential errors, mathematical analysis of shadow curves (conic sections), and its widespread use in ancient and medieval Eastern (India, China) and Western (Roman, early medieval Europe) cultures for architecture, town planning, and sacred rituals.
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 178
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 6

This article describes a sundial featured on a postcard from People’s Park, Halifax. The vertical south dial, presented in 1873, includes mottoes in English, Greek, and Latin. The author notes its similarities to another dial by J. Smith in Albert Park, Middlesbrough, and dates the postcard image to the early 1900s based on its style.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

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

December 2007 page 187
Doug Bateman

A Dial by Richard Melville in Andover, Hampshire

This article describes a rare circular horizontal sundial by Richard Melville (signed Melvin) found in Andover, Hampshire. The dial, dated to around 1860, is unusual for Melville's work due to its circular shape and its mention of a son. It discusses the discrepancy between the declared latitude and the gnomon angle, suggesting mass production, and notes an engraving error and weathering on the dial plate.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2007 page 189
Mike Cowham

Book Review

This is a review of 'Catalogue of Sun-dials, Nocturnals and Related Instruments in the Instituto e Museo di Storia Della Scienza, Firenze' by Anthony J Turner. The catalogue details Florence's collection of sundials, nocturnals, and other instruments, categorized using Higgins' classification. The reviewer praises the initiative but criticizes the illustration presentation, including identification, placement, size, and photographic angles.
Book Reviews, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

December 2007 page 192
Chris H. K. Williams

Scratch (Mass) Dials: Time for a Reassessment

This article calls for a reassessment of scratch (mass) dials, noting the surprising lack of interest despite thousands surviving across Europe. The author, who stumbled upon them while researching local history, is now analyzing the BSS Mass Dial Group's extensive database using mathematical and statistical methods to gain new insights into their original prevalence, use, appearance, evolution, and eventual fate.
Mathematics of Dialling, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members, Dials: Mass Dials

February 2006 page 6
Karl G. Hofbauer

‘The Moon Has Set And The Pleiades’ - Sappho; Time Measurement in Cultural History

Drawing on Sappho's poem, this article explores the history of time measurement, from ancient astronomical principles to modern atomic clocks. It examines the evolution of the term 'hour,' different timekeeping systems (Babylonic, Italic, canonical, equal), and how celestial phenomena like moon phases and the Pleiades were interpreted to determine time and seasons.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

February 2006 page 16
John Wall

Church Orientation

This article investigates the east-west orientation of UK churches and its implications for vertical sundials. It discusses historical reasons, such as facing Jerusalem or equinox sunrise, alongside practical influences like site topography that cause deviations. The author advises checking a church's orientation carefully before installing new sundials.
Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

February 2006 page 22
Ian R. Butson

The Dial Still Lives!

This article highlights the ongoing use of portable sundials, observed during a visit to Kentwell Hall. A re-enactor demonstrated a modern reproduction, similar to those found on the Mary Rose, to tell time within a Tudor setting. The piece celebrates the enduring relevance and practical application of these historical timekeeping instruments.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 2006 page 23
Peter Ransom

An Irish Dial

This article documents the restoration and analysis of an octagonal slate sundial plate from 1843, made by D. O’Connell for Revd John Pratt of Enniskean. It details the dial's engraved features, including an equation of time ring, gnomon restoration, and a geometric analysis confirming the remarkable accuracy of its construction for the specified latitude.
Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

February 2006 page 28
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings

This article reviews notable sundial sales from 2005 auctions and catalogues. Featured items include diptych dials, astronomical ring dials, universal minute dials, and quadrants. The author also discusses a recognised forgery and provides insights into instrument collecting.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

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

February 2006 page 40
Geoffrey Lane

Glass Sundial Makers of 17th Century London

This article explores the careers and working methods of prominent 17th-century London glass sundial makers, including Baptist Sutton, John Oliver, Richard Dutton, and William Price. It identifies common features of London dials, discusses challenges in attributing their work, and examines the role of these figures as mathematical practitioners.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2006 page 50
Peter Ransom

The Sundial in the Chapel of Holy Trinity at Rug

This article investigates an unusual 17th-century wall painting in Rug Chapel, North Wales, which features a dial. It details the analysis of the dial's geometry and hour lines using digital tools, comparing measured angles to calculated values for a 53° North latitude, and discusses the unexpected accuracy for a painting, suggesting sophisticated planning.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

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

June 2006 page 63
Tony Wood

Mass Dials - Where Did It All End?

This article explores the indistinct end of mass dials, discussing "transitional" forms that bridge medieval and scientific dials. It notes the appearance of numerals (Roman, Hindu-Arabic, or dot form) around the circumference of later mass dials, indicating a shift towards 12 o'clock noon, and touches on conversions to scientific dials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2006 page 78
Mike Cowham

The Pyramidical Dial in the King’s Garden at Whitehall

This article reconstructs the spherical dials from the complex 1669 Pyramidical Dial in Whitehall, based on descriptions by William Leybourn. It details various glass sphere dials, including those showing time by heat ("fire"), water, optical alignment ("air"), and terrestrial globes ("earth"), and discusses their delicate construction and short lifespan.
Dials: Hemispherical, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2006 page 96

Tailpiece

This short note reports that the Heath & Wing dial in the Tiltyard Garden at Hampton Court Palace was badly damaged by contractors who dropped a lopped tree branch onto its pedestal. The dial is now awaiting restoration.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2006 page 98
Doug Bateman

Visit to the Museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers

A BSS group enjoyed a guided tour of the Museum of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers. The report covers the Company's 1631 founding, its extensive collection of horological instruments, and specific sundials including a large horizontal dial by Elias Allen. The museum’s curated displays offer a rich historical perspective on timekeeping.
Historical Dials

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

September 2006 page 107
John Wall

Time and Place

The author shares his experience in locating sundial-related place names across the UK using Ordnance Survey maps and street atlases. He recounts discoveries such as Sundial Farm, Dial House, and the famous Seven Dials in London, highlighting the unexpected insights cartography can offer into historical sundial presence and local nomenclature.
Historical Dials

September 2006 page 109
J. P. Lester
Mike Cowham
Woody Sullivan
Roger Bowling

Readers’ Letters

This section features diverse reader contributions. Topics include an anticlockwise convention for Roman numerals on old dials, warnings about Pearson-Page sundial replicas that can cause historical errors, the disappearance of a modern sundial at St. Gregory’s Minster, and a sceptical view on theories regarding continental cathedral meridian lines.
Historical Dials

September 2006 page 112
Peter Ransom

My, My, My, the Dialler - a bit about Tom Jones

This article delves into a high-quality horizontal sundial by the renowned optical, mathematical, and philosophical instrument maker Thomas Jones (1775-1852). It details the dial's precise engraving, hour divisions, and accurate delineation, alongside biographical information about Jones's career, other notable instruments, and his significant contributions to science.
Dials: Horizontal, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

September 2006 page 114
Peter Ransom

Postcard Potpourri 1 - Coldwell Clough, Kinder

This entry features a postcard depicting a horizontal sundial at Coldwell Clough, Kinder, in Derbyshire, a dial currently unrecorded in the BSS register. The author provides a description of its apparent design and speculates on its date based on postal information, also researching the historical family connections of the postcard's publisher.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

September 2006 page 120
Aleksandr M Boldyrev

English Sundial Makers in Russia - Part 1, Before the Beginning

This first part traces the historical background for English sundial makers in Russia, focusing on Peter the Great’s Grand Tour and the pivotal role of Jacob Bruce in developing the Russian Navy and establishing the Navigation School. It highlights the early import of scientific instruments and the eventual arrival of John Bradlee, the notable English sundial maker.
Historical Dials

September 2006 page 132
Ian Hinton

Church Alignment: Towards Patronal Saint Sunrise?

This research article investigates the theory that churches are aligned towards the sunrise on their patronal saint's feast day, based on a comprehensive survey of 1670 churches. The study considers factors like horizon elevation and calendar drift, concluding that the majority of churches consistently align towards true east, rather than their specific saint's day sunrise.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

September 2006 page 137
Doug Bateman

Penshurst Dial Stolen, a Twin Found

This report details the theft of a distinctive vertical sundial from Penshurst Place in Kent. Coincidentally, an almost identical twin dial was discovered in a private country garden, raising hopes for its potential replication to replace the stolen artifact. The article describes the unique design and features of these large, elegant vertical dials.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

September 2006 page 138

Dialling Manuscript Found

The discovery of a previously unknown early Italian manuscript (1477-1505) at Lund University, Sweden, is announced. Predating works by Oronce Finé and Nicholaus Kratzer, this anonymous manuscript contains significant sections on astronomy, mathematics, and sundials, featuring various dial types, including a horizontal scaphe sundial.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe

December 2006 page 149
Harriet James

Wren’s Dial Remov’d

Harriet James recounts the history of Sir Christopher Wren's vertical sundial at All Souls College, Oxford, designed around 1658 with 'stepped transversals' for accuracy. The article details its relocation in 1877 and Dr. John Simmons's long-standing, unfulfilled campaign to restore it to its original position on the chapel, also touching on Wren's early interest in dialling.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

December 2006 page 157
John Wall

The Dinmore Dial

John Wall re-examines the Dinmore sundial, attributing it to the Knights Hospitallers and dating it to the early 14th-century chapel. He identifies the unique symbol as the eight-pointed cross of St John and suggests the dial's purpose was to inform local parishioners of mass times, distinguishing it from simpler mass dials.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

December 2006 page 162
K. Anderson

Something Unsuspected, But Not New, in Darkest Scotland

K. Anderson describes unexpected meridian light spots observed at Arbroath Abbey, Scotland, in December 2005. Sunlight streaks through narrow lancet windows create precise light pointers at astronomical noon in the applied arcade and sacristy, confirming early meridional arrangements within the Abbey buildings, dating back to the late 1100s, highlighting ancient astronomical awareness.
Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

December 2006 page 167
Allan A. Mills

Hooke’s Joint, Sundials and the Sundial-Clock

Allan Mills explores Robert Hooke's "Sundial Delineator," an instrument using a cross-shaped interior member (similar to a Hooke's joint) to simulate gnomon shadow motion for sundial delineation. The article details how Hooke's joint can be applied to delineate sundials and, when driven by a clock, create a "sundial-clock," explaining the underlying mathematical principles.
Sundial Design & Layout, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

December 2006 page 172
Peter Baxandall

A Very Public Sundial

Peter Baxandall details the restoration of the 18th-century triangular sundial on St Peter and St Paul's church in Blandford Forum. The prominent dial, designed by William Bastard, features a unique numerical layout along the base and Aries symbols suggesting an equinoctial line. The restoration, led by Harriet James, preserved its original paintwork and clarified its seasonal indications despite pediment shadows.
Dials: Vertical, Sundial Design & Layout, Restoration projects, Historical Dials

December 2006 page 176
Tony Wood

Poetic Interlude

Farringford, on the Isle of Wight, was the home of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) and used to have a sundial. The dial plate itself has long gone but the pedestal remains and has two mottoes carved round it and on each of the four faces is a sculpture of ‘timekeeping’.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

December 2006 page 180
Tony Moss
Leonard Honey
Kevin Karney
David Hindle
Claus Jensen
Brian Moss

BSS visit to Nürnberg

This multi-author report details the British Sundial Society's visit to Nürnberg, exploring historical sundials on sites like St Lawrence church (1502), the Fembo House, and various multi-faced dials in Rothenberg. The trip also included visits to St Rochus Cemetery, where gravestones of famous dial makers feature classical diptych dials.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2006 page 184
E. Th. Theodossiou

The Roman Sundial at Dion: the famous Macedonian sanctuary

E. Theodossiou describes a unique spherical Greco-Roman sundial discovered at Dion, Macedonia, dating to the 1st century AD. This well-preserved white marble artifact, found in a 'luxurious house', features eleven hour lines and inscriptions dedicating it from I. Granius Felix, a market inspector. It is a significant find for ancient Macedonian archaeology.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

December 2006 page 186
Graham Aldred

The Helio-Chronometers from Pilkington & Gibbs: Pt. 3

Graham Aldred reviews the Sol Horometer, William Pilkington's 1912 heliochronometer, developed to bypass George Gibbs's patent. It details Pilkington’s unique EoT adjustment mechanism, contrasting it with Gibbs's system, and discusses manufacturing, sighting, and pointer design. The article also compares its performance and rarity to the original Helio-Chronometer, noting the limited sales.
Sundial Design & Layout, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Dials: Heliochronometer

