All Saints’ Church, S Molton

The church lies at the end of a lane which goes nowhere else and has extensive views towards Exmoor. The slate dial is on the South wall of the nave and is slightly canted to achieve due South orientation. Nowadays it also leans slightly forward as well. The date 1717 is displayed round the arch at the top and a sun face surrounds the root of the gnomon. The rays of the sun are alternately straight and wavy, a not unusual feature which is said to indicate that the sun gives both heat and light. In a shield below this are the initials of the churchwardens WB and IS. The hours shown are VI to VI divided into half and quarter hours. The half hour markers each have a fleur-de-lys, and a decorative cipher indicates noon. The gnomon is almost certainly a replacement. The dial measures 450mmw x 600mmh. In the church porch is an Equation of Time table.