Ye
SUNDIAL BOOKE

By

T. GEOFFREY W. HENSLOW, M.A.

London

1914.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

In placing before the public this book on sundials and sundial verses I suppose that I must conform to the usual order of things and apologise for being on earth, but at the same time I am very grateful; and, feeling so kindly disposed to FATHER TIME, I have ventured in verse to extol his praises, and, with the kindly help of my artist, I have boldly put before the public a work that has entailed considerable labour and expense. If, then, any critic—confident in his or her powers of being able to compile a work vastly superior in every detail to the one which I have supreme pleasure in now placing before the public—should like to enter the lists and vie with my humble efforts, I will gladly forgive all criticism, and congratulate myself on having been instrumental in securing for FATHER TIME a fresh devotee; and I will offer up my humble prayers that he or she may prove to be a far more worthy servant than myself.

But, apart from all levity, let me here simply testify to the onerous nature of my self-imposed task, and express the hope that my untutored efforts may in part, if not in whole, be appreciated by a few generous natures who, being themselves unable to devote time to the compilation of such a work, yet are grateful for this contribution (no matter how faulty) to what has ever been a most pleasing and engrossing subject.

He would, indeed, be a mean man who, having received considerable assistance in any undertaking, failed to acknowledge such on the first opportunity; and I have the greatest pleasure in here testifying to the untiring efforts of my artist, Miss D. Hartley, who has contributed so largely to my work; indeed, I am sure that, without her talent, I should receive but poor commendation from the general public.

All the sundials that figure in this work are dials that actually exist, and although the settings are new, yet it is to be hoped that this will in no wise detract from the value of the book. So many ancient dials are to-day continually changing hands and being placed in new surroundings, that although cognisant of the fact that it would be far more interesting to illustrate my work with sketches showing the dial in its original position, yet in the majority of cases I have proved this to be impossible. I have, therefore, decided, whilst representing faithfully the actual dials, 2to adopt quite new lines, and to illustrate my work with a series of sketches in keeping with the age of each horologe, and also to supplying a series of pictures calculated to suit the style and nature of my book. Before referring to my poetical efforts, I will here thank all those friends who have so kindly assisted me in my arduous undertaking.

Principally, I am indebted to the kindness and generosity of Mr. Francis Barker, of Clerkenwell, for his most valuable and interesting chapter upon the setting of the sundial, and also for the loan of numerous photographs and illustrations of various dials and gnomons. Mr. Barker’s kindly help and interest has more than encouraged me in my undertaking, and his wide and valuable knowledge on gnomonics is well known.

My most sincere thanks are also due to the following firms who have so very kindly assisted me by permitting me to use in my book some beautiful illustrations of sundials designed and made for existing and future gardens:—Messrs. John P. White, Messrs. Pulham, Messrs. Joseph Cheal & Son, Messrs. William Wood & Son, Messrs. Knowltons, Messrs. H. W. Cashmore & Co.

It is not possible to mention the names of all those who have so kindly assisted me in securing photographs of dials, or who have furnished me from time to time with any required information; I will, therefore, but express my great gratitude for every kindness, and venture to hope that my book will meet with the approval of all.

If any reader finds it incumbent upon him to criticise adversely my verses or mottoes, let me here plead a generous consideration. SIX HUNDRED VERSES on one subject is a very big effort at any time, but how much more so when each verse is intended of itself to be a separate poem. Also, nearly all these verses have been written under the most trying conditions—during the stress of arduous undertakings, and hours devoid of comfort and surroundings congenial to a work of this description.

If, then, any verse or verses appear to be weak, let the reader remember that there has been no picking and choosing; for I have boldly published all that I have written, well knowing that no two people see alike, and that what may displease one may also find favour with another. Let, then, those verses which do commend themselves to the reader be in his or her eyes sufficient warranty for my book.

Who shall discover the age of the sundial, or fix with certainty the year in which ye horologe was first invented to record the passing of the day or perchance the hour? The archives of time will never reveal to us the first dial that was invented to aid mortal man to regulate his life and so fulfil his daily task. We can only at the best surmise what the date may have been, and record existing information for the benefit of posterity, trusting that new discoveries may throw fresh light upon this most engrossing subject.

To the student of astronomy and mathematics, it will ever appear to be a most natural event that the sundial should have been constructed to record accurately the time of day; and such might doubtless express surprise that the age of the earliest known horologe is not of greater antiquity. But it must not be forgotten that the requirements of early man were small, and time, although a most important consideration, was not of the same value that it is to-day, in the highly civilised age in which we live.

It is not my intention to give a long and detailed account of the sundial, for I must confess that I am not sufficiently versed in its chequered and varied history; but, nevertheless, I feel bound to include in my book one or more chapters that shall supply a little information upon the age, development, and construction of ye horologe.

But here I am at a loss to know where to start, for if I should deal with the Babylonian, Egyptian, Greek, or Roman ages, doubtless I should be ruled out of court, for a wise critic would question the lateness of my starting point, and would prove conclusively that I ought to have begun with Adam, who could not have missed the opportunity afforded him of erecting a sundial in the Garden of Eden. Indeed, so hard is it to fix a date for the earliest introduction of the sundial in its most primitive form, that we can only allude with safety to its mention in ancient writings and its discovery in various countries through different ages.

Without doubt the Bible gives us the oldest records, and we may be sure that wherever we get even the briefest allusion to the 4division of time, we can assert the existence of a horologe with little hesitation.

Job (vii. 2) alludes to the monitor in the words—“as a servant earnestly desireth the shadow,” and the miracle of the sundial of Ahaz has been quoted and handed down for centuries.

Sundials exist in most countries in various forms, differing in construction according to the knowledge of the age in astronomy and mathematics, and showing clearly at different periods in the history of a race the outside influence of the greater wisdom attained to by many students in the art of horology.

If we devote considerable attention to the history of sundials we almost unconsciously find ourselves dividing them into the following groups:—Wall dials, pedestal dials, and portable dials. Without doubt it will never be surely solved as to which is the older of the first two, for who can ever know the resources of primitive man, the knowledge of the ancients, or the earliest discoveries of the wandering tribes of the East?

How little we really know of ancient China or Japan, where sundials abound. When the history of the horologe of the West still remains imperfect, who will determine that of the East? Let us solve the riddle of Avebury or Stonehenge with certainty before we can decide the age of any other likely form of horologe; let us move the sands of the desert of Egypt and dig down into every ruin of the past before we can hope to fix a date at which mortal man constructed a dial, mural or pedestal, to record the passing of the day. Although priority in the age of the first two groups of dials may remain an uncertainty, yet the third group of portable dials can be safely given a late date.

By portable dials I would not have my readers include the tent pole often used by wandering Arabs to cast a shadow, or the possible use of a stone of any size by early man, but the host of small pocket and ring dials made of metal, ivory, wood, or stone that are frequently found in our own land, on the Continent, and in the East.

There is no more engrossing study than the age of the sundial, and to those interested in gnomonics any fresh information or unrecorded history is of the greatest importance. It is, however, left to the excavator of buried cities and ancient ruins of the past 5to shed fresh light upon such a well-worn subject, and the humble historian but faithfully records and hands down to posterity the result of his discoveries.

The minutes of to-day are as the hours of yesterday, and the necessity of an accurate time-keeper is in this present century more keenly felt than ever it was in the past. A glance at the sky to determine the position of the sun in respect to well-known landmarks may have sufficed the races of primitive man, but as generation succeeded generation, and regular business occupations and more home life commenced, the observance of stated intervals of the day must have become a necessity; so that, if the old proverb be true, necessity became the mother of invention, and in due course gave birth to the sundial, which, as time went on, developed until it reached the perfect stage in which we find it to-day.

Perhaps some day excavations in the Holy Land will reveal fresh forms of horologe that will put into the shade the age of the present dials from ancient Greece, but until then we have little data other than vague allusions to them in the historical records of the past to go upon. It is very doubtful whether ancient Egypt with all its vast learning and resources will ever throw fresh light upon the subject of gnomonics. Situated so close to the Equator, both the horizontal and vertical dials would be of small service.

The angle of the gnomon being equal to the latitude of the place, the few degrees either side of the Equator would necessitate such a small elevation that a horizontal dial would be of little help. Again, a vertical dial would show the time for only a very short portion of the year, since the dial plate would have to be almost parallel with the rays of the sun. Still, doubtless, records may yet be found that will testify to its existence, if not in ancient Egypt, in lands that felt Egyptian influence and benefited by their learning and wisdom.

Theories are problematical and surmises are often without foundation, but I would indeed venture to think that it is more than possible that the sundial played some part in the rectification of the Babylonian calendar in 747 B.C., which took place about nineteen years before the accession of King Ahaz, in whose reign it was clearly alluded to.

The oldest known dials at present are those of Grecian origin, and for the most part are of the hemicyclean form invented by the 6Chaldean Berosus, who lived about 340 B.C., and his particular shape and construction of dial was in use for centuries. Four of these sundials were discovered in Italy: one at Tivoli in 1746, another at Castel Nuovo in 1751, another at Rignano in 1751, and the fourth at Pompeii in 1762. It is thus evident that this form of sundial which was used by the Arabians (who gave great study to gnomonics) was popular also amongst the Romans. An interesting specimen of this form of horologe, which can now be seen in the British Museum, was found at the base of Cleopatra’s Needle in 1852. This dial is concave, and is made from a stone 16½ inches high by 17 inches wide, the depth of the bowl being 10 inches; the hours marked are the twelve unequal hours by which the Greeks divided up their day.

This dial—by no means satisfactory—doubtless owed much of its popularity to its novel construction, and to the fact that it was more or less of a portable nature. But the knowledge that it was constructed 360 years after the known existence of the sundial (see Isaiah xxxviii. 8), leads us to surmise that other forms of dials were in use at the same time. It is a known fact that the ancients were familiar with declining dials, and the Tower of the Winds at Athens, which still exists, has on its walls, built in octagonal shape, no fewer than eight of this kind. And although the date of these dials is evidently of a later period than the actual building, they certainly belong to a very early time. However, the Greeks were, as we know, well versed in the art of dialling, and without doubt gave a lead in this study to other nations.

Herodotus, writing in 443 B.C., says that the Greeks acquired their knowledge of the sundial from the Babylonians; the Roman writers in turn give evidence of their acquisition of this instrument from the Greeks. Although the Romans were backward in the science of gnomonics and slow to adopt any particular form of horologe, they eventually constructed many a beautiful dial of varied design. The first sundial was erected in Rome in the year 290 B.C., this being taken from the Samnites by Papirius Cursor. Another was brought to Rome by Valerius Messala from Catania 261 B.C., but it was not until 164 B.C. that, as far as we know, a dial constructed at Rome was set up by order of Q. Marcius Philippus.

Cicero, writing in 48 B.C. to Tiro, mentions that he wished to place a sundial at his villa in Tusculum, and at a later date we see Romans erecting sundials in every possible corner of their villas and grounds.

7The first known dial in Britain, with the exception of the one or two reputed Roman dials discovered in this country, are those of Saxon origin found on some of our ancient churches. As far as we know nearly all the earliest mural examples are semicircular, and although the spaces into which the dial is divided vary considerably in number and size, they seem to point to the practice of the early Norsemen dividing time into tides. And since it is known that they apportioned the time into eight tides, and that the oldest horologes have the fewest spaces, it seems more than likely that many dials so marked owe their existence to these hardy invaders.

Bede (our earliest historian) records the fact that the hours were shorter or longer according to the seasons, and this testimony is borne out by existing dials, generally found built into ancient buildings, on the sides of porches, and the jambs of windows. I myself discovered one, only two feet off the ground, built into the east side of an old Norman south porch, and the fact that the dial had been cut in order to fit the stone into its place—added to its position—showed very plainly that it had been taken out of an earlier building and used again. Without hazarding any date as to the earliest form of horologe in this country, I would but testify from my own experience that many dials of early workmanship actually exist unnoticed on many of our ancient buildings, principally churches. A close and careful examination of the walls of such would, I am sure, reveal many a time-worn horologe of the past. Generally they are found on faced stones built into porches, windows, and corners of buildings, and consist of circles and half-circles, divided by lines which radiate from a hole in the centre to the circumference. The number of lines differ considerably and the spaces are also of unequal size.

Evidence tends to prove that these dials are of Saxon and Norman times, and I venture to think from their divisions that in many cases, although found on Norman buildings, they tend to show that Saxon ideas continued to exist in many things in spite of Norman influence. It would take many generations at that period of the history of our country to supplant in remote districts a recognised form of dial, and although the Norman method of recording time was more accurate, doubtless it was but gradually adopted.

The Saxons used the simple dial so long in vogue amongst the hardy Northmen or Vikings, who, being a maritime race, founded 8their divisions of time on the ebb and flow of the tide. First, the four tides, two high tides and two low; then, further improving this, they subdivided these divisions again into halves and quarters, thus making the day and night equal to sixteen hours. In this country there exist many of their dials, and some are very noteworthy.

There is an ancient dial built upside down into the wall of the church in the village of Byland in the Hambleton Hills, which is thought to have been made by a Dane in the ninth century. It bears the inscription:—

Over the south door of Weaverthorpe Church, Yorkshire, there is a similar dial, only it is divided into twelve parts, every alternate line being crossed. It has an inscription:—

“In Honore see Andreae Apostoli Herebertus Wintonie Hoc Monasterium Fecit in Tempore Regn——”

The unfinished name is thought to be that of Reginald II., to whom in 942 King Edmund stood godfather. A remarkably fine dial of about 1064 exists over the south door of the ancient church at Kirkdale, and bears a long inscription, which, being translated, reads:—

“Orm, Gamal’s son, bought S. Gregory’s Monastery when it was all utterly broken and fallen, and he let it to be made anew from the ground, to Christ and S. Gregory, in Edward’s day, the King; and in Tosti’s day, the Earl. This is the day’s sun-marker, at every tide, and Hawarth me made and Brand Provost.”

Another early dial exists over the church door at Bishopstone in Sussex. It bears the inscription “Eadric,” and as a prince of the South Saxons of this name lived A.D. 685, it is thought that this is its likely date.

It was whilst gazing at an ancient dial which I had discovered that the following motto occurred to me:—

Still, in spite of my couplet, I made notes in my book as to the discovery of another Saxon horologe. Such is the nature of the keen archæologist that he feels obliged to put dates to every find 9of importance, although oft-times a more learned brother will dispel by argument and proof very quickly his most sure convictions.

While attributing the early semicircular dial to the Saxons, evidence strongly points to the fact that the many-rayed circular dials are of the mediæval period. It will ever be very hard to determine the date of many of these dials, as the age of a stone, cut and faced by the mason, is an unknown quantity. And there is hardly a stone building in this country that does not contain stone quarried from the demolished buildings of the past. This being so, many a dial may now occupy a very different position from that in which it was originally set.

As years moved on ye horologe was improved and immediately became more popular. The time on the face of the dial was more divided, and from being quite plain in appearance it gradually took a more ornate shape.

Sundials continued to be erected long after clocks came into use, and in our land during the 17th century many very fine specimens were erected. Doubtless royal patronage and interest had much to do with their popularity, for we know that Charles I. took a keen interest in the art of dialling, and himself caused a sundial to be set up in the Privy Garden behind Whitehall, at Westminster. The beautiful dial at Holyrood Castle, Scotland, is said to have been a gift to his Queen, Henrietta Maria. When kings and princes set the fashion their subjects soon follow suit, and thus we find that some of the most beautiful dials are of this period.

Until watches began to be made in numbers the sundial ruled supreme; clocks did not in any way diminish their popularity, and if the truth were known doubtless only helped to cause a greater number to be erected, since not only could they be relied upon to keep accurate time, but also to serve for the setting of a clock when it had stopped. To-day we introduce the sundial into our gardens more for an ornament than from any wish to add to it a timekeeper, and it is the love of the antique that causes old dials to change ownership and to be set up on new sites, irrespective of the fact that they may have been constructed and set for a different locality.

10It is curious to note that although sundials have ever been in use, since their discovery there seems to have existed from time to time what I would like to call waves of popularity in the history of “ye horologe.” Such are clearly marked by the many existing dials which appertain to certain periods. If we could only get a census of dates, it would be a matter of great interest to trace the state of the country at the time of varying output, and to note the years of war and peace, of prosperity and depression. I think it would be found that even as “ye horologe” marks only our sunny hours, so also the sunny hours of a nation’s life has bade the sundial live.

The marked interest that has been taken in the sundial during recent years shows it has still a great future before it. If, then, age can add to its value, and yet in nowise impair its reliability, who will be without such a garden ornament that gives also a gentle touch to what is already a beautiful possession? Calling upon the thoughtful as it does by many an apt line or verse to consider the brevity of time, it warns and exhorts with far greater emphasis than the voice of man. Though only of iron and stone, the work of men’s hands, it seems almost to gain our sympathy, for given to one who has experienced the ravages of time, it demonstrates the value of quiet endurance and resignation under trouble.

Photograph No. 1 of Saxon Sundial built into the South Porch of a Norman Church, Stanton S. Quintin, Chippenham, Wilts.

Photograph No. 2 of the Saxon Sundial discovered by the Author at Stanton S. Quintin, Chippenham, Wilts.

The study of “ye horologe” is a most pleasing occupation and a most engrossing science. So much so that when it has come before the special notice of the great men of bygone ages, it has always effected some lasting record of their interest, and oft-times improvement, in the construction of what was a most necessary acquisition for every establishment.

Shakespeare, in his Richard II. (act v. scene 5), makes King Richard, who was incarcerated in a dungeon in Pomfret Castle, give utterance to the following words:—

In Henry VI. Shakespeare again takes notice of the sundial:—

He also alludes to them in some of his other plays. Mentioned by many famous men in various ways they are dealt with directly by not a few.

So important did the study of gnomonics become that it was at one time considered to be a most necessary part of a student’s education. Sir Christopher Wren was well versed in the art of dialling in his boyhood, and as a boy Sir Isaac Newton made a sundial which he painted upon the ceiling of his room; he also carved two dials upon the south end of the Manor House at Woolsthorpe, in the parish of Colterworth, where he was born. So numerous are the instances of famous men making or ordering sundials to be made, that it would be impossible to mention even a representative number of names.

16A beautiful sundial was erected at Abbotsford by Sir Walter Scott, and all over the country are found dials of various ages and designs, built by the orders of great and learned men, to be a guide and also a memorial through years to come. It was Charles Dickens who, in June, 1859, wrote to his daughter and signified his pleasure at receiving from the contractor for the works, the gift of a balustrade out of the old Rochester bridge; he stated that without delay he had had a dial constructed to suit the pedestal, and thus had added to his garden a fresh item of interest.

All forms of dials have received consideration—perpendicular, horizontal, pocket and ring dials; even moon dials have not been neglected.

Thomas Fale, in his book on “The Art of Dialling,” published in 1593, gives a chapter to “the making of a dial, to know the houre by the moon;”—while it is certain that portable cylinder dials were in common use in England as early as the middle of the fifteenth century.

Lydgate, who wrote, about the year 1430, the “storie of Thebes, an additional Canterbury tale,” which was printed with Chaucer’s works in 1651, writes as if a dial were commonly carried by travellers. He says:—

And Warton gives us a note on the word “kalendar.”

“Chilindre, a cylinder, a kind of pocket sundial.” Many pocket dials of great beauty, dating from the middle of the 17th century, are in existence, and, although rare; ivory, silver, brass, and bone dials of the Stuart period can still be secured from dealers for reasonable sums. But, like most rarities, they will doubtless soon be bought up and find their way into museums or the collections of the rich.

How early a date may be fixed for the pocket dial in England cannot be determined. Nicholas Kratzer, styled the Deviser of Horologies to King Henry VIII. of England, certainly left us pocket dials of his age, for in Cardinal Wolsey’s dial made by him we have a fair specimen of his art. Sixteenth-century pocket dials were made in France, Germany, and Italy, and although they were of different shapes and sizes, the general construction of “ye 17horologe” was the same. In the British Museum, which is nowhere equalled as a public collection, can be seen a great number of portable dials.

Large private collections also exist in this country and on the continent, containing many rare and extremely valuable specimens. It seems only natural that pocket dials should be popular, and when all things are considered, it is a matter of considerable surprise that more do not exist. To-day, even a schoolboy has his watch, and there is hardly a man who fails to feel his loss when without this indispensable article, but it must be remembered that we are far more exacting as regards time than we used to be, and the closer observance of minutes and seconds demands a portable timekeeper that is not dependent upon the sun, which is so often hidden from our view. It has been recorded that George Washington was in the habit of carrying a pocket dial in the place of a watch; nor does he stand alone in respect to this preference for a pocket horologe, as many great men have delighted to indulge in this particular fancy.