March 2005 page 15
Rosario Mosello
Guido Dresti

The Courtyard of Time of Cascina Picchetta, Cameri, Piedmont

Examines the sundial ensemble in the courtyard of Cascina Picchetta, a 17th-century Italian villa. Analyses six wall-mounted sundials across two façades with varying hour systems (Italian, Babylonian, French, temporary), equatorial orientations, declination corrections, and historical decorative motifs. Explores Jesuit influences and conservation considerations.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

March 2005 page 21
Ken Head

Further Comments on the Sundial of St. Mary’s Stoke D’Abernon, Surrey

Reassesses the original Anglo-Saxon sundial at St Mary’s, Stoke D’Abernon through newly discovered early photographs. Reveals the dial’s inclined face, previously unrecognized, and reviews past interpretations. Discusses typological features of Saxon angled-gnomon dials, date uncertainty, and implications for correct dating and classification.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2005 page 29
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2004

Reviews significant auction results for sundials and related instruments in 2004. Features rare horological artifacts by Wolfgang Hager, Thomas Tompion, Christoffer Schissler, Elias Allen, Hans Ducher and others. Describes design features, historical importance, condition and sale prices, illuminating market trends in scientific timekeeping collectibles.
Historical Dials

March 2005 page 35
Mike Cowham

Pillar Dial with Meridian Line Calibrated in Italian Hours

Analyses a rare Italian pillar dial in Ravenna with a horizontal gnomon, calibrated for reading the time in the Italian hours system at solar noon. Discusses calculating local noon offsets, latitude influences, and historical context of Venetian installation. Examines missing gnomon, hurricane damage and the cultural practice of hour counting from event-based day start.
Historical Dials, Dials: Noon Lines

March 2005 page 42
Tony Wood

Newly Discovered Saxon Dials and Their Prospects for the Future

Reports recent identification of likely Anglo-Saxon sundials at English parish churches. Analyses stylistic features such as relief circles, gnomon placement and line patterns. Compares regional examples, explores reuse and church reconstructions, and discusses prospects for future discoveries, preservation strategies and scholarly classification.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 2005 page 52
Mike Cowham

The Portable Sundials of the Mary Rose

Examines eight 16th-century wooden portable sundials recovered from the Mary Rose warship. Describes their construction, provenance, decoration, and probable origin in Nuremberg, with insights into use aboard ship and wider trade networks.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 2005 page 58
Ken Head

Equatorial Sundial by Lake Como, Italy

Report on an equatorial sundial in Domaso, Lake Como. Describes its construction, inscriptions, and unusual alignment to indicate clock time (at noon, inaccurate at other times) rather than true solar time, with observations of performance and speculation on design choices.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials

June 2005 page 62
Tony Wood

East of Evesham

Describes unusually large and small mass dials in Worcestershire and Kent. Discusses their features, visibility, and historical significance within the tradition of church sundials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 2005 page 64
Patrick Powers

The Curious Holes in the St Michael’s Church Dial, Beccles

Investigation of unusual rows of holes in a declining painted dial partially obscured by a church clock. Considers possible purposes such as securing plaster or transfer of design, raising questions about early construction methods.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

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

September 2005 page 116
Curt Roslund

The Intriguing Case of the Braunschweig 1334 Sundial

This article investigates two medieval German sundials from 1334 and 1346 that were early attempts to display equal-length hours. The 1334 dial had a horizontal style, which was a failure, while the 1346 dial used a style pointing to the celestial pole, making it the earliest known sundial of its kind.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2005 page 119
Patrick Powers

The Holes and History of the Beccles Church Dial

This article examines the history and features of the Beccles Church Dial, focusing on the holes in the stonework. The author notes that the date of its installation is unknown and corrects a previous suggestion about its history using old church accounts.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

September 2005 page 128
Tony Wood

Dom Ethelbert Horne: Founding Father of Mass Dial Studies

A tribute to Dom Ethelbert Horne, a Benedictine monk who was a pioneer in the study of mass dials. The article highlights his work in identifying, recording, and publishing information about these ancient dials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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

December 2005 page 154
Graham Stapleton

‘Timekumpas’ - the smallest heliochronometer?

This article introduces the "Timekumpas," a small, cigarette-lighter-sized equatorial dial patented in 1926. While it lacks precision due to its size, it is notable for being a universal instrument designed to allow for latitude, longitude, equation of time, and magnetic variation, making a "noble effort" to create a sophisticated, portable standard time indicator.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Heliochronometer, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

December 2005 page 160
Graham Aldred

The Lyme Hall Horizontal Equinoctial Sundial

This article details the discovery and reconstruction of a unique 1683 combined horizontal equinoctial sundial at Lyme Hall. The author describes deciphering the inscription "R Legh 1683," examining its robust bronze construction and innovative two-hole sight/screen system. The article also explores the dial's historical context, its owner Richard Legh, and a possible link to George Gibbs's Helio-Chronometer.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2005 page 172
Doug Bateman

The Cross Dial by C V Boys at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

This article investigates the bronze cross dial by C.V. Boys at Kew Gardens, noting its unusual design and puzzling errors in the engraved latitude and longitude. It traces the dial's history, including its temporary display and previous locations within the gardens, and highlights the scientific reputation of its designer, Sir Charles Vernon Boys FRS.
Dials: Polar, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

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

March 2004 page 18
E. Th. Theodossiou
A. Dakanalis

The Vertical Sundial of Hossios Loukas Convent

This article details the discovery of a previously undocumented vertical sundial at the Hossios Loukas Convent in Greece, a significant Byzantine monument. The simple, scratched dial on the Church of the Theotocos wall, featuring Indo-Arabic numerals, is noted as a rare example of sundials on Byzantine buildings in Greece, with its construction date unknown but post-13th century.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2004 page 21
Frank Evans

Mrs. Alfred Gatty, Author of 'The Book of Sundials'

This article profiles Margaret Gatty (Mrs. Alfred Gatty), highlighting her diverse legacy in children's stories, seaweed studies, and her seminal work, 'The Book of Sundials'. It covers her early life, artistic talents, marriage, motherhood, and scientific interests, emphasising her dedication to collecting sundial mottoes which culminated in her famous book.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2004 page 26
Tony Wood

Achtung - Sonnenuhr!

This article recounts an unusual incident from World War II where a German airman, Gottfried Treue, crash-landed at 'The Folly' in Gloucestershire in 1940 and broke his jaw on a sundial. The article describes the octagonal brass dial's features and its unique motto, "Time is Money," noting its current status as a "timeless memorial."
Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2004 page 27
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings 2003

This article reviews notable sundial sales from 2003, highlighting various portable dials sold at auctions like Sotheby's and Christie's. It features different types of dials, including Butterfield dials, Universal Equinoctial Ring dials, String Gnomon dials, Miner's Dials, and a rare Elizabethan compass dial, discussing their features, makers, and sale prices.
Dials: Astrolabe, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

March 2004 page 33
Tony Wood

From the Mental Home and Workhouse

This article explores two historically significant sundial-related discoveries: a door from a demolished Mental Home in Wiltshire covered with calculations for a meridian line, and a scratch dial on the wall of a Nottinghamshire workhouse. It delves into the stories of the 'inmates' who created these and speculates on their accuracy and purpose.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

June 2004 page 47
Mike Cowham

Magnetic Azimuth Dials

Historical and technical discussion of magnetic azimuth dials from the 17th century, including Dieppe ivory examples, London surveying instruments, and design considerations for modern reconstructions.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Unusual, 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

June 2004 page 59
John Wall

The Wayfarer’s Clock – Revisited

Historical research on the term 'Horologium Viatorum' in Anglo-Saxon and early medieval manuscripts, its links to portable sundial analogues, and its reinterpretation in fixed stone dials.
Historical Dials

June 2004 page 63
Ken Head

A Pair of Dials in Vendome, France

Report on two unusual dials above the doorway of Vendôme’s museum, one a vertical sundial and the other with a noon line with analemma, with observations on possible missing features.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2004 page 76
Lee Borrett

A Square Dial of 1709

Examination of a square stone vertical dial dated 1709, with notes on its location, condition, and historical context, and a request for help in identifying its maker.
Historical Dials

June 2004 page 77
Anthony Capon

Variety in Uniformity: An Oxymoron

Discussion of a sundial design of which many examples have been found round the country by the author, with a request for information about its designer, date and decoration
Historical Dials

June 2004 page 86
Tony Wood

The First Dial at Chastleton House, Oxfordshire

Investigation into the earliest known dial at Chastleton House, including historical documentation and physical description.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2004 page 100

From the Register

Selections from the BSS Register highlighting notable dials (examples from Suffolk), with location, brief technical notes and historical context for each featured entry.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2004 page 101
E. Th. Theodossiou
Y. Kouris
V. N. Manimanis

The vertical sundial of Saint Lavrentios Convent

Study of a white marble vertical dial set into the south wall of the convent church: description of its semicircular plate, upside-down placement, ancient Greek numerals and discussion of likely origins (reuse from earlier Latin/antique fabric or a Byzantine installation).
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2004 page 105
Harriet James

Restoration of the sundial on Market Lavington Church

Conservation report for an east-declining carved sandstone dial: cleaning, uncovering original fixing holes, mortar repairs, paint-infill of hour lines and fitting a new brass gnomon; includes measured declination and assessment of layout inaccuracies.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, 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

September 2004 page 124
P. A. Auber

The cylindrical box of Antoninus Pius — Part 1

Analysis of the small Roman bronze ‘cylindrical box’ with pierced disks in Vienna; interprets the object as a portable/rolling sundial (viatoria pensilia), applies Padre Secchi calculations and discusses mounting/suspension possibilities and function.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, 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

December 2004 page 143
P. A. Auber

The cylindrical box of Antoninus Pius — part 2

Concluding analysis of the Roman cylindrical portable dial/box. Examines iconography, construction hypotheses (lateral hole or pivot gnomon), latitude and use-mode limitations, accuracy concerns and comparisons with related museum pieces; concludes it is plausibly a status object with limited gnomonic precision.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

December 2004 page 156

From the register

Short item featuring an interesting dial from the Register
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2004 page 157
David Scott

The Anglo-Saxon sundial on St Maurice's Church, Winchester

Detailed description and interpretation of the Anglo-Saxon sundial at St Maurice's Church: physical characteristics, carving motifs, probable dating, placement on the fabric and assessment of its historical and gnomonic significance.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

December 2004 page 163
Michael J. Harley
Harriet James

Five sundials at Dunmore, Co. Donegal

Survey of five McClintock sundials at Dunmore estate, including the 1843 Melville slate dial and its 2003 restoration, the 1936 vertical dial, the 1939 heliochronometer, construction details, inscriptions, and the estate's dial-making history.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

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 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

March 2003 page 15

Readers' Letters

A selection of letters from members discussing the Crowan dial, mass dials, lines of coincidence, and leaded-in gnomons.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2003 page 29
Tony Wood

Two Further China Dials

Description of two additional China sundials, extending previous findings with observations on layout and form.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2003 page 30
Margaret Stanier

A Meridian Line in Palermo Cathedral

Study of a historical meridian line in Palermo Cathedral, its astronomical accuracy, and interpretive significance.
Historical Dials

March 2003 page 40
Tony Wood

The Dials at St Mary's, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire

Descriptive study of multiple dials found at St Mary's Church, including layout, inscriptions, and historical context.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

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

June 2003 page 71
E. Th. Theodossiou
V. N. Manimanis

The Sundial at Novodevitchiy Convent in Moscow

A description and analysis of the large vertical sundial located at the Novodevitchiy Convent in Moscow. The article details its construction, including the size and markings on the semicircular plate and its plain iron rod gnomon.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

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

June 2003 page 87
J. P. Lester

A Dozen Dials: A Warwickshire Walk

A guide to a walking tour in Warwickshire to see a number of sundials. It describes the locations and characteristics of several dials along the route.
Historical Dials

September 2003 page 91
Mike Cowham

Fakes and Forgeries (or How to identify an imitation dial)

This article discusses how to recognise fake or imitation sundials. It provides a list of points to consider, such as the material used, how the markings were applied (engraved, punched, or etched), and the presence of suspicious mottoes or dates. The author also suggests tools for investigation and discusses common errors made by both forgers and legitimate makers.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

