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 is the dial originally at Wrest Park, Bedfordshire, but sold when English Heritage took it over. It then found its way to Idlicote in Warwickshire, but was sold again and its whereabouts are now unknown.
Wedge shaped dialplate for use at two latitudes. Thickness 10mm at South, 30mm at North. Shows 4am to 8pm in 30, 15 and 7.5 min marks. Also in tens (Arabic numbered) 5 and 1 min marks. Zigzag transversal-like marking outside the chapter ring but this doesn’t have concentric circles drawn so they are presumably simply pointers at 10 min intervals. Uses XII and IIII. Numerals read from inside the dial. Noon gap. EoT table from Flamsteed/Smart 1702 is on either side of the gnomon. C/arms for 11th Earl of Kent (Anthony Grey). Signed under EoT table. Inscrs read :’A Table of Equation of Natural days showing how much a clock or Watch ought to be faster or Slower than a Sun-Dial, any day of the Year’. And :’Set the clock or watch faster or slower than the Sun according to the Table for and day of the month and if they go true then Difference from the Sun any day afterward will be the same with Ye Table’. And ’Latt of ye upper plain 50d 26m’ and ’Latt of ye under plane 52d 8m’. Elaborately pierced right triangular gnomon with four chamfered side supports. Groove on gnomon and dot on Dialplate for plumb bob. Set on magnificent octagonal section limestone baluster pedestal by John van Nost (elder), 1500h, monogrammed sides (AG) with circular capital. Sold for £150k+. Contact via Sotheby’s.
Photo from Sotheby’s advert.
