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.
Originally a good declining dial. Long hour lines to an unmarked semicircle around the gnomon root. Short half hour lines terminating in fleur-de-lys. Morning hours have short quarter hour lines. Upright numerals IIII - [cross for noon]. Afternoon hour lines suspect and no numeral visible. Gnomon missing since 1915 or earlier. Dial plate sits on a stone shelf above the back door, supported by two stone corbels, and is held to brick wall by two iron dog nails (not original).
The original timber framed house dates from the 16th century. John Montague added the brick walls in 1721. His coat of arms is above the dial, in a broken arch pediment, with his initials ’J M’ and the date. Above the CoA is the letter ’B’, in a plainer script, probably in connection with Benbridge (details not clear) hence the current property name. From 1915 or earlier it was known as White Friars Hotel, and was used as such until the 1950s. The earlier photograph, taken in 1915, is by Nathaniel Lloyd (father of Christopher Lloyd, gardener).