September 2003 page 113
Charles De Boer

Marking Time in Gnosall

A historical account of sundials and clocks at St Lawrence's Church in Gnosall. The article details the installation and replacement of various clocks and sundials over time, including an octagonal dial plate from 1721 which is now preserved indoors. It also mentions a new dial made in 1992.
Historical Dials

September 2003 page 116
Mike Cowham

The Discovery of a Spherical Sundial at Hilton, Cambridgeshire

A discussion about a spherical sundial discovered in the village of Hilton. The article compares it to other historical spherical dials and suggests it may have been incorrectly restored.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2003 page 128

A Sundial in California

This entry describes a large horizontal sundial in San Francisco, California. Built in 1913 as a 'come-on' for a new housing development.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

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

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

December 2003 page 169
Tony Wood

The Housman Tomb and Sundial

A short study of the tomb sundial of poet A. E. Housman, reflecting on its layout, symbolism, and poetic associations.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mottoes

March 2002 page 3

Obituary of Rene Rohr

Tribute to Rene Rohr, highlighting his contributions to sundial design, literature, and his role in the BSS.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

March 2002 page 27
Tony Wood

Small Mystery in York

Reports on an unusual stained glass window sundial in York with a curiosity in the painting of a wrongly deliniated sundial in its centre.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

March 2002 page 35
Mike Cowham

The Horary Quadrant

Overview of the design and historical use of various horary quadrants.
Dialling Tools, Historical Dials

March 2002 page 42
Gerald Stancey

More Railway Sundials

Brief survey of some sundials seen by railway stations in Italy
Historical Dials

June 2002 page 46
John Moir

Shadowy Secrets (Part 3) - The Pigpen Mystery Solved

A ciphered sundial motto in Italy is decoded using a Masonic pigpen cipher; the story follows the decoding process and offers a translation.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 48
John Wall

Railway Time (3)

Explores the history and construction of the Stephenson sundial at Killingworth, discussing its educational significance and astronomical correctness.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 52
Shaul Adam

Ancient Sundials of Israel, Part 1: Sundials Found in Jerusalem

Archaeological survey of ancient sundials discovered in Jerusalem, including conical and hemispherical dials, their contexts, and cultural relevance.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 58
Roger Bowling
Tony Wood

Two Horizontal Scratch Dials in Scotland (and One in England)

Documents rare horizontal scratch dials found in Scottish churchyards and compares them to a similar English example, discussing their form and function.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

June 2002 page 63
Harriet James

The Sundials at Wadham College, Oxford

Historical investigation into two chapel sundials at Wadham College, including pictorial and documentary evidence of their former designs.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 69
E. Wilson

The Sundial at Castletown, Isle of Man

Description and analysis of a unique local sundial in Castletown with regional design features.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 76
Mike Cowham

Telling the Time at Night

Explores historical and modern approaches to determining time after sunset using nocturnals and other devices.
Dials: Vertical, Dials: Portable, Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

June 2002 page 80
Frank Evans

A Note on the Conservation of the Anglo-Saxon Dial at Dalton-le-Dale, County Durham

Brief report on preservation efforts for an early medieval dial, with notes on materials and techniques.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 2002 page 82
Walter Wells

A Curious Sundial and a Question of Attribution

Presents a sundial of uncertain origin with unique design elements, and speculates on its maker.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2002 page 91
Tony Wood

New Zealand: Four Dials and a Diallist

The author explores four distinctive sundials across New Zealand, discussing their design, settings, and local cultural influences, with special focus on Ray Sanson’s dials.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2002 page 109
Shaul Adam

Ancient Sundials of Israel Part 2: Sundials Found in Israel Outside Jerusalem

Continuation of a study cataloguing archaeological sundials discovered in various parts of Israel outside Jerusalem, detailing design, materials, and historical significance.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2002 page 115
Margaret Stanier

The Twentieth Century

An essay reflecting on the evolution of sundial making and the Society's activities during the 20th century, highlighting significant developments and personalities.
Dials: Bifilar, Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Heliochronometer, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

September 2002 page 126
E. Th. Theodossiou
V. N. Manimanis
E.-M. Kalyva

The Horizontal Sundial of Athens

Technical and historical study of a well-preserved ancient Greek horizontal sundial located in Athens, analysing its construction and use.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

September 2002 page 129
J. P. Lester

In Pursuit of Shropshire Dials

A personal account of locating and documenting sundials in Shropshire, discussing stylistic features, history, and condition.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

December 2002 page 135
Tony Belk

The Isaac Morris Moondial

A detailed explanation of a unique 1803 sundial with a moon time calculator by Isaac Morris, exploring its design, mathematics, and possible use for tide prediction.
Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

December 2002 page 137
Tony Wood

Book Review

Review of 'Time in Rutland', a comprehensive survey of bells, clocks, scratch dials, and sundials in Rutland, with illustrations and gazetteer entries.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

December 2002 page 145
Tony Wood

The Sundial at St Tewdric's, Mathern, South Wales

Field visit report on a large vertical church sundial in Mathern, including physical description, estimated dating, and call for other large-dial contenders.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

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

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

December 2002 page 168
Len Burge

The Crowan Dial: First Impressions

Observations on an unusual slate dial-plate from Crowan, Cornwall, including physical description and preliminary thoughts on its age and type.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials

December 2002 page 172
Mike Cowham

A Sundial in South Carolina, USA

Short article describing a modern sundial built in the USA, highlighting its layout, construction, and purpose.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

March 2001 page 13
John S. Reid

King's College Chapel Sundial, Aberdeen

An overview of the sundial located at King's College Chapel in Aberdeen. It covers the historical background of the dial, its unique design features, and any notable events or figures associated with its existence. It may also detail recent preservation or restoration efforts, highlighting the challenges and techniques used to maintain this historical timekeeping instrument.
Historical Dials

June 2001 page 47
Michael Lowne

The Design and Characteristics of the Double-Horizontal Sundial

This comprehensive article details the double-horizontal sundial, distinguishing it from William Oughtred's earlier portable instrument. It explains its design, historical prevalence from 1630-1713, and methods for reading its complex graduations. The author also discusses modern examples and the use of stereographic projection in its delineation, providing a list of existing historical and contemporary dials.
Dials: Double Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 2001 page 60
Tony Kitto

Richard Towneley and the Equation of Natural Days

This article discusses the 17th-century work of Richard Towneley and John Flamsteed on the Equation of Time. It highlights their correspondence and experiments aimed at validating the Equation of Time and confirming the Earth's constant rotational speed, discussing earlier publications and the ongoing controversies surrounding this astronomical concept.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2001 page 79
Mike Cowham

Dating a Sundial by Calendar Change

Mike Cowham explains how the historical change from the Julian to Gregorian calendars can serve as a dating aid for sundials. He outlines methods for identifying pre- and post-1752 dials based on calendar scales and Equation of Time tables, providing examples from historical quadrants and portable dials across Europe.
Equation of Time, Historical Dials

September 2001 page 91
Shaul Adam

A Medieval Sundial in Jerusalem

A newly discovered medieval scratch dial in the Armenian Church in Jerusalem is detailed. Discovered on the southern wall, it's a half-circle with 12 hour sectors marked by Armenian letters. A simpler "twin sundial" is also present, possibly for different religious needs. Historical evidence suggests the dials date to the 12th century, making them the first post-Byzantine sundials found in Israel.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

September 2001 page 92
John Wall

Old Father Time

This article explores three freestanding stone "Father Time" statues in Britain, each incorporating a horizontal sundial. All are attributed to sculptor John Nost from the early 18th century and feature sundial plates by Thomas Heath. The article discusses the origin of the Father Time iconography and notes the uniqueness of these statues in depicting him with a sundial rather than an hourglass.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

September 2001 page 111
David W. Hughes

Book Review - "The Universe Unveiled. Instruments and Images through History"

A review of "The Universe Unveiled. Instruments and Images through History", based on the Adler Planetarium"s collection. The book showcases historical astronomical instruments and illustrations, explaining how they contributed to understanding celestial movements. The reviewer praises the book's stunning visuals and engaging narrative, recommending it as an introduction to the history of post-Copernican astronomy.
Dials: Astrolabe, Book Reviews, Historical Dials

September 2001 page 114
Mike Cowham

The Gatty Family - Part 3

The third part of a series on the Gatty family, focusing on the children of Mrs. Gatty, author of "Book of Sun-dials." It highlights their literary talents, particularly Juliana Horatia Ewing, an eminent children's writer. The article also discusses other authors influenced by Mrs. Gatty's seminal work, detailing various historical sundial books and mottoes.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, Mottoes

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 135
Mike Cowham

Counting the Hours

This article details ancient timekeeping systems, including Babylonian hours from sunrise, Italian hours from sunset, and the Arabs' midnight-start 24-hour day. It also explores Japanese unequal hours, divided into 12 'tokis', noting their abandonment in 1873 for international time. The evolution of numerals on sundials, from early European to Arabic and stylised forms, is also discussed.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2001 page 138
Michael Lowne

The Design and Characteristics of the Double-Horizontal Sundial

This article examines the double-horizontal sundial, a 17th-century invention by William Oughtred. It features two sets of graduations: one for an inclined polar gnomon and another for a central vertical gnomon, operating from altitude and azimuth. The article details its design, use for time, date, and solar altitude, and discusses its self-setting property and limitations due to orientation error.
Dials: Double Horizontal, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

December 2001 page 147
Don Petrie

Wales, 2001

This article reports on the 2001 Wales Sundial Safari, detailing the examination of various sundials across the region. Highlights include a rare bridge sundial, historical church dials, a heliochronometer, and an ancient Celtic stele dial. The tour also featured a moon dial, various horizontal and vertical designs, and complex multi-component dials like the 1595 Marrington Hall example, showcasing Wales's diverse gnomonic heritage.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

December 2001 page 158
Tony Wood
Mike Cowham

Book Review

This section reviews two books. The first, a reprint of T.W. Cole's 'Origin and Use of Church Scratch-Dials,' covers mass dials and their history. The second reviews Hester Higton's 'Sundials: An Illustrated History of Portable Dials,' praised for its lavish illustrations and historical context of various portable dial types. While generally well-received, factual errors regarding dial functionality and minor layout issues are noted in Higton's work.
Book Reviews, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

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

December 2001 page 166
David Levitt

Three Jersey Sundials

This article details three interesting sundials on Jersey. St Brelade's Church features an 1837 south-facing vertical dial with a unique Equation of Time indicator. A circa 1825 vertical declining dial by Elias le Gros in St Helier's Royal Square is notable for its history of obliteration and restoration. The third is a possible medieval Mass Dial, a carved stone found partially buried, suggesting its age and raising questions about its original function.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

December 2001 page 169
John Wall

Railway Time (2)

This article, the second part on railway-related sundials, describes two identical horizontal sundials commissioned in 1992. They commemorate the centenary of the Rochers de Naye mountain railway in Switzerland. These bronze dials feature a cogwheel design, an Equation of Time graph, and separate hour lines for summer and winter. The author notes that electric clocks are still preferred for official timekeeping, and clarifies the one-hour time zone difference between UK and Switzerland.
Dials: Horizontal, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

December 2001 page 171
Andrew James

Mortar for a Vertical Sundial, a Seventeenth Century Recipe

This article presents a 17th-century recipe for a strong mortar, suitable for creating a flat surface for a vertical sundial. From Richard Neve's 'The City and Country Purchaser, and Builder's Dictionary,' it uses lime and sand with linseed oil or skimmed milk. A tougher version includes 'boring/gun dust.' The author notes fast-drying and cracking issues, suggesting alternative preparations, and contextualizes Neve's architectural dictionary.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 2000 page 3
Allan A. Mills

Graeco-Roman Sundials, Part 1: Dials Based on the Sphere

Explores early Greek and Roman hemispherical and hemicyclium sundials, their geometry, historical usage, and accuracy.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

February 2000 page 11
John Wall

Railway Time

Discusses the transition from local time to Greenwich Mean Time prompted by the needs of railway timetables, and a sundial-themed punctuality trophy.
Historical Dials

February 2000 page 16
J. P. Lester

A Meridian Line in Normandy

Describes a visit to a church in Normandy with a meridian line inscribed on the floor, with zodiac signs and associated solar observations.
Historical Dials

February 2000 page 29
Harriet James

Sundials at New College, Oxford

Describes several notable dials at New College, Oxford.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 2000 page 32
Alan Smith

Two Early 18th Century Sundials Restored at Richmond, Yorkshire

Description of restoration of two historical sundials and their historical and technical features.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

February 2000 page 35
David Scott

Sundials in Anglo-Saxon England, Part 4: The Late Period - Aldbrough and Orpington

Concludes a series on Anglo-Saxon sundials, examining late-period examples at two churches.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

February 2000 page 49
Colin McVean

Albert and the Equation of Time

Humorous article on the variation between apparent time and mean time through the year
Equation of Time, Historical Dials

June 2000 page 64
Allan A. Mills

Graeco-Roman Sundials, Part II: Conical and Other Forms

Continues an exploration of ancient sundials, focusing on conical types and their mathematical construction and historical context.
Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

June 2000 page 76
Mike Cowham

The Gatty Family - Part 1

Explores the background and family history of Mrs. Gatty, author of the classic sundial book, focusing on her early influences.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 2000 page 84
John Amson

James Gregory's Meridian Line at St Andrews University, 1673

Discusses Britain’s oldest known meridian line and its historical and astronomical significance.
Historical Dials

June 2000 page 86
Desmond Quinn

Cambridge Sundials Old and New: Lecture Report

Summary of a lecture by Dr Frank King covering sundials in Cambridge, both historic and recent.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 2000 page 88
Michael Lowne

Book Review: 'The Sun in the Church'

Review of John Heilbron's book detailing cathedral meridian lines and the Catholic Church's role in astronomy.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

June 2000 page 91
John Wall

The Search for Pre-Saxon Sundials

Speculative article on the possible existence of sundials before the Saxon period in Britain.
Historical Dials

October 2000 page 109
Mario Arnaldi

Medieval Monastic Sundials with Six Sectors: An Investigation into Their Origin and Meaning

Explores the historical and liturgical rationale behind medieval six-sector sundials, their canonical hour divisions, and theological symbolism.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling

October 2000 page 129
Frank Evans

The British Sundial Society in Scotland 3–11 June 2000

Trip report on a wet BSS expedition to Scotland documenting sundials, including locations, dial types, and travel experiences.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

October 2000 page 149
Mike Cowham

The Gatty Family – Part 2: The Book of Sun-Dials

Continues the historical account of Mrs. Gatty and her influential sundial book, examining its impact and reception.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 4
David Scott

Sundials in Anglo-Saxon England

This article explores Anglo-Saxon sundials, using sparse material and documentary evidence to conjecture their role in daily life. It identifies characteristics distinguishing them from post-Norman dials, discusses their introduction by the Roman Church, and their use in regulating canonical hours in monastic communities.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

February 1999 page 8
Mike Isaacs

A Bernhardt Sundial in Israel

The author recounts discovering a Bernhardt dial at the Hebrew University in Rehovoth, Israel, in 1980. This memorial to Sir Hans Kronberger features special gnomon and dial shapes designed to provide directly read local mean time accurate to within a fraction of a minute.
Dials: Unusual, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 10
Ann Colville

Life with a Heliochronometer

Ann Colville shares memories of growing up with a heliochronometer at Holehird during WWII, where it served as the family's primary timekeeper, for regulating the long case clock. The article highlights its accuracy, the care it received, and its eventual journey to America, now a preserved curiosity.
Historical Dials, Dials: Heliochronometer

February 1999 page 11
John Ingram

A Taste of Italy

This article describes a utilitarian kitchen sundial found at Villa Quirici in Pedona, Italy, which is accurately delineated from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Despite its practicality, its position suggested it was overshadowed until late morning, raising questions about its original function for timing meals.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 12
Michael Carden

Surprises at Heaven's Gate

During restoration of the "Heaven's Gate" folly at Highclere Castle, two surprises were uncovered: a chimney flue in the pediment and a sundial engraved on the underside of an urn lid, dated 1737. The author theorizes the sundial was made by masons to regulate their workday.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 14
Mike Shaw

A Conical Sundial: Review of 2 Offprints

This review discusses two papers on conical sundials, a less familiar type compared to the hemicyclium. It focuses on a conical dial found at Abu Mina, Egypt, dating from the 1st to 3rd century A.D., analyzing its construction, accuracy, and challenging previous interpretations of its markings.
Book Reviews, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe

February 1999 page 19
Denys Vaughan

The Altitude Sundials of Humphrey Cole

This paper examines two unusual altitude sundials by Humphrey Cole from the Science Museum, one from 1568-1569 and another from 1574. It analyzes their unique gnomon operation for measuring sun height and reading hours, suggesting a new sub-section in sundial classification for Cole's distinctive horizontal plate altitude dials.
Dials: Portable, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

February 1999 page 23
Graham Aldred

The Holehird Helio-Chronometer

This article details the restoration and reinstallation of the Pilkington & Gibbs Helio-Chronometer at Holehird. It recounts its history, its protection by a glass bell jar, and the innovative security measures implemented for its current display, allowing it to accurately tell time for another century.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Heliochronometer

February 1999 page 46
Frank Coe

Northamptonshire

Frank Coe compares sundial references in Arthur Mee's 1947 "King's England" volume for Northamptonshire with the 1996 BSS Register. He identifies eleven Mee-listed sundials present in the Register, nine others that are now lost or uncatalogued, and 28 'mass' or 'scratch' dials, mostly on churches.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

June 1999 page 55
Doug Bateman

A Meridian Dial in a Subscription Library, Nottingham

This article describes a rare 1834 meridian dial in Nottingham's Bromley House Subscription Library. It features a brass strip on the first floor, which was covered for 150 years. The dial was used to ascertain Local Apparent Noon and is complemented by two longcase clocks with inscribed time differences. Efforts are underway for its partial restoration, noting its excellent condition in fine surroundings.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

June 1999 page 70
John Moir

Putting the Shepherd's Dyal on the Map

This article investigates a hillside sundial, known as the "Shepherd's Dyal," in Settle, Yorkshire, depicted in a 1720 sketch by Samuel Buck. It examines the dial's creation, disappearance between 1750 and 1779, and functionality. The analysis suggests the dial, with stone hour markers, was likely laid out empirically at the Summer Solstice, making it useful as a time-keeper only for a few weeks around mid-summer.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1999 page 72
Mike Cowham

Dial Dealings

This article reviews recent sundial sales at Christies and Sotheby's, highlighting several exciting and rare items. It describes five ivory diptych dials, an inclining dial by Chapotot, an astronomical ring dial attributed to Louvain (c.1550), a medieval astrolabe from the 14th century, a mechanical equinoctial dial by J. J. Knittel, a scaphe dial by Georg Hartmann (1547), and unique dials by Timothee Collet (c.1675).
Historical Dials

June 1999 page 76
Peter Ransom

China Sundials

This article describes collecting crested china sundials, small porcelain souvenirs popular in Victorian and Edwardian times, which feature coats of arms. The author details his collection, including pieces from Carlton China and Willow Art, noting their dimensions, gnomon angles, and inaccuracies for specific locations. He also shares a motto found on one piece and resources for other collectors.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

June 1999 page 83
David Scott

Sundials in Anglo-Saxon England: Part 2, The Early Period-Escomb and Corhampton

This article examines two well-preserved Anglo-Saxon sundials at Escomb (County Durham, 7th-8th century) and Corhampton (Hampshire, late 7th century). It details their unique designs, locations, historical context, and possible symbolic meanings for newly converted Christians, suggesting their primary purpose was not necessarily precise time measurement but rather religious instruction and marking services.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 1999 page 87
Paul Gagnaire

The Scaphe of Carthage

This article describes a rare eyelet-hole scaphe sundial discovered at a Roman villa in Carthage, dating to 1st century AD or later. It details the marble artefact's exterior, including oak-leaf decoration and a fixing wedge, and its highly polished interior with seven non-concentric curves and eleven hour lines. Unique inscriptions in Greek and Latin Julian month names, including 'Augustus' (dating it after 9 BC), and zodiac signs mark its exceptional nature.
Dials: Scaphe, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1999 page 92
David J. Boullin

Sundials by Francis Barker & Son

This article investigates sundials manufactured by Francis Barker & Son, a renowned London-based firm (1850-1926) specializing in horizontal garden dials. It describes specific examples, like one at the RHS Wisley, and discusses their promotion through "advertising tie-ins" in the Horological Journal. The article highlights two notable designs: one showing distances to various places and another displaying local time at different latitudes globally, showcasing their quality and elaborate engraving.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 1999 page 100
Frank Evans
Rosemary Evans

Some Early Sundials of Northumbria

This article classifies seventeen Anglo-Saxon sundials in Northumbria, categorizing them into four types based on design evolution from the 7th-8th century onwards. It details specific dials at Escomb, Dalton-le-Dale, Staindrop, Hart, and others, describing their physical characteristics, historical context, and erosion. The authors suggest a decline in construction delicacy over time and emphasize the need for conservation of these antiquities.
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

October 1999 page 107
Ken Head

The Sundial of St Mary's Stoke D'Abernon, Surrey

This article discusses the sundial at St Mary's Church, Stoke D'Abernon, a 7th-century Saxon church. It details the 1933 remaking of the dial after a fall, based on pre-Conquest prototypes shown in 19th-century sketches. The current replica is believed to be unique as the only known Saxon dial replica on a church wall in the UK, with markings consistent with an octaval system.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

October 1999 page 108
Peter Ransom

Two Sun Dials in Andover, Hampshire

This article describes two sundials in Andover, Hampshire, both linked to William Hawkins Heath (1787-1861), a brewer and banker. One, dated 1846, is on London Street with the motto 'Respice Finem' and an equation of time table bears just the initials W.H.H. The second, dated 1833, is in poor condition on the Savoy Cinema (formerly Heath House) and bears his full name, solving the initials riddle. The article details Heath's family business and civic roles.
Dials: Vertical, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Mottoes

October 1999 page 122
David Scott

Sundials in Anglo-Saxon England Part 3: The Middle Period - Darlington and Pittington

This article examines Anglo-Saxon sundials from England's middle period (10th century revival), focusing on Darlington and Pittington. It traces their derivation from the Graeco-Roman hemicycle, adapted for early Christian communities, incorporating four-part day divisions. The Darlington dial, carved on both sides, shows evolution in design and symbolic meanings. The Pittington dial is noted as England's earliest six-division example, influenced by Italian and Byzantine styles, potentially reflecting a rearrangement of canonical hours.
Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

October 1999 page 139
Milutin Tadic

Old Sundials on the Territory of Former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

This article surveys 214 fixed sundials in the former SFR Yugoslavia, now divided into multiple new states. It highlights a Roman spherical dial from Sremska Mitrovica, the oldest Serbian sundial at Studenica Monastery (12th century), and the horizontal dial at Belgrade Observatory. It notes the scarcity of sundials in Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina due to Turkish reign, and discusses Italian-influenced medieval stone dials on the Croatian Adriatic coast, including one in Dubrovnik with both contemporary and old Italian hour scales.
Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Portable, Dials: Scaphe, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 10
Margaret Folkard
John Ward
Margaret Stanier (introduction)

Sun Compass Based on an Artefact Found at Uunartoq Fjord, SW Greenland

Introduces a reconstructed sun compass inspired by a Greenland find and sets it in Norse navigation: maintaining latitude by noon Sun and Polaris, with practical insights on use at high latitudes and during seasons when both Sun and star are visible.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 13
Nicola Severino

A Cushion Sundial

Notes an article from 1896 describing a dial found in a tomb of the VII or VIIIth century, with equal hour lines, which would be the earliest known dial in Europe with 'astronomical' hours.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 14
Graham Aldred

Dunchurch Lodge and the Heliochronometer

A site note on a heliochronometer at Dunchurch Lodge, describing layout, reading, and mechanical features of this precision time-telling instrument and its context on the estate.
Dials: Heliochronometer, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 19
Mike Shaw

The Poulton Hall Sundial

Describes the Poulton Hall dial on the Wirral peninsula: setting, design features and inscriptions, with observations on the equation of time using the pre-Gregorian calendar, an the lack of a noon gap.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 22
Mario Arnaldi

Sundials Painted in the Cloister of an Italian Monastery

Survey of painted dials in a monastery cloister at Taggia (Imperia), noting multiple faces, canonical hours and decorative treatments, with historical context and observations on preservation.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

February 1998 page 28
John Pickard

A 19th Century Vernacular Horizontal Sundial from Outback Australia

Field note on a simple home-made vernacular horizontal dial from outback Australia, describing fabric, gnomon form and scale, with comments on accuracy of delineation and local use.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 36
Nicoletta Lanciano

Four Meridian Lines in Rome

Account of four meridian lines in Rome: noon-mark function, layout and observational practice, with notes on accuracy and historical purpose.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

February 1998 page 46
Karlheinz Schaldach

A Plea for a New Look at Roman Portable Dials

Argues for re-evaluation of Roman portable dials: forms, readings and classification, urging fresh analysis of surviving pieces and their interpretation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1998 page 4
Denis Schneider

Ancient Egyptian Shadow Clocks

A history of ancient Egyptian methods of time measurement, from early shadow clocks to later step-sundials. It explains how these instruments worked, their limitations, and mentions the work of Jean-Francois Champollion in identifying one.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1998 page 9
Jane Walker

A Sundial at Windsor Castle

This article details a sundial located on the North Terrace of Windsor Castle, commissioned by Charles II and crafted by Grinling Gibbons. It describes the intricate engravings on the gnomon, featuring the King's monogram, and the dial-plate with the Garter Star and motto. It also touches upon the challenges of its conservation.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 1998 page 14
Mario Arnaldi

Da Buti, Dante and the Measure of Time

This article discusses the division of the day as described in Dante's 'Divine Comedy' and the commentary by Da Buti, explaining how the church used seasonal hours and placed offices around the hour of midday. It also connects the hourly markers on a sundial to the end of time periods rather than the beginning.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 1998 page 41
Lajos Bartha

Two Scratch Dials and Two Modern Dials in Hungary

This article reports on the discovery of two medieval vertical scratched dials on churches in Narda and Sopron, Hungary, dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. It also features two recently constructed sundials on historical buildings in Szombathely and Pannonhalma, illustrating both ancient and contemporary gnomonic practices in Hungary.
Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 3
John Moir

Shadowy Secrets: The Lure of the Obscure (Part 1)

This article explores hidden meanings, symbolism, and imagery in sundials. It delves into devices like chronograms, palindromes, anagrams, rebuses, and "false identity" dials, presenting examples and puzzles (with solutions) related to cryptic inscriptions and designs.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Mottoes, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1998 page 6
Margaret Stanier

The Mass Dial Group in East Anglia

Reports on the Mass Dial group's weekend hunt in East Anglia, organised by Dr. John Davis. Members explored churches in Norfolk and Suffolk, locating 155 dials on 109 churches, despite challenges like rain and overgrown churchyards. The report also touches upon local architecture, like round towers, and the gradual disappearance of older dials.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

October 1998 page 10
John Moir
Peter Ransom

The Newbury Meeting 20 June 1998

This report summarises the BSS Newbury meeting on the eve of the Summer Solstice. It covers talks on Hampshire sundials, raised horizontal dials, astro-compass conversions, and a sun compass. The event also featured an exhibition of various sundials and computer programs, highlighting members' ingenuity and the collaborative spirit of the society.
DIY Sundial Projects, Dialling Tools, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

October 1998 page 12
Manfred Hüttig

Analysis of the Sundials on the Tower of the Winds, Athens: Possible Parameters Used in Construction

This article presents a detailed analysis of the ancient sundials on the Tower of the Winds in Athens using high-precision geodetic data. The study aims to identify the cardinal design parameters, such as geographic latitude, ecliptic angle, and gnomon length, used in their construction. It explores historical measurements and proposes a plausible interpretation for the cylindrical dial.
Dials: Cylindrical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1998 page 20
Andrew J. Ogden

Mass Dials in Ireland

This article explores the scarcity of early Christian mass dials in Ireland, contrasting it with their prevalence in England and France. It discusses the potential fate of portable dials, the discovery of a 'Sundial' stone at Boyle Abbey with curious markings, and poses questions about its purpose to readers.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 24

Readers' Letters

This section features a collection of correspondence from readers covering diverse topics. These include the origin of Bernhardt Dials, methods for finding the meridian, updates on Newbury BSS meetings, a problematic sundial in Lluc, Mallorca, discussions on the 'Eureka' credit card compass, and inquiries about spherical and 'problematic' Italian dials.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

October 1998 page 30
Sarah Symons

Shadow Clocks and Sloping Sundials of the Egyptian New Kingdom and Late Period: Usage, Development and Structure

This article explores two types of ancient Egyptian sundials: L-shaped shadow clocks and sloping sundials. It discusses their religious and practical contexts, refutes the 'crossbar hypothesis' for shadow clocks, and traces the evolution of these instruments through hieroglyphs. The article concludes that these devices served as symbolic representations rather than accurate time-keepers.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 37
Milutin Tadic

Sundials: The Silent Voice of Time

This article documents the impact of the civil war in former Yugoslavia on some sundials in Sarajevo, illustrating their destruction and disappearance. Through before-and-after photographs, it shows a marble sundial damaged by a shell fragment, a faculty building dial hit by artillery, and a west-facing wall dial that vanished, highlighting how even these silent timekeepers suffer during conflict.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 38
Mike Shaw
John M'Caul (translator)
Milutin Tadic

Reviews: Offprints

This section reviews three offprints: Dr. Wall's study of Anglo-Saxon sundials in Ryedale, detailing octaval day divisions; Finn Magnusen's monograph on ancient Scandinavian time divisions and 'daymarks'; and Dr. Milutin Tadic's paper on old sundials in Serbian lands, covering Roman, medieval, and 19th-century examples, noting their scarcity due to Turkish rule.
Book Reviews, Historical Dials

October 1998 page 44
Karlheinz Schaldach

Cross-Beam Ciphers

This article investigates the history and interpretation of cross-beam ciphers found on medieval sundials and calendars across Northern and Central Europe. It challenges previous terminologies like 'carpenter's numerals' and 'Styrian ciphers', proposing a new theory that these ciphers originated from condensed counting frames (abaci) used for financial calculations.
Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

January 1997 page 16
John Moore

Portable Dials - Care and Restoration

Practical guidance on cleaning, conserving, and restoring portable sundials, including brass, silver, and ivory examples. Covers safe cleaning methods, corrosion prevention, protective coatings, and storage recommendations to preserve both functionality and historical integrity.
Historical Dials, Restoration projects

January 1997 page 21
R. P. M. Holliday

Umkhonto We Langa Sundials

An account of sundials in South Africa’s Umkhonto We Langa area, describing their design, cultural significance, and local craftsmanship. Discusses both historical context and modern appreciation.
Historical Dials

January 1997 page 45
Charles K. Aked

Sundial House

Description of the sundials at Sundial House in Culcheth, Greater Manchester, their historical setting, and unique design elements. Notes on their preservation and cultural value.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

April 1997 page 11
Michael Lowne

An Analysis of Some Mass Dials of Sussex and Kent

A systematic study of seventy medieval mass dials, analysing their patterns, calibrations, and probable uses, with observations on design variations, dating, and functional purpose.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

April 1997 page 17
Th. J. J. van den Heiligenberg

A Story of Naturalised Dutch Twins

An historical narrative tracing two related sundials from the Netherlands found in England, exploring their origins, makers, and cultural journey.
Historical Dials

April 1997 page 29
Allan A. Mills

Sundials at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

A survey of the varied sundials at Kew Gardens, describing their designs, historical backgrounds, and placement within the gardens’ landscape.
Historical Dials

April 1997 page 34
Alan Smith

Restoration of an 18th Century Vertical Sundial

A case study in the careful restoration of an old vertical sundial, detailing the methods used, historical context, and preservation considerations.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

April 1997 page 37
Colin J. Thorne

Walker, Fecit, Dublin

An investigation into a Dublin-made sundial by the maker Walker, examining its craftsmanship, historical significance, and distinguishing features.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

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

April 1997 page 48
Nicola Severino

The Pelignum

A discussion of the Pelignum, a lesser-known sundial form, exploring its history, design, and cultural significance.
Historical Dials

April 1997 page 51
Charles K. Aked

Queen's College Sundial

An account of the Queen’s College sundial, its history, design, and significance within its architectural setting.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

July 1997 page 3
Shaul Adam

Sundials in Israel

This article provides a historical overview of sundials in Israel, from ancient biblical references and archaeological artifacts to sundial makers of the 20th century. It describes various types of dials, including hemicycliums, portable stone dials, and modern vertical and horizontal dials.
Dials: Hemispherical, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

July 1997 page 8
Frank Evans

The Stephenson Sundial at Killingworth

A short piece about the south-facing sundial designed and built by George and Robert Stephenson in 1816, of which they were very proud, delineating it from first principles.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

July 1997 page 15
R. A. Nicholls
Michael Lowne

Window Dial at Apuldram, West Sussex

This article investigates a window dial in a church at Apuldram, using a vertical gnomon, thus being accurate on only two days in the year, one of which is the patronal saints day. It discusses the history of the church and the dial, and that the architectural changes to the church mean that the dial is now shaded for half the time.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

July 1997 page 20
Charles K. Aked

The Angel of Chartres

This article explores the history and function of the sundial at Chartres Cathedral, which is known as 'The Angel of Chartres'. It discusses how the dial provided local solar time and served as a benchmark for timekeeping, even after the introduction of mechanical clocks.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

July 1997 page 37
Gordon E. Taylor

Dials of Bonar

A corrected version of a table of compass directions of ports on four Bonar sundials
Historical Dials

October 1997 page 8
Desmond Quinn

The Turnbull Dial

This article describes the Turnbull Dial at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, a 26-foot pillar featuring a total of 27 dials. Designed in 1579-1583 by Charles Turnbull, it includes a principal south-facing dial, a perpetual calendar, tables for planetary years and lunar months, and moon-time corrections. The dials use the old unequal hour system, and the pillar has undergone several restorations.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Scaphe, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

October 1997 page 13
Mario Arnaldi

Ancient Sundials of Ireland

This survey details the unique sundials of early Irish monastic communities (6th-15th centuries), cut from single stone steles and often engraved with crosses. Used by monks for religious services, these dials feature varying hour lines and decorative elements for canonical hours. The article describes specific examples and discusses their construction, placement in cemeteries, and the debate over large gnomon holes.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

October 1997 page 51
Doug Bateman

More Sundials of Hesse, Germany

This section provides photographs of various sundials in Hesse, Germany, including a stone equatorial dial by Kieling, a vertical declining dial by Schaldach, a mass dial on a church buttress in Steinau, and a sundial in a park in St. Goarshausen.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 1996 page 12
R. A. Nicholls
Michael Lowne

Two Unusual Mass Dials in Dorset

A technical analysis of two rare mass dials found on a Dorset church, discussing their design, orientation, and potential liturgical functions.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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

February 1996 page 19
David J. Boullin

The Sundials of the Talmont

A survey of sundials in the Talmont region, with historical context and discussion of their styles and condition.
Historical Dials

February 1996 page 33

The Story of the Guernsey Liberation Monument

An account of the sundial monument built in Guernsey to mark its liberation during WWII, and its design.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1996 page 16
John Moore

Portable Dials - Accessories

Examines the features and design variations of historical portable sundials, discussing integrated instruments, storage cases, and accessories like compasses and perpetual calendars.
Dialling Tools, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1996 page 29
Frank Poller

Looking for Cowper's Sundial

A search for a sundial mentioned in the writings of poet William Cowper, blending literary investigation with sundial history and field research.
Historical Dials

June 1996 page 32
David J. Boullin

The Sundials of Talmont II

A follow-up survey of sundials found in the Talmont region, documenting their design features, condition, and historical settings.
Historical Dials

June 1996 page 34
J. P. Lester

The King's England

Reflections on historic sundials mentioned in Arthur Mee’s ‘The King’s England’, with commentary on their cultural and historical context.
Historical Dials

June 1996 page 39
Robert H. Mills

The Chatham Sundial

An overview of a large commemorative sundial in Chatham, highlighting its naval heritage, symbolic design, and community impact.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

June 1996 page 44
Charles K. Aked

The Torquetum

Explains the historical astronomical instrument called the torquetum, its gnomonic uses, and significance in early timekeeping.
Historical Dials

June 1996 page 49
R. A. Nicholls

Thomas Hardy's Dial

An exploration of a sundial associated with Thomas Hardy, linking literary history with dial design and interpretation.
Historical Dials

June 1996 page 52
Charles K. Aked

Groombridge Place Gardens

Describes the sundials and garden layout at Groombridge Place, with commentary on restoration efforts and their historical setting.
Historical Dials

