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 8-leafed petal shaped zinc dial sits flush at the edges on top of an ornate stone pillar carved with the same 8 point fluted section. It shows 4am to 8pm in 30 and 15 minute divisions on two inner time rings, then the hours in the Chapter Ring in Roman numerals with IIII as four, read from the outside. There are two outer time rings, one divided in 2 minute divisions and the other with the numerals 60, 20, 40, 60 repeating, marking the minute count. The half hours are indicated by spears in the Chapter Ring. In the centre of the dial there is an 8-point compass rose labelled to ’NE’ etc.
There is no date on the dial but it is signed ’E.M.Clarke,428, Strand, LONDON’. Edward Clarke worked in Dublin from 1810 until about 1830 when he went to London where he was last known in 1856. Laghey Church was built in 1837 so the dial probably dates from then.
The dial was restored by Harriet James in 2012.
Ref: Michael Harley, www.sundials-ireland.com
