BRIDOL is the British Sundial Society's Register of Fixed and Mass Dials, which gives detail and photographs of about 8000 fixed sundials and 3000 mass dials in the UK.
Some of these are in private gardens, but the majority are publicly available.
This dial is in a private garden at the front of Groombridge Place. It has aligned Roman numerals IIII - XII - IIII - VIII, read from inside, with a noon gap. There is a compass rose and to the south of the dial is engraved ’NATH: WITHAM, LONDINI. Fecit : 1716.’ Witham was a London mathematical instrument maker in period 1713-1720. The ornamental plinth is of red sandstone copied from one at Chilham Castle (Kent) in late 19thC. The base of the pedestal carries the mottoes ’Umbram Videt Umbra’ and ’Lumen Umbra Dei’, copied from the two stained glass dials at Groombridge, SRN 2938 and 2939.
Ref Mrs Gatty No 1506.