October 1996 page 2
John Moore

Portable Dials - Miscellany

A concluding article in a series about portable dials, detailing lesser-known types such as inclining dials, universal dials, compass dials, cube dials, and novelty items like walking stick dials, with historical context and examples.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 6
Charles K. Aked

The Sundial of St. Gregory's Minster

A comprehensive study of the Saxon sundial at St. Gregory’s Minster, Kirkdale, discussing its historical inscriptions, layout, cultural significance, and the tidal time system used in its design.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 16
Denis Schneider

More Thoughts on Moondials

An in-depth examination of moondial designs and historical interpretations, correcting common errors in classical references, and proposing refinements to improve accuracy and aesthetic integration.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 20
Peter Ransom

The Cross Dial at Bramdean, Hampshire

A technical description of a cross-shaped sundial in Bramdean, examining its geometry, alignment, and historical context, including comparisons with other known cross dials.
Historical Dials

October 1996 page 28
Walter Wells

Dial Makers of Leicestershire

A historical survey of dial makers in Leicestershire, providing names, dates, and details of their craftsmanship and surviving works.
Historical Dials

October 1996 page 29
Charles K. Aked

A Tyneside Shipyard Sundial

An account of a sundial found at a Tyneside shipyard, analysing its design, probable origins, and its place in the maritime and industrial history of the region.
Historical Dials

October 1996 page 32
Karlheinz Schaldach

Vertical Dials of the 5th-15th Centuries

A scholarly examination of vertical sundials from the early medieval to late medieval periods, including typologies, geographic distribution, and functional evolution.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1996 page 44
Peter Ransom

Sundials on Postcards

An exploration of sundials featured on vintage postcards, considering their role as both functional objects and decorative motifs in popular culture.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

February 1995 page 2
Charles K. Aked

Bewcastle Cross

A detailed historical and archaeological analysis of the Bewcastle Cross in Cumbria, focusing on its origins, runic inscriptions, and the embedded early Christian sundial, alongside its stylistic comparisons with other Anglo-Saxon monuments.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

February 1995 page 9
John Moore

The London Dialmakers

An extensive account of portable sundial makers active in London from the 16th to 19th centuries, including guild affiliations, types of dials made, and notable individuals with examples of their work.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1995 page 34
Lajos Bartha
Dr. Szilvia A. Holló

A Medieval Ecclesiastical Sundial at Ráckeve, Hungary

A report on the discovery and analysis of a rare medieval sundial found at a church in Ráckeve, including its historical context and architectural integration.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 1995 page 4
John Moore

Portable Dials - Art and Decoration

A richly illustrated exploration of the decorative aspects of portable sundials, focusing on French and English craftsmanship, including engravings, ivory work, and use of precious metals and symbolic imagery.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1995 page 10
Charles K. Aked

Bewcastle Cross (Part II)

A continuation of the detailed study of the Bewcastle Cross, focusing on its sundial, historical dating, construction theories, and preservation concerns, with references to replicas and Anglo-Saxon design.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 1995 page 19
Giovanni Paltrinieri

La Torre dei Venti in Vaticano

An article in Italian exploring the Tower of the Winds in the Vatican, discussing its architectural and gnomonic features and role in timekeeping history.
Historical Dials

June 1995 page 24
Colin McVean

Anemoscope and Meridian in the Tower of the Winds

A technical and historical discussion on the anemoscope and meridian line within the Vatican's Tower of the Winds, detailing its astronomical and architectural use.
Historical Dials

June 1995 page 27
R. A. Nicholls

A Dial by Richard Melville in Salisbury, Wilts

A report on a vertical sundial attributed to Richard Melville in Salisbury, with discussion of its features, condition, and historical context.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials

June 1995 page 39
Allan A. Mills

The Canterbury Pendant

A detailed study of a multi-faced pendant dial designed to tell time on multiple surfaces, including its design, layout, and astronomical considerations.
Dials: Portable, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

October 1995 page 4
Charles K. Aked

The Ambassadors

A deep exploration of Holbein’s painting 'The Ambassadors', interpreting its rich symbolism, especially the dialling instruments depicted. The article covers the painting’s history, the identities of the subjects, and technical discussion of the dials, torquetum, and polyhedral sundial shown.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

October 1995 page 12
John Moore

Portable Dials – Altitude and Celestial

An illustrated survey of various historical portable sundials that use altitude and celestial methods for timekeeping. Examples include pillar dials, Regiomontanus dials, navicula, scaphe dials, and quadrants, with details on their materials, construction, and principles of operation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1995 page 39
John Moir

The Life and Times of a Hardy Sundial

A biography of a sundial that has endured over time, detailing its installation, wear, weathering, restoration efforts, and its symbolic place in the landscape or community.
Historical Dials

February 1994 page 3
John Moore

The Ivory Diptych Dial - Part 2

In-depth examination of historical ivory diptych sundials, particularly from Nuremberg and Dieppe, their markings, functions, and astrological and calendrical components.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

February 1994 page 9
Charles K. Aked

Sundials in Illustrations

Survey of artistic representations of sundials across centuries, evaluating their accuracy, symbolism, and evolution, with references to works by Holbein and others.
Historical Dials

February 1994 page 28
Peter I. Drinkwater

The Dialling Instruments Depicted in 'The Ambassadors'

Analysis of sundials and astronomical instruments in Holbein’s painting 'The Ambassadors', with insights into symbolism, usage, and historical context.
Historical Dials

February 1994 page 42

Nicholas Kratzer - A Short Biography

Biographical summary of Nicholas Kratzer, a notable early 16th-century diallist and scientific advisor to Henry VIII.
Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

June 1994 page 2
Fred Sawyer

Of Analemmas, Mean Time and the Analemmatic Sundial - Part I

An in-depth historical and mathematical exploration of the analemma and its application in sundial construction. This first part traces its etymology and use from ancient times through Ptolemy, Vitruvius, and Renaissance scholars, connecting it with the development of the analemmatic sundial. Richly referenced and scholarly, it bridges history and design.
Dials: Analemmatic, Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

June 1994 page 7
Girolamo Fantoni

Celestial Dials: An Unusual 'Nocturnal'

This article explores early timekeeping devices designed for night use, especially nocturnals, which rely on the stars. The main focus is on an unusual 18th-century portable nocturnal made in Granada by Cecyl Yode, with reversed hour scales likely referencing Sirius and Vega. The piece blends astronomy, craftsmanship, and mystery.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 11
John Moore

Ring Dials

A comprehensive study of three classic types of ring dials: poke dials, equinoctial ring dials, and astronomical ring dials. The article examines their mechanical function, historical development, geographical usage, and craftsmanship, with detailed illustrations and commentary on their strengths and limitations in practical sundialling.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 18
Hugh H. Franklin

The Barley Corn Circle Measure

A speculative and creative proposal suggesting that the ancients may have used barleycorns—a traditional length unit—to construct circular sundials. The article blends folklore, geometry, and practical experimentation to explore how such a simple method could lead to effective sundial designs.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

June 1994 page 22
Charles K. Aked

The Uranical Astrolabe of John Blagrave

A scholarly exploration of the design and function of a unique astrolabe developed by the 16th-century English mathematician John Blagrave. The article explains its astronomical foundations, innovative features, and historical context, linking it to broader developments in Renaissance scientific instrumentation.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

June 1994 page 30
Allan A. Mills

An Ancient Chinese Sundial with 100 Divisions to the Day

An account of a rare Chinese sundial that divides the day into 100 equal parts, reflecting non-Western conceptions of time. The author explains its structure, cultural context, and implications for timekeeping history, offering a comparative view with European traditions.
Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 32
Giovanni Paltrinieri

The Meridian of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna - Part 1

Part one of a detailed study of the meridian line in San Petronio, a 17th-century astronomical installation in Bologna. The article outlines its construction, alignment, and function in tracking solar time and determining dates such as solstices, serving both scientific and liturgical purposes.
Dials: Noon Lines, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 39
Robert McVean

The Transylvanian Analemmatic Sundial

An examination of an analemmatic sundial discovered in Transylvania, analysing its layout, mathematical principles, and probable origin. The author reflects on its preservation and the unique aspects of its design that distinguish it from Western examples.
Dials: Analemmatic, Historical Dials

June 1994 page 42
René R.-J. Rohr

Portable Sundials in Ancient Rome

A historical overview of portable timekeeping devices in Roman times, such as ring dials and folding dials. The article discusses their construction, inscriptions, and cultural significance, providing archaeological context and interpretations of surviving examples.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 7
Charles K. Aked

The Queen's College Dial, Cambridge

This article describes the large painted sundial in the Old Court of Queens' College, Cambridge. It discusses its history, including early records, refurbishments, and frequent repainting due to paint deterioration. The article refutes the tradition that Sir Isaac Newton designed the dial, details its features like the gilt sun-burst gnomon, Roman numerals, zodiacal signs, and scales for day duration and sunrise time. It also clarifies that it's not a "Moon dial" but has a moon table of dubious utility, and suggests improvements for future restoration for better clarity and accuracy.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 10
Charles K. Aked

The Gate of Honour, Cambridge

This article details the history and restoration of the Gate of Honour at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, which features six sundials. It covers the gate's construction, early repairs and repainting efforts, and its decay over centuries due to porous stone and vandalism. The focus shifts to the 1958-1959 quatercentenary restoration, during which the original painted dials were replaced with expensive bronze plates with enamel fillings. The article also mentions a separate pillar in Caius Court that once housed sixty dials, emphasizing the craftsmanship and decorative nature of these historical timepieces.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

October 1994 page 14
John Moore

The Augsburg Dials

This article explores the history and characteristics of sundials produced in Augsburg, Germany, particularly from the 17th century onwards. It notes Augsburg's reputation for metalworking and clockmaking, which influenced the development of ornate and complicated early sundials. The article describes the mass production of "universal equinoctial dials" from around 1700, their common design, and the incorporation of compasses and latitude lists for European towns. It also highlights finer versions made by Johann Martin and Johann Willebrand, including unique "crescent dials" and "string gnomon dials," and provides a list of known Augsburg sundial makers.
Dials: Equatorial, Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 22
Giovanni Paltrinieri

The Meridian of the Basilica of San Petronio in Bologna (Part II)

This article, the second part of a series, details the reconstruction and ongoing maintenance of the meridian line in the Basilica of San Petronio, Bologna. It describes Eustachio Zanotti's 1776 restoration, which aimed to retain Cassini's original dimensions while improving stability with new materials. The article highlights the meridian's function in accurately determining the vernal equinox and its use for astronomical observations and calendar correction. It also covers Federigo Guarducci's 1904 inspection confirming the instrument's excellent preservation and stability, and discusses an adjacent 1758 mechanical "equation clock" used to reconcile true solar time with mean time.
Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 24
John Wall

The Albert Park, Middlesbrough, Sundial

This article details the unusual vertical direct south sundial in Albert Park, Middlesbrough, a collaborative achievement designed by John Smith and commissioned by H.W.F. Bolckow in 1876. It highlights the dial's numerous literary quotations in four languages, reflecting Victorian spiritual sentiments, and its unique feature of showing time in New York, Melbourne, and Albert Park. The article discusses the dial's dilapidated state, the existence of an almost exact wooden copy (possibly a prototype), and delves into John Smith's eccentric life as a self-taught farmer-astronomer-diallist, tracing his earlier sundial creations and inventions that culminated in this masterpiece.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1994 page 36
René R.-J. Rohr

Lunar Distances

This article discusses the historical method of determining longitude at sea using lunar distances, especially before accurate marine chronometers became widely available. It explains the principle of simultaneous observation of lunar positions relative to stars or planets, and the complex calculations required to correct for various astronomical factors. The article traces the development of lunar ephemerides (tables) from early proposals to the precise tables published by Tobias Mayer in the 18th century and their adoption in national nautical almanacs. It also describes the instruments used, like the sextant, and the intricate process sailors followed, noting the eventual decline of the method with the advent of accurate chronometers and radio communication.
Historical Dials

October 1994 page 40
George Foster

A Sunrise-Sunset Watch

This article describes a personal account of owning and researching a sunrise-sunset watch, a type of astronomical timepiece that became fashionable in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The author, George Foster, details acquiring his watch in 1946 and his subsequent efforts to document it, including comparison with a similar watch owned by Oscar T. Lang. The article provides a detailed description of the watch's dial, which features indications for sunrise, sunset, month, day, hours, and minutes, with a gilt sun on a wheel and blued steel shutters. It also mentions the watch's internal mechanism and the general utility of such watches for travel planning.
Historical Dials

February 1993 page 2
Graham Stapleton

Domifying Circles - Astronomy and Astrology

This article discusses the astrological significance of the sun's position in celestial houses as shown on sundials. It details various systems for dividing the celestial sphere into twelve segments, including Regiomontanus. The theory gives additional meaning to planetary positions, mentioning historical texts and further reading on house division.
Dials: Astrolabe, Historical Dials

February 1993 page 9
Charles K. Aked

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

This article describes the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial, a unique sundial monument designed by Helm Roberts. It details how the gnomon's shadow marks the names of fallen Kentuckians on their death dates, covering computer calculations and verification processes for this symbolic memorial.
Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

February 1993 page 18
G. Camus
P. de Divonne
A. Gotteland
B. Taillez

The Meridians of St Sulpice Church, Paris, (Part 1)

This article describes two meridians in St Sulpice Church, Paris, by Henry Sully (1727) and Charles Le Monnier (1743). It discusses their purpose for time measurement and astronomical observations, detailing the historical context of time standardization and their architectural integration within the church.
Dials: Noon Lines, Equation of Time, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

February 1993 page 31
Charles K. Aked

The Tower of the Winds, Athens (Addenda)

This addendum provides further details on the Tower of the Winds in Athens, supplementing a previous article. It discusses the condition of its carvings and dials, challenges in conservation, and references for understanding its sundials and their orientation, including allegorical figures of the eight winds.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

June 1993 page 2
Giovanni Paltrinieri

Il Quarantale, An Unknown Instrument by Geminiano Montanari

This article details the discovery and analysis of the 'Quarantale', a lost gnomonic instrument invented by Geminiano Montanari, found through manuscript inscriptions related to a meridian line in Bologna. It explains how the instrument was designed for stellar observations, covering a 140° meridian arc to cover two apertures, by using a unique optical sight and mathematical calculations based on similar triangles, restoring its historical context.
Dials: Noon Lines, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

June 1993 page 8
Peter I. Drinkwater

A Cold Look at Kratzer's Polyhedral Sundial

This article critically examines polyhedral sundials designed by Nicholaus Kratzer, Henry VIII's diallist, comparing his work with that of Oronce Fine (Francis I of France's diallist). It describes surviving and recorded dials, including those in Holbein's paintings, and questions the practical functionality of Kratzer's polyhedral design due to apparent geometric inconsistencies and the use of the Ecliptic's obliquity angle in extraneous constructions.
Dials: Multi Faced, Sundial Design & Layout, Historical Dials

June 1993 page 11
G. Camus
P. de Divonne
A. Gotteland
B. Taillez

The Meridians of St Sulpice Church, Paris, (Part 2)

This is the second part of an article describing two meridians in St Sulpice Church, Paris, by Henry Sully and Charles Le Monnier. It details their purpose for time measurement and astronomical observations, discussing restoration efforts, challenges in conservation, and the historical context of time standardization. It also covers Le Monnier's observations and the meridian's condition through the French Revolution and later centuries.
Dials: Noon Lines, Equation of Time, Historical Dials

June 1993 page 18
Peter I. Drinkwater

The Analemma of Vitruvius

This article explores Vitruvius's Analemma, a vital geometric construction from Roman architecture used for sundial design. It describes the step-by-step process of constructing the Analemma using only a ruler and compasses, explaining how it projects old Temporal Hours and can be adapted for modern hours. The text provides insights into ancient dialling techniques, their historical continuity, and potential links to medieval astrological traditions and later drawing methods.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

June 1993 page 40
Charles K. Aked

The Merton College Chapel Dial

This article describes the unusual sundial on the north wall of Merton College Chapel, Oxford, discussing its restoration and historical attribution to Henry Briggs or John Bainbridge. It analyses the confusing sets of lines, including declination and azimuth lines, and explains the dial's limited functionality (5.30 to 10.00 am in summer) due to its orientation and surrounding buildings, suggesting it was an academic exercise rather than a practical time indicator.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1993 page 2
René R.-J. Rohr

The Sundial of the Old Franciscan Church in Rouffach

This article details the restoration of a unique astronomical chronogram sundial in Rouffach, France, dating from the early 17th century. It describes the fresco's depiction of planetary orbits based on Ptolemy and Tycho Brahe, highlighting challenges in deciphering faded inscriptions and the astrological significance of a lunar eclipse on the original dial's date in 1617.
Dials: Unusual, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1993 page 6
Robert Mills

Astronomy and Stonehenge

This article explores how Stonehenge served as an ancient astronomical observatory for predicting eclipses and tracking the Sun and Moon. It explains the monument's design, including 56 Aubrey holes, which allowed tracking of the Sun's annual path, the Moon's 28-day cycle, and the 18.6-year Metonic cycle of the lunar nodes for eclipse prediction.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

October 1993 page 16
John Moore

The Ivory Diptych Dial - Part I

This article discusses the history and characteristics of ivory diptych dials, originating in the 15th-16th centuries from places like Dieppe and Nuremberg. It describes their construction, materials (often ivory or bone), built-in compasses, and typical markings for various faces, noting how magnetic declination aids dating and distinguishing authentic dials from modern replicas or forgeries.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

October 1993 page 20
Margaret Stanier

Some Sundials of Cambridgeshire

This article surveys various sundials across Cambridgeshire, including church wall dials, horizontal garden dials, and armillary spheres. It highlights specific examples, discussing their dates, inscriptions, restoration efforts, and the materials used. The text also notes the ongoing loss of old dials due to weathering but also the creation of new commemorative ones.
Dials: Armillary Sphere, Dials: Horizontal, Dials: Mass Dials, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials

October 1993 page 24
Frank Evans

A Tyneside Shipyard Sundial

This article tells the story of a sundial from the Neptune Shipyard in Walker, Newcastle-on-Tyne, founded by J. Wigham Richardson in 1860. It traces the dial's history, its motto, and its eventual restoration. The article highlights Richardson's skill as a geometrist and the involvement of his partner, Denham Christie, and describes the dial's characteristics and its journey to the Trinity Maritime Centre.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

October 1993 page 31
Mike Cowham

Buying a Sundial: The Ten Commandments

This article provides ten commandments for buying antique horizontal garden sundials, with points also applicable to other dials. It advises on checking gnomon alignment, hour line spacing, and the correct gnomon angle for latitude. The article also discusses material characteristics, identifying replica dials, and ethical considerations regarding origin, including reference tables for latitude and hour line angles.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1993 page 32
Charles K. Aked

Destruction by Decay

This article explores the rapid deterioration of ancient sundials in the British Isles, attributing decay to factors like stone quality and water-induced damage. It discusses examples like the Bewcastle Cross sundial and the importance of protection and restoration. The article highlights the British Sundial Society's aims in cataloguing and preserving historical artefacts to prevent their complete loss.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, Restoration projects, The BSS and Members

February 1992 page 24
Peter I. Drinkwater

The Miracle of Ahaz

The article clarifies the Biblical account of the "Dial of Ahaz," explaining that the original Hebrew text refers to "steps" and a "staircase" rather than a sundial with "degrees." It discusses how medieval illustrations, like Holbein's, misinterpreted this, depicting a hemicycle-like device. The author also notes an adjustable Jewish hemicycle described in a 1650 translation, which could tell time by both the sun and the moon.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 2
Lajos Bartha

The Oldest Fixed Dials in Hungary

This article outlines the few medieval sundials remaining in Hungary, many destroyed by wars and church rebuilding. It describes early canonical sundials with primitive divisions, including a twelve-division dial at Matraverabely and a Gothic dial at Szentendre. A unique medieval dial not on a church is found in Kaszeg, and St. Nicholas church in Rudabanya has a dial marking prayer times.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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

June 1992 page 9
David A. Young

Scratch Dial Workshop, Cambridge 1991

This report details a workshop on scratch dials, discussing their origin, enormous variations across regions, and the importance of recording these endangered historical relics. It highlights the need for a specialised recording form and an overall map of existing and known scratch dials across England and Europe due to accelerated damage from atmospheric pollution and vandalism.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 10
Girolamo Fantoni

The Monumental Sundial in the Quirinale Gardens in Rome

This article describes a unique monumental cubical-cylindrical sundial from 1628 in Rome's Quirinale Gardens, 2.70 meters high, constructed of white marble. It features four concave quadrants indicating both civil/astronomical time and 'Italian time,' reflecting different timekeeping systems. The dial also includes zodiacal curves for calendrical indications and intricate Latin inscriptions from its author Theodosius Rubeus and patron Urbano VIII Barberini.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Unusual, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 17
John Moore

Portable Dials - An Introduction

This introduction to portable sundials describes them as early pocket watches, popular in sunnier regions of Europe, offering an affordable alternative to unreliable mechanical watches. It covers various designs, materials, and geographical manufacturing centres like London, Paris, Dieppe, Augsburg, and Nuremburg. The article also discusses their alignment aids, particularly magnetic compasses, and dating by magnetic variation.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 19
Charles K. Aked

Estimation of Compass Date by Magnetic Deviation

This article explains how magnetic compass deviation, which varies over time and location, can be used to estimate the date of manufacture for portable sundials incorporating compasses. It discusses historical records of magnetic variation and how these can be compared with the deviation marked on a compass bowl. Local conditions affecting magnetic fields, and the need for accurate observations are noted.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 30
Charles K. Aked

His Majesty's Dials in Whitehall Gardens

This article details the large cubic sundial erected in Whitehall's Privy Garden in 1622 for King James I, replacing an earlier Caen stone dial. Based on Edmund Gunter's 1624 treatise, it describes the intricate design with multiple dials, including a great horizontal concave. The dial's use led to the discovery of magnetic variation, and its sculptor was Nicholas Stone.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

June 1992 page 41

Book Review, Scratch Dials of Old Axbridge and Long Ashton Districts

This review evaluates Lawrence N. Price's book on scratch dials in North West Somerset. It criticises the book for adding few new insights to the subject, instead relying on previous works by Horne and Green. The reviewer argues that scratch dials are merely event markers, not precise timekeepers, and stresses the importance of their identification and recording due to modern atmospheric damage.
Book Reviews, Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials

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 1992 page 5
Allan A. Mills

The Scratch Dial and its Function

This article proposes that scratch dials, often found on old church walls, are effective "event markers" rather than precise timekeepers. It discusses their radial geometry, common south-facing position, and erosion due to acid rain. The article refutes theories about them being equal-hour sundials with bent gnomons, and explains their connection to seasonal hours and monastic prayer times.
Dials: Mass Dials, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

October 1992 page 9
Charles K. Aked

The Tower of the Winds, Athens

This lecture describes the octagonal Tower of the Winds in Athens, built around 37 BC by Andronicus Cyrrhestes, housing a water clock and eight planar sundials. The tower features allegorical wind figures and its sundials, though faint, provided seasonal hours. The article highlights the historical neglect of its dials compared to the water clock and the need for restoration.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

October 1992 page 17
Walter Wells

Two Notable Sundial Makers of Leicestershire

This article profiles two Leicestershire sundial makers: William Pearson and Thomas Scott Elgood. Pearson, a rector and astronomer, constructed a precise direct vertical dial in 1834 for his observatory. Elgood, an engineer, crafted a decorative slate dial in 1897 for St. Martin's Church, featuring biblical mottoes and Evangelist symbols, focusing on elegance rather than scientific precision.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Mottoes

October 1992 page 18
John Moore

Portable Dials - The Butterfield Style

This article describes the popular "Butterfield Dial," named after Michael Butterfield of Paris (c. 1700), though the design's origin might be English. Typically octagonal, silver or brass, with a bird-supported gnomon and built-in compass, it was a decorative status symbol for international travellers. Despite criticism for its small compass and cluttered face, it remained popular, inspiring many copies and variations.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1992 page 31
Edmund Gunter

His Majesty's Dials in Whitehall Gardens

This article, based on Edmund Gunter's 1624 treatise, continues the original description of the intricate multi-faced cubic sundial in Whitehall Gardens. It details the use of various coloured lines (red, yellow, green, blue) on different dial faces to indicate azimuth, altitude, unequal "planetary" hours, sun's rising/setting times, length of day, and even the age of the moon and high water times. Geographical tables for longitude differences are also included.
Dials: Cube, Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

February 1991 page 4
Andrew R Somerville

The Hampton Court Dial of John Marr, 1631 [part 2].

Details the various circles and scales on the dial's surface, including those for finding the dates of festivals and saints' days, the day of the week, the age of the moon, and the time of high water at London Bridge. The article also explains how to use the shadow of the stile to determine the hour and minute, sunrise/sunset times, and the sun's place and right ascension.
Historical Dials

February 1991 page 8
Milutin Tadic

The Roman Cylindrical Sundial in the Zemaljski Museum, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia.

The Roman Cylindrical Sundial in the Zemaljski Museum, Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, by Milutin Tadic" discusses a rare cylindrical sundial discovered in Yugoslavia. It highlights the features of ancient sundials, such as being carved in stone and typically concave. The article presents a reconstruction of the Diluntum sundial, explaining its potential mechanism using a horizontal gnomon and projected diurnal arcs to show seasonal hours.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials

July 1991 page 3
Andrew R Somerville

The Hampton Court Dial of John Marr, 1631 (Part 3)

This article, written in 1631, details using John Marr’s Hampton Court Dial. It explains determining celestial metrics like ascensionall difference, azimuth, amplitude, sun's altitude and declination, and Judaical hours. It also covers comparing unequal to equal hours, finding the day of the month, and predicting London Bridge tides via the dial's shadows, showcasing its comprehensive historical applications.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

July 1991 page 15
Giovanni Paltrinieri

The Astronomical Quadrant of Santa Maria Novella

This essay details Egnazio Danti's large astronomical quadrant on Florence’s Santa Maria Novella facade (1572). It describes the instrument's design, inscriptions, and multiple hour systems including Italian, Bohemian, Astronomical, and French hours. It particularly focuses on a unique double tracing for Planetary and Canonical hours, clarifying their historical distinction and practical differences resulting from their construction methods.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

July 1991 page 35
Eduard Farre i Olive

The Sundial in the Manuscript 225 Ripoll

This article examines a horizontal sundial described in Manuscript Rivipullensi 225, a 10th-century compilation from Ripoll monastery. The manuscript provides didactic instructions for laying out the dial with concentric circles for months and temporary hour divisions. The author reconstructs two versions, discussing its function, orientation, and unique characteristics, suggesting Latin or Ripollan origins distinct from Arabic sundials of the period.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling, Sundial Design & Layout

July 1991 page 40
Charles K. Aked

Worgan in Australia

Charles Aked discusses a John Worgan sundial, a 17th-century London instrument-maker, found in Australia by Mrs. Faye Starkey. The article provides Worgan's biographical details, his instruments, and pamphlets. It describes the specific dial, engraved for London latitude with two noon marks, noting its current damaged state from family use, its historical journey, and its inoperability in the Southern Hemisphere.
Historical Dials

October 1991 page 2

William Gilbert of Colchester

This article discusses William Gilbert of Colchester, Queen Elizabeth I's physician, and his monumental work "De Magnete" published in 1600. It highlights his contributions to the understanding of electricity and magnetism, including his commitment to the Earth rotating around the Sun. The article also touches upon the historical lack of quick dial orientation before the magnetic compass and Gilbert's fleeting reference to sundials in his work.
Historical Dials, Mathematics of Dialling

October 1991 page 3
Andrew R Somerville

The Hampton Court Dial of John Marr, 1631 [part 4]

This text reproduced from 1631 continues John Marr's description of the Hampton Court sundial. It details how to determine various astronomical propositions, such as sunrise, sunset, day/night length, and the Sun's position, using the dial's concave surface and its markings. It also explains how to find the hour of the night by observing stars on the meridian.
Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

October 1991 page 5
T.W. Cole
Charles K. Aked

Treasures of the Church

This article, originally by Reverend T.W. Cole, discusses 'incised sundials' (scratch or mass dials) found on church stonework in England from Saxon times to the 18th century. It traces their evolution from small, simple markings to larger, more prominent and scientifically designed dials, and highlights early attempts at accuracy, different time systems, and the preservation efforts for these historical artifacts. It also mentions key figures like Dom Ethelbert Horne and A.R. Green.
Restoration projects, Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

October 1991 page 13
Gordon E. Taylor

The Dials of Bonar

This article, a summary of a lecture by Mr. Taylor, examines four equatorial sundials made by John Bonar between 1623 and 1634. These dials feature poetry, zodiac signs, moon age, and compass points with port names, indicating their use for tidal calculations rather than just timekeeping. The article notes Bonar's errors in gnomonics despite his poetic skill and details the current locations of the surviving dials.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials

October 1991 page 16
René R.-J. Rohr

The Da'ire-Yi Mu'Addil

Rene R.-J. Rohr introduces the 18th-century Islamic instrument known as the "da'ire-yi mu'addil" (equatorial circle), used for determining daily and nightly prayer times. Driven by religious prescriptions, Islamic scientists developed sophisticated astronomical and mathematical methods. This instrument, although not mathematically precise, allows for the determination of prayer times, especially night prayers like isha and subh, through observation of the sun and moon's positions.
Dials: Equatorial, Historical Dials, Dials: Nocturnals

October 1991 page 22
Frank Stevens

Telling the Time by the Spire

This article describes the Salisbury Cathedral spire as a unique sundial, where its midday shadow crosses an engraved line marked "Meridies" on a low north wall. It notes the popularity of elaborate Scottish multangular dials in the 17th century and details a rare Ivychurch dial in the Salisbury Museum, a local stone multi-faced piece that indicates both time and seasons.
Dials: Multi Faced, Dials: Noon Lines, Historical Dials

October 1991 page 31
Peter I. Drinkwater

Curiosities of Dialling

Peter Drinkwater explores historical methods of time determination, focusing on the "Shadow Square" and "Instrumentum Horarum" found on astrolabes and quadrants. He discusses ancient shadow scales, like those from Palladius, and how they were used to estimate time by shadow length, noting the practical, though often imprecise, methods employed by medieval laborers and pilgrims without modern instruments.
How Sundials Work, Historical Dials

February 1990 page 3

A Medieval Scratch Dial on the Gothic Church of Rudabanya (Hungary).

This article details a medieval scratch dial found on the Gothic church in Rudabanya, Hungary, which was uncovered during renovations in 1927 and extensively studied during systematic restoration in the 1970s. The dial, approximately 24cm in diameter with 13 engraved lines, is believed to date from the early 15th century, contemporary with the half-pillar it is on. It is considered one of the last "old-style" ecclesiastical dials on the Continent, preserved by centuries of plaster work
Historical Dials, Dials: Mass Dials

February 1990 page 12
Robert Sylvester

A Boulby Sundial at Walton Hall near Wakefield.

This article focuses on the multi-faceted sandstone sundial dating from 1813 at Walton Hall, the home of Sir Charles Waterton. The sundial was crafted by the self-taught stonemason George Boulby and features a polar axis serving as gnomons, with approximately sixteen dial faces still visible. Each face is designed for a specific part of the world and includes curves indicating zodiacal constellations. The article also speculates on Waterton's potential early interest in sundials, possibly stemming from his time at Stonyhurst College, known for its solar studies
Historical Dials

June 1990 page 8
Andrew R Somerville

Early Sundials in Royal Gardens

This article explores historical sundial references within English Royal Gardens from the 16th to 18th centuries, drawing from detailed archives. It documents various sundials at Whitehall, Hampton Court, Nonsuch, St. James's, Richmond, and Oatlands, highlighting their construction, decoration, and key designers like John Marr.
Historical Dials

June 1990 page 12
Lajos Bartha

16th Century Sundials found in Hungary

This preliminary report details the discovery of small bone/ivory pocket sundials during archaeological excavations in Hungarian fortresses, castles, and cloisters. It describes specific finds from Buda, Diosgyor, Poganyszentpeter, and Tata, discussing their Nuremburg origins and magnetic variation markings.
Dials: Portable, Historical Dials

June 1990 page 14
René R.-J. Rohr

A Unique Greek Sundial

This article describes the 1975 discovery of a unique Greek sundial slab at Ai Khanoum, Afghanistan. Dating between 325 and 145 B.C., this polar dial, designed to indicate temporary hours, represents an evolutionary advancement in ancient gnomonics, despite a discrepancy between its marked latitude and discovery site.
Dials: Polar, Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe

June 1990 page 19
William Leybourn

A Brief Explication of a Pyramidical Dial

This detailed explication describes the elaborate pyramidical sundial, designed by Francis Hall and erected in Whitehall's Privy Garden in 1669. It outlines the dial's numerous components, including various dials, globes, and glass bowls, highlighting its complex and ultimately impractical design in the English climate.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

October 1990 page 3
Andrew R Somerville

The Hampton Court Dial of John Marr, 1631

This is the first instalment reproducing John Marr's 1631 description (held in the British Library) of his elaborate dial at Hampton Court, considered one of the most intricate ever made. It details the dial's physical form, its various lines and circles including tropics, equinoctial, parallels, altitude circles, azimuths, and seasonal (Judaicall) and hour lines, and the ecliptic with Zodiac signs.
Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1990 page 4

Sundials in the Afternoon - Notice of Meeting

This is a notice for a meeting on 10th November 1990 in Crowthorne, Berkshire. Doug Bateman will speak on the restoration of a vertical declining dial with an analemma at Dial House, and Christopher St. J. Daniel will discuss its original maker, Joseph Alfred Hardcastle.
Dials: Vertical, Historical Dials, Restoration projects

October 1990 page 5
René R.-J. Rohr

On Reflected Ceiling Dials

This article explores the history and theory of reflected ceiling sundials, referencing figures like Isaac Newton and Christopher Wren. It discusses examples such as the Palazzo Spada in Rome, the Lycee Stendhal in Grenoble, and a unique staircase dial in Saint-Antoine-en-Vienne, along with their design principles and historical context.
Dials: Reflected, Historical Dials, Sundial Design & Layout

October 1990 page 12
Peter I. Drinkwater

The Spherical Sundial

This article discusses various forms of spherical sundials, from simple painted stone spheres to the ancient concave hemisphere (Scaphe or Hemicycle) and the later, less effective, convex hemisphere. It also explores the projection of spherical coordinates onto a plane, linking them to the discovery of the analemmatic dial.
Dials: Hemispherical, Historical Dials, Dials: Scaphe, Dials: Armillary Sphere

October 1990 page 24
George R. Higgs

Some Sundial Safaris with Andrew Somerville

This article recounts G.R. Higgs' sundial exploration trips with Andrew Somerville across Scotland, focusing on discovering and restoring historical dials. Notable examples include a 57-face lectern dial at Hensol House, finding a cube dial in a rockery, and working on the Glamis Castle dial, including one designed by Andrew himself.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials, The BSS and Members

October 1990 page 30

Pages from F. Barker & Sons Ltd. Sundial Catalogue

This entry presents excerpts from a Francis Barker & Son Ltd. sundial catalogue, showcasing various dial types, prices, and services. It includes illustrations of horizontal dials, advice on placement, suitable mottoes, and other meteorological instruments, reflecting historical sundial offerings and sentiments.
Historical Dials, Mottoes

October 1990 page 31
Charles K. Aked

The Nelson Touch?

This article humorously discusses a correspondence in The Times concerning an April Fool proposal to turn Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square into a giant sundial commemorating the Battle of Trafalgar. The correspondence critiques the impracticality of such a design based on gnomonic principles, while also providing historical details on timekeeping during the battle.
Dials: Horizontal, Historical Dials, How Sundials Work

July 1989 page 9
Andrew R Somerville

The Sundial at Madeley Court, Shropshire

An article by Andrew R. Somerville details a unique 16th-century stone cube sundial with multiple hollows for different gnomons, along with its possible uses and historical context. The dial may be associated with the work of Nicolaus Kratzer, who introduced multiple sundials to England in the 16th century. It may also be connected to the Jacobean garden at Madeley Court, and its geometric and symbolic elements.
Dials: Multi Faced, Historical Dials

November 1989 page 12

Installation of Dials at Puerta De Toledo, Madrid.

Describes a large public sundial installation in Madrid, located at the Puerta de Toledo within the old Fish Market. This series of substantial dials, calculated by Juan Jose Caurcel and drawn by Alberto Corazon, includes a vertical dial with Zodiac signs, a horizontal dial, an equatorial-armillary dial, four polar dials with the Equation of Time, and two lunar dials for night hours.
Historical Dials

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Historical Dials