An ancient custom, which is still in vogue at a few of our parish churches, is the ringing of a bell in the morning, at noon, and at curfew to proclaim the time of day. This has now nearly died out, and the curfew bell is in most places all that is left of a time-honoured method of telling the divisions of the day.

What? we might naturally ask, set the hour and fixed the time? Without doubt the ancient sundial, invariably found on all old churches, or which might have been carried by the clergyman or clerk in pocket form. We can imagine how unpunctual people must have been on days that were dull, and how very differently business matters must have been conducted in years that are gone from what they are in our own age.

Whatever part the sundial has to play in the future history of individuals and nations, it must never be forgotten that as a faithful recorder of the passing hour—under certain conditions—it remains for ever the most accurate timekeeper that has been discovered by mortal man.

Great minds have loved to dwell upon its study, and noble men have handed down to generations that were to come specimens of the craftsman’s art and the scientist’s discoveries. In our own land exist many historical dials fashioned to satisfy the fancies of individuals, and also for the benefit of the public. It is a most noticeable fact that the majority of sundials attributable to great men have nearly always a motto or verse inscribed upon them.

18From the earliest ages, when “ye horologe” was a popular means of recording the time of day, “a sundial motto” was considered to be a necessary part of a well-ordered horologe. Most of the more elaborately constructed dials possess a motto or inscription of some kind or other, and not a few have a verse or verses of the most searching and awe-inspiring nature. Generally speaking, however, the vast majority of sundial mottoes and verses, are of an inferior standard, and quite unworthy of the supreme beauty and great wisdom inculcated by this silent monitor.

For the most part the tendency of the varying ages has been to keep to the Latin tongue, in which, with scholarly dictum, the average artificer has in very deed expressed, “Multum in Parvo,” what a humble mind, unversed in that language, “not easily understanded by ye people,” would rather have read at greater length in his own mother tongue. Latin mottoes abound everywhere; generally some pretty conceit of the unscholarly, but often, too, the genuine relics of an ecclesiastical influence in matters of education. A careful review of the large number of mottoes and verses that are known, would, as one might very naturally expect, show that the great majority were of a religious kind. But the paucity of ideas they display is painfully evident; being as a rule of a lugubrious nature they are hardly ever far removed from the most self-evident facts; and such awe-inspiring words as “Prepare to die,” “Consider your latter end,” “Beware of the last hour,” “I shall return but never thou,” do not convey aught of the sunny, sympathetic, instructive and lovable characteristics that the sundial has to give. Here and there the thoughts of great minds, aptly expressed to suit the dial’s power, stand out as red-letter days in a church’s calendar and proclaim by their individuality an exceptional character. But such verses are very rare, and where they exist they will generally be found on dials that have been erected by the order of the writer of the verse to mark some special occasion.

Verses on sundials are comparatively scarce compared with short mottoes; and this is surprisingly strange, considering what I would like to term the poetry of “ye horologe,” for there is hardly anything on this earth that is better calculated to call forth from man the very finest expressions relative to our brief life, than the sundial. This important point in the history of the sundial is hard to account for, unless it be that the majority of dials were made for chance owners, turned out, in fact, like the clocks of the present day, only in a lesser degree, and being actually finished when their 19destination was known. In this case there would often be hardly room for a lengthy verse or verses. Possibly, too, in an economic age, the extra cost was a bar to such; anyway, the fact remains that verses are seldom found. But, be it verse or motto, one thing is most noticeable—namely, that nearly every one gives force by potent words to some weighty, though time-worn idea, and they teach frail mortal man to moralise and dwell on a subject that he too readily thrusts from him—the brevity of life.

I should weary the reader if I were to attempt to record at all fully a fair variety of the mottoes that exist. Indeed, to do justice to such a subject, it would be necessary to give a very full list collected from the different lands that have in various ways influenced our own in matters of learning. This not being possible, I will but quote a few of those mottoes and verses that have appealed to me as the best of their class, and, with some short comment, pass on to other items of interest.

What more appropriate or suitable motto could be chosen, than the three words, “Lead kindly light,” taken from Cardinal Newman’s beautiful hymn. They are full of power and trustfulness, and, if placed on a dial in the view of many, would be answerable for innumerable good deeds and noble resolutions. Again, note the motto—Cosi la vita, “Such is Life,” on a dial at Albizzola. This is of far greater force than “Prepare to die.” We do not intend to die if we can help it, we intend to live! and so we put the motto “Prepare to die” from our mind as crude and unfeeling. But not so the former; it appeals to us, and the imperceptible moving shadow on the dial’s face that soon will be gone gives with the motto a gentle lesson that is considered by all.

There are longer mottoes of this class that give useful lessons, and are of a kind well calculated to do good, such as Sic transit gloria mundi, “Thus passeth the glory of the world;” and Hora est Orandi, “It is the hour for prayer;” and that fine selection from Scripture for a dial, “I also am under authority.” Such verses are good at all times and in all places, and are very far removed from those that seem to contain only the darkest of outlooks and naught of the sunny prospects of life. There is another style or class of motto or verse that has a witty vein, and which is by no means uncommon. The following are amusing:—

A verse, written by Andrew Marvell in the reign of Charles II., called forth by a drunken nobleman of the Court defacing the beautiful sundial erected by Stone in the Privy Garden at Whitehall, in 1662, is of interest:-

There is a quaint and humorous legend given in “Notes and Queries” (2nd S, v. ix., p. 279), concerning the motto “Begone about your business,” placed over a dial at the east end of the Inner Temple terrace, that makes very good reading. “When the dial was put up, the artist inquired whether he should (as was customary) paint a motto under it. The Benchers assented, and appointed him to call at the library on a certain day and hour, at which time they would have agreed upon a motto. It appears, however, that they had totally forgotten this; and when the artist or his messenger called at the library at the time appointed, he found no one but a cross-looking old gentleman poring over some musty book. ‘Please, sir, I am come for the motto for the sundial.’ ‘What do you want?’ was the pettish answer; ‘why do you disturb me?’ ‘Please, sir, the gentleman told me I was to call at this hour for a motto for the sundial.’ ‘Begone about your business,’ was the testy reply. The man, either by design or mistake, chose to take this as an answer to his inquiry, and accordingly painted in large letters under the dial, ‘Begone about your business.’ The Benchers when they saw it, decided that it was very appropriate, and that they would let it stand—chance having done their work for them as well as they could have done it for themselves.”

Besides mottoes and verses that are of a serious or humorous nature, there exists many that express in well-chosen words happy ideas of the present or the past, such as the following:—

It is, however, a very difficult matter to trace the age of mottoes, and the dial by no means is necessarily of the same date.

Even from the 16th century onwards we find suitable mottoes engraved on sundial plates, which called upon the visitor to moralise or dwell upon the passing beauties of creation. These verses give us an insight into the home life and secret feelings of many a great mind otherwise silent on matters concerning the more human side of life. Herein lies the great charm of the sundial; it stands oft-times at the cross paths of a garden demanding a passing look, and it bids us stop and think of those things which we are apt to forget.

Surrounded by all that most appeals to the human mind—transitory gems of the garden—the sundial exercises a subtle charm and exerts a soft and more kindly influence which is felt in after life. So much could be said on the so-called poetry of the sundial that I hasten to control my pen and deal with a more important item concerning its value.

As an ornament it is the greatest acquisition that any garden can possess. As a time-keeper, if constructed for the locality and carefully set, it is beyond compare; and like the flowers themselves it will to the end of time remain one of the finest monitors that reasoning man can follow. It is therefore a matter of great surprise that many sundials should have for so long a period fallen into disuse and decay. But we live in an age of bustle and excitement, and it is seldom that any day gives an hour of rest and mental relaxation from the worries that kill. But when that hour does come, and we find ourselves at peace in our gardens, far from the maddening crowd, studying the beauties of nature, our gaze is certain to be centred sooner or later upon the sundial, our best companion in that quiet hour; and the few moments we spend in silent contemplation before it, will strengthen us for the bustle and trials of an exacting life.

The sundial is an interesting device for indicating the solar time of the place, or places other than where fixed. Its construction is founded upon the astronomical theory of the sun’s apparent motion; and from these its rules and operations have been deduced by the aid of geometry and trigonometry.

The sundial, at the present time, is made in many forms, the one usually met with being the horizontal form seen on a pedestal in many gardens. The next is the vertical dial to be seen on many old churches and houses. There are also a number of others, such as the hemispherical, cruciform, cylindrical, polygonal, armillary sphere—commonly known as the “globe”—reclining, inclining, and a great variety of pocket dials.

THE HORIZONTAL GARDEN DIAL consists usually of a circular metal plate, divided into five-minute spaces, the hours, compass points, ornamental star, border and motto nicely engraved by hand, and a metal gnomon for casting the shadow to indicate the time of day. The larger dials, from 15 ins. in diameter, are divided to single minutes, but this is not always advisable, especially in low latitudes, as the minute divisions come too close together between the hours of 10 o’clock and 12 o’clock, and from 12 o’clock until 2 o’clock, so that the lines appear almost as one. When making a sundial of this description it is necessary for the maker to know the latitude, or name of the place where the dial is going to be fixed.

THE VERTICAL SUNDIAL, which in construction is similar to a horizontal dial, is for placing in an upright position, such as on the wall of a church or house, or one of the side faces of a tall upright pillar. It should be made for, and fixed on, a wall having a southerly aspect, so as to receive as much sun as possible.

Before constructing a vertical dial it is necessary for the maker to know the declination or true aspect of the wall, expressed in degrees, in addition to the latitude of the place. These figures must be absolutely correct, for the whole accuracy of the dial depends upon the figures given. The makers prefer to ascertain the 23declination themselves, for they alone then hold themselves responsible for the dial to indicate correct solar time.

There are many ways of measuring the length of a day in use in this country (the British Isles), but not one of them is perfect as a system for universal daily use. The three chief kinds of time used in this country are Greenwich mean time, Solar, or apparent time, and Sidereal, or star time; this latter is the only exact time and is used by astronomers alone. The time varies by several minutes between each of the methods mentioned.

The difference between sundial time and clock time is due partly to the irregular motion of the earth travelling in its path round the sun. Sometimes it travels faster and sometimes slower. It is also due partly to the fact that the time shown by our clocks and watches, called Greenwich mean time, is purely artificial and imaginary, not agreeing with any natural time at all, nevertheless for commercial purposes, it answers very well.

The sun crosses the meridian at Greenwich at 12 by the clock upon only four days in the year; on all other days it is either before or after the clock, the difference varying from a few seconds up to as much as a little over 16 minutes.

On looking at the map of England it will be seen that from the extreme east coast (Lowestoft) to the extreme west coast (Land’s End) the country extends from Greenwich 1° 45′ on the East 5° 40′ 25″ on the West. Now, as the sun appears to travel from an easterly to a westerly direction each day, and takes four minutes to travel over one degree of longitude, it can be seen that it will take about 30 minutes to travel across the whole country, and the time of all places east of Greenwich is fast, whilst at others west the time is slow. For example, supposing a sundial in position at each of the following places, Lowestoft, Greenwich, and Land’s End, and it was noon at Lowestoft by the sundial, the time indicated at the moment by each dial would be as follows: Lowestoft, 12 o’clock; Greenwich, 7 minutes to 12; Land’s End, about 22¾ minutes to 12. But our watches would have given the time as 12 o’clock at all places at the same moment, so we see that something is required in the way of a table calculated for every day of the year, giving the variations daily between the sundial and the watch.

The following table, called an “Equation Table,” gives the difference in minutes, and you will notice that the sundial and clock 24both agree on four occasions during the year: 15th April, 14th June, 1st September, 25th December.

The sundial, as already mentioned, shows solar time, but by adding or deducting the differences, as shown above, local mean time is found, and by again adding or deducting the difference of longitude, Greenwich mean time is the result. For instance, a sundial at Wrexham (3° West longitude) on the 11th March indicates 11 o’clock, and we want to find Greenwich mean time. We proceed as follows:—

25We see by the above, that the watch should be 22 minutes faster than the dial.

A well-made sundial should have engraved upon it an equation table and the longitude of the place where it is fixed, and the consequent allowance of time to be added or subtracted to find Greenwich mean time.

SUNDIALS SHOULD BE FIXED on a bright, sunny day, a horizontal dial being fixed as follows:—First see that the stone pedestal on which the dial is to be fixed is perfectly rigid, also flat and level on top. Remove with a pair of pinchers or plyers the three button-headed studs that are usually fitted on the back of the dial, then place the dial approximately in position by moving it about until the shadows show the time within a few minutes, and with a pencil, mark the positions of the studs on the stone through the holes in the plate. Remove the dial and replace the studs in the dial; cut the three holes about twice as large as the heads, so that the dial has plenty of play to the right and left to facilitate final adjustment. Mix with water a little Portland cement, which is known as “grouting,” damp the holes in the stone and pour the grouting in and place the dial in its place, turning it until it shows correct solar time of the place, taking care that the plate is level, and then allow the cement to set. The dial is now fixed, and requires no further refixing at any time.

To ascertain correct solar time for fixing purposes proceed as in the example given here, and for the purpose we will take Andover (1½° West) as the place where the dial is about to be fixed on 1st October.

So we see that on 1st October the dial must be fixed 4 minutes faster than the watch.

The gnomon of a horizontal sundial is always fixed on the XII. o’clock line, which represents the true north and south 26meridian, and its edge is elevated above the plane to an angle equal to the latitude of the place. In the northern hemisphere XII. o’clock and the elevated end of the gnomon are always placed towards the north, but in the southern hemisphere the elevated end and XII. o’clock are placed facing the south.

In northern latitudes the sun is always due south at XII. o’clock by the sundial throughout the year, and in southern latitudes it is always due north at XII. In both hemispheres the sun is always due east at VI. a.m. and due west at VI. p.m.

Sundials can be fixed in dull weather, but a magnetic compass will then have to be employed; and although the fixing is simpler than when the sun is used the result is not so accurate.

The directions are as given here:—

Remove the studs and place the dial on the pedestal; take the compass, which should have a square box with needle, and lay it on the dial plate with the east or west side of the box close against the gnomon, and allow the needle to settle. Then, knowing the “magnetic variation” of the spot—for example, we will take London, which is 16° west of the true north—turn the sundial until the north end of the needle coincides with the 16° division west of the N. of compass dial. Take a pencil and mark the holes for studs; cut the holes and fill with grouting; place the dial on the pedestal and finally adjust with the compass before the cement sets.

Sundials can be fixed by the compass, and by the sun, providing the sun is shining on the dial, at any time during the day. To read the time shown by a horizontal sundial, stand facing the sun, and for the morning hours take the right hand edge of the shadow, and for the afternoon hours take the left hand edge.

Sundials of good make have the hour-lines and other divisions radiating from two centres, which are at a distance apart equal to the thickness of the gnomon, consequently there appears to be two hour lines at XII. o’clock, but really it is one, as the shadow at noon fills the space between the two lines.

A sundial cannot be said to be complete without a motto of some description, and by inscribing one on the dial or pedestal it gives a fitting voice to the dignified dial.

SUNDIAL ON CHARTRES CATHEDRAL, FRANCE.

Date 1573.

SUNDIAL ON KELWAYS’ BRIDGE, CHIPPENHAM, WILTS.

SUNDIAL ON OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL, HAWKSHEAD.

SUNDIAL AT DENTON, Nr. CANTERBURY

SUNDIAL ON ASHURST CHURCH, KENT.

Dated 1643.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SAXON SUNDIAL BUILT IN OVER A NORMAN WINDOW.

SUNDIAL, OPHIR FARM, WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

SAXON SUNDIAL, GREAT EDSTONE.

SUNDIAL IN ECCLESFIELD CHURCHYARD, YORKSHIRE.

Dated 1862.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT LYDNEY, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

Date about 1688.

SUNDIAL AT CATTERICK, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT PUTNEY CHURCH.

SUNDIAL ON MELBURY CASTLE, DORSETSHIRE.

Date 1890.

SUNDIAL.

Date about 1740.

SUNDIAL AT ALLOA, SCOTLAND

Date 1695.

SUNDIAL IN ABBEY GROUNDS, DRYBURG.

Date 1640.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SAXON SUNDIALS ON PORCH AT MERSHAM CHURCH, KENT.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON OLD BUILDING, MONTHEY CANTON, VALAIS.

Date 1756.

SUNDIAL AT THORPE PERROW, YORKSHIRE.

Date 1756.

SUNDIAL ON A CHURCH, TUNBRIDGE WELLS.

Dated 1678.

SUNDIAL AT SCOTSCRAIG, FIFESHIRE.

Date 17th Century.

SUNDIAL, LATE 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON HAYDON BRIDGE CHURCH, NORTHUMBERLAND.

Date about 1796.

SUNDIAL OVER A SHOP AT RYE.

SUNDIAL ON CHÂTEAU DE JOSSELIN, FRANCE.

Dated 1578.

SUNDIAL AT ELMLEY CASTLE, WORCESTERSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT GREAT FOSTERS, NEAR EGHAM.

Date about 1700.

A GERMAN SUNDIAL.

SUNDIAL NEAR ROSS, HEREFORDSHIRE.

17th Century.

SAXON SUNDIAL, WITH INSCRIPTION, AT BISHOPSTONE.

GREEK SUNDIAL IN THE LOUVRE, PARIS.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, AUSSEE, GERMANY.

GREEK SUNDIAL.

SUNDIAL, GRÆCO-ROMAN, THE VATICAN, ROME.

SUNDIAL, GERMAN TOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROMAN SUNDIAL, THE MUSEUM, DOVER.

SAXON SUNDIAL, LANGFORD CHURCH, BERKS.

SAXON SUNDIAL AT KIRKDALE, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON OLD GRAMMAR SCHOOL, HAWKSHEAD.

SUNDIAL AT UPTON, NORTHANTS.

SUNDIAL ON DIAL HOUSE, TWICKENHAM.

Date 1715.

SUNDIAL, BADMINTON HOUSE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT WIMBORNE MINSTER, DORSETSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT ABERDOUR.

SUNDIAL IN CLOISTER GARDENS, WINCHESTER COLLEGE.

Dated 1712.

SUNDIAL IN ASHLEWORTH CHURCHYARD, GLOUCESTERSHIRE.

GLASS SUNDIAL, 17TH CENTURY.

ROMAN SUNDIAL IN DOVER MUSEUM.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17TH CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17TH CENTURY.

SUNDIAL.

Date 1735.

SUNDIAL AT CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD.

Date 1581.

SUNDIAL, HOLLAND, 17TH CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON AN ANCIENT CANNON.

SUNDIAL AT BLEADON, SOMERSET.

SUNDIAL AT WOODHOUSELEE.

SUNDIAL IN MALVERN PRIORY CHURCHYARD.

SUNDIAL AT INISCALTRA, OR HOLY ISLE, LOUGH DERG.

SUNDIAL ON AN INN AT ROUGEMONT, SWITZERLAND.

SUNDIAL AT MINLEY MANOR.

SUNDIAL ON AN OLD HOUSE, SARUM CLOSE, SALISBURY.

Date 1749.

SUNDIAL 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, NORTH STOKE, OXFORDSHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON LAON CATHEDRAL, FRANCE.

Date 1748.

SUNDIAL 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT EMERY PLACE, BRIDGEWOOD, COLUMBIA.

SUNDIAL AT COMPTON WYNYATES, WARWICKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT KILMALKEDAR, IRELAND.

SUNDIAL ON THE DUTCH REFORM CHURCH, NEW YORK.

SUNDIAL OF MARY WASHINGTON, FREDRICKSBERG, VIRGINIA.

SUNDIAL ON CHELSEA OLD CHURCH.

Date 1860.

SUNDIAL LATE 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL WILTON CROSS, WILTSHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON THE CITY TEMPLE.

Date 1872.

SUNDIAL 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON LEE CHURCH.

Date 1760.

SUNDIAL ON A CHURCH, MARWENSTOW, CORNWALL.

SUNDIAL 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT WALTON HALL, NEAR WAKEFIELD.

Date 1813.

EARLY GREEK DIAL, ORCHOMENOS, BOEOTIA.

SUNDIAL AT HADDINGTON, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL AT STOKE D’ABERNON, SURREY.

SUNDIAL AT TRAVELLER’S REST, NEW YORK. 1770.

SUNDIAL IN GREYSTOKE CHURCHYARD.

Date 1810.

SUNDIAL AT SHENSTONE VICARAGE, LICHFIELD.

SUNDIAL AT BOLTON ABBEY.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON BAKEWELL CHURCH.

Date 1793.

EARLY GREEK SUNDIAL IN THE BERLIN MUSEUM.

SUNDIAL, HERIOT’S HOSPITAL, SCOTLAND.

Date about 1632.

SUNDIAL, GRAYFRIARS BURIAL GROUND, PERTH.

SUNDIAL AT YARROW KIRK.

Date 1640.

SUNDIAL FROM PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL ON THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL, RYE.

Date 1831.

SUNDIAL 19th CENTURY.

A SCHOOL SUNDIAL AT ST. ANDREWS.

Late 19th Century.

SUNDIAL AT TONGUE HOUSE, SUTHERLAND.

Date 1714.

SUNDIAL ON OLD WILLESDEN CHURCH, MIDDLESEX.

SUNDIAL AT CHEESBURN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

SUNDIAL, BAVERHAUS, GERMANY.

Date 1618.

SUNDIAL IN THE NORMAN KEEP, NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE.

SUNDIAL ON PERIVALE, MIDDLESEX.

Date 1818.

SUNDIAL, GERMANY. 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, ALL SOULS, OXFORD.

SUNDIAL AT ST. BARBARA MISSION, CALIFORNIA.

Date 1786.

SUNDIAL 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON LIBERTON HOUSE, MIDLOTHIAN.

Date 1683.

SUNDIAL AT WASHINGTON’S HOUSE, LITTLE BRIGHTON, NORTHANTS.

SUNDIAL NEAR DANBY MILL, LEYBURN, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT GRAFTON REGIS.

SUNDIAL AT SAUL, Co. DOWN, IRELAND.

SUNDIAL AT THE OLD MANOR HOUSE, WESTWOOD, Nr. BRADFORD, WILTS.

GERMAN SUNDIAL, EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, GRITTLETON HOUSE, CHIPPENHAM, WILTS.

SUNDIAL ON BUILDING, “THE BELFRY TOWER,” PRA, THE RIVIERA.

SUNDIAL, SCOTLAND, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN THE FELLOWS’ GARDENS, CHRIST’S COLLEGE.

SUNDIAL ON ST. CUTHBERT’S CHURCH, DARLINGTON.

SUNDIAL. Date 1674.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS, LEE CASTLE, LANARKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT ABBEYFIELD, Nr. SHEFFIELD.

SUNDIAL IN LEYLAND CHURCHYARD, LANCASHIRE.

Date 1714.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN GUNNERSBURY PARK.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL, TURKEY.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF ROCKINGHAM CASTLE.

GLASS SUNDIAL, OLD PARSONAGE, DIDSBURY.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON THE CLOISTERS OF VALDEMORA, MAJORCA.

EARLY SUNDIAL ON POTTERSPURY CHURCH.

SUNDIAL, LATE 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE’S, APPLEBY.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF BROWNSEA CASTLE.

SUNDIAL IN PRIESTGATE, PETERBOROUGH.

Date 1663.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF WALTHAM RECTORY, GRIMSBY.

EARLY SUNDIALS, ST. MICHAEL’S, ISEL, COCKERMOUTH.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OVER THE PORCH OF ST. GREGORY’S, MINSTER.

SUNDIAL ON THE MARKET CROSS, CARLISLE.

Date 1682.

SUNDIAL, ST. BEAT HAUTES, PYRENEES.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON WARWICK CASTLE.

SUNDIAL AT WYCLIFF-ON-THE-TEES.

SIR ISAAC NEWTON’S SUNDIAL IN COLSTERWORTH CHURCH.

SUNDIAL AT MORRISTOWN, NEW JERSEY.

SUNDIAL AT FOUNTAINHALL, MIDLOTHIAN.

SUNDIAL AT GRACECHURCH RECTORY, NEW YORK.

SUNDIAL ON WINGFIELD MANOR.

Date 1678.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF GLAMIS CASTLE, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL AT KIRK MAUGHOLD, ISLE OF MAN.

SUNDIAL, LATE 19th CENTURY.

KING EDWARD’S SUNDIAL, SANDRINGHAM

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF CHILHAM CASTLE, KENT.

SUNDIAL, BASTAL HALL, KENT.

Dated, 1878.

SUNDIAL AT DRYBURGH ABBEY.

Date 1640.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL FROM AN OLD CURIOSITY SHOP.

Date 1700.

SUNDIAL AT THE TEMPLE, LONDON.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON CHARTERHOUSE SCHOOL, GODALMING.

SUNDIAL AT CARBERRY, HADDINGTONSHIRE.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN THE DEANERY GARDEN, ROCHESTER.

SUNDIAL ON THE CHURCH OF ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, DOVER.

SUNDIAL AT LAINSHAW, AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL OVER JOHN BUNYAN’S PRISON, BEDFORD BRIDGE.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OVER THE STABLES, CHORLEY WOOD.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN ST. MARY’S AND ST. EANSWYTHE’S CHURCHYARD,
FOLKESTONE.

SUNDIAL ON QUEENS’ COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

SUNDIAL AT WRESTS, BEDFORDSHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON WEST HAM ABBEY CHURCH.

Date, 1803.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON ST. SEPULCHRE’S CHURCH, NEWGATE STREET.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF MADELEY COURT, SHROPSHIRE.

Date 17th Century.

SUNDIAL AT THURSLEY, SURREY.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF CAWSTON LODGE, RUGBY.

Date 1863.

SUNDIAL ON INNES HOUSE, MORAYSHIRE, SCOTLAND.

Date 1640 to 1653.

SUNDIAL FROM PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL AT “THE COTTAGE,” CHORLEY WOOD.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OVER A SHOP AT LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDFORDSHIRE.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON MOOT HALL, ALDEBURGH.

SUNDIAL AT DALSTON, CUMBERLAND.

SUNDIAL IN A WINDOW AT DERBY.

Date 1888.

SUNDIAL AT MOCCAS COURT, HEREFORDSHIRE.

17th Century.

SUNDIAL ON KING’S COLLEGE CHAPEL, CAMBRIDGE.

Dated 1733.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT LOWER HARLSTON, NORTHANTS.

SUNDIAL AT BROUGHAM HALL, WESTMORLAND.

Date 1660.

SUNDIAL AT SAG HARBOUR, LONG ISLAND. U.S.A.

SUNDIAL AT ALDINGTON, KENT.

Date 1799.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN CHURCHYARD AT STRETTON, CHESHIRE.

SIR WALTER SCOTT’S SUNDIAL, ABBOTSFORD.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OF WOOD.

Date 1617. Seen in a Curiosity Shop.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

ROMAN SUNDIALS, FROM VILLA SCIPIO, ROME.

SUNDIALS ON THE TOWER OF THE WINDS, ATHENS.

SUNDIAL ON ST. MARY’S CHURCH, DITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK.

SUNDIALS ON THE OLD SEVEN DIALS COLUMN, LONDON.

SUNDIAL, OLD COVENT GARDEN.

Date, the reign of James II.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON BEDALE CHURCH, DARLINGTON.

Date, 1750.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF BROUGHTON HALL, Nr. BANBURY.

SUNDIAL ON SHEEPSTOR CHURCH, DARTMOOR.

Date 1640.

SUNDIAL AT BASLOW, DERBYSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT MILLRIGG CULGAITH, Nr. PENRITH.

Date 17th Century.

SUNDIAL AT HILLSIDE, NEW YORK.

SUNDIAL IN THE GARDEN OF AN OLD COTTAGE AT CHORLEY WOOD.

SUNDIAL OF CHARLES II., WINDSOR, 1660.

SUNDIAL AT BLACKWELL MILL, DARLINGTON.

SUNDIAL AT AIRTH, STIRLINGSHIRE, SCOTLAND. Date 1697.

SUNDIAL ON GRACE CHURCH, MERCHANTVILLE, NEW JERSEY, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN MARSDEN PARK, NELSON.

SUNDIAL AT MOUNT MELVILLE, Nr. St. ANDREWS, SCOTLAND.

Date 1788.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OF CHARLES DICKENS, GADSHILL.

Date 1793.

SUNDIAL FROM PEMBROKESHIRE.

SUNDIAL IN CHURCHYARD AT CASTLETON, DERBYSHIRE.

SUNDIAL IN THE “DANE JOHN” GARDENS, CANTERBURY.

SUNDIAL AT MINSTER, ISLE OF SHEPPEY.

Date 1641.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN TURKEY.

SUNDIAL AT SELBOURNE.

Date about 1760.

SUNDIAL ON YORK MINSTER.

SUNDIAL IN THE TEMPLE GARDENS, LONDON.

SUNDIAL IN CHURCHYARD, ROXBURGH PARK, HARROW-ON-THE-HILL.

Date 1725.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN CHURCHYARD AT CHILHAM, KENT.

SUNDIAL ON A BRIDGE, PHILADELPHIA, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL IN ILFORD CEMETERY.

SUNDIAL AT FEROX HALL, TONBRIDGE.

SUNDIAL AT SMEETH.

Date 1826.

SUNDIAL.

Dated 1740.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT HARWORTH, DARLINGTON.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL OVER CHURCH PORCH, STOKE ALBANY, NORTHANTS.

SUNDIAL FROM CONNECTICUT, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL AT PACKWOOD, WARWICKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL, LATE 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT THE GRANGE, CALNE, WILTS.

SUNDIAL AT SHRUBLANDS.

SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN’S SUNDIAL, ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, LONDON.

SUNDIAL AT KINGSTON LACY.

SUNDIAL AT ENFIELD PARK.

SUNDIAL IN THE GROUNDS OF THE HOSPICE OF ST. CROSS, WINCHESTER.

SUNDIAL AT BATTLE ABBEY, HASTINGS.

SUNDIAL AT SUDBROOKE.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT MONKEND, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT LITTLE MALVERN.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT CHILVESTER LODGE, CALNE, WILTS.

Date 1754.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT STANTON ST. QUINTIN, CHIPPENHAM, WILTS.

CANNON SUNDIAL, BELONGING TO THE SULTAN OF MOROCCO.

SUNDIAL IN GARDENS OF QUEEN MARY’S HOME, WHITSTABLE.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY, LATEST PATTERN.

SUNDIAL, COOKHAM, BERKS.

SUNDIAL AT BALCARRES HOUSE, FIFESHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT GOLDER’S GREEN.

SUNDIAL AT LEWANNICK, LANCASTER, ENGLAND.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT HAMPTON COURT, LONDON.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT SOUTH PLACE, CALNE, WILTS.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT TIDESWELL, DERBYSHIRE.

A CANNON SUNDIAL AT THE ARSENAL, FRANKFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL AT BUXTON, NORFOLK.

SUNDIAL AT NEASHAM, DURHAM.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT MARTOCK, SOMERSET.

SUNDIAL AT KIRKLEES PARK, BRIGHOUSE, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT HARROW SCHOOL, HARROW.

Date 1869.

SUNDIAL AT TRELLECH, TINTERN, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

Date 1648.

SUNDIAL AT THE PALACE OF QUIRINAL, ROME.

Date 1718.

SUNDIAL FROM AN OLD CURIOSITY SHOP, LONDON.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, BROWNSEA CASTLE, DORSET.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT PRESTBURY, ENGLAND.

SUNDIAL AT KILRAVOCK CASTLE, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT CASTLE HOUSE, CALNE, WILTS.

SUNDIAL AT THE CHÂTEAU DE TOURNEUELLES, FRANCE.

SUNDIAL AT ST. ANNE’S, TINTERN, MONMOUTHSHIRE.

Date 1680.

SUNDIAL 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN THE BOTANICAL GARDENS, OXFORD.

SUNDIAL AT HARTBURN, NORTHUMBERLAND.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT HEDSOR.

SUNDIAL AT WILMSLOW, CHESHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT PATRINGTON, YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT THELWALL.

SUNDIAL AT THE PALACE SCHWERIN.

SUNDIAL AT GRAYHOUSE, DUNDEE, SCOTLAND.

SUNDIAL, 17th CENTURY, at BUEN RETIRO, CHURRIANA, Nr. MALAGA.

SUNDIAL IN YEW AND CUT BOX.

SUNDIAL AT BRYMPTON, Nr. YEOVIL.

SUNDIAL AT WROXTON ABBEY, OXFORDSHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON THE MARKET CROSS, WOODSTOCK.

SUNDIAL IN THE GARDENS OF THE BISHOP’S PALACE, CHICHESTER.

SUNDIAL AT NEWBATTLE, SCOTLAND.

Date 1635.

SUNDIAL AT BROMBOROUGH HALL, CHESHIRE.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT HICKORY GROUND. BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, U.S.A.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL AT MELLOR, DERBYSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT MARKET HARBOROUGH.

SUNDIAL IN THE GARDEN OF THE BISHOP’S PALACE, CANTERBURY.

SUNDIAL IN WESTBOURNE PARK ROAD, LONDON. Date 1850.

SUNDIAL, COOKHAM, BERKSHIRE.

18th Century.

SUNDIAL ON BISHOP FOX’S TOWER, FARNHAM, SURREY.

SUNDIAL AT SHIRLEY.

SUNDIAL ON JOHN KNOX’S HOUSE.

Date 1565.

SUNDIAL AT PORT SUNLIGHT.

SUNDIAL ON IMPERIAL HOTEL, SOUTHAMPTON ROW, LONDON.

SUNDIAL AT MOOR PARK, HERTS.

SUNDIAL ON A HOUSE, HEATH DRIVE, WEST HAMPSTEAD.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL IN BIDSTONE CHURCHYARD, CHESHIRE. Date 1733.

SUNDIAL ON AN HOTEL, HAMPSTEAD HEATH. Date 1875.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON A COTTAGE IN NORMANDY.

SUNDIAL AT BIDDULPH, STAFFORDSHIRE.

Date 16th Century.

SUNDIAL ON LELANT CHURCH, CORNWALL.

SUNDIAL AT ASTBURY, CHESHIRE.

SUNDIAL ON PENN CHURCH, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT ALDINGTON HALL, KENT.

SUNDIAL AT MORDEN COLLEGE, BLACