Hockwold Hall, King’s Lynn

The dial is Historic Englad’s item 1168771. It is mounted on te southern wall of the main courtyard. It is said to be a copy of one of four dials on the market cross at King’s Lynn, which was built in 1707-1710 by Henry Bell, and demolished in 1829. It is painted in gold on white plaster. Across the top is the motto: ’DUM SPECTAS FUGIO’. The main chapter ring shows VI - XII - IIII - V, divided to half and quarter hours, with hour lines to a second small inner square chapter ring with Arabic hour numerals for 6am to 5pm. This has an irregular sun with rays forming the hour and half-hour lines. Filling the centre of the dial plate are eleven declination curves, with zodiac signs (the lines now, after many re-paintings, not that accurate). The black iron rod gnomon (now very bent) is held by a widely splayed pair of supporting bars. It springs from a small square plate in the sun figure. Ref: Gatty, 4th Ed 1900, p 247.