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.
The cottage is about 200 yards ESE of the church, and the dial is above the front door at first floor level. It is designed to be in a diamond configuration but has been mounted square-wise, 45 degrees away from its correct orientation. (In fact rust stains from the gnomon suggest that it was previously mounted 180 degrees away from where it is now, so maybe the mistake was pointed out but the solution not explained or understood!) The motto across what should be the top corner is ’Vita Ut Umbra’. The date 1731 is in the west and east corners, and initials ’I C’ are at the bottom corner. Hours are V am to IIII pm with XII for noon, but written to be read from the centre of the dial plate and using the counter-clockwise convention so that in fact the morning hours are V IV IIV IIIV XI X IX IIX. Hour lines run to a full circle around the gnomon root, and in the chapter ring are fleurs-de-lis for half hours, and quarter-hour marks. The gnomon is at about 10am, suggesting a declination of about 20 degrees east of south, which agrees with the aspect of the cottage wall.
Note: The photos were taken at Noon GMT.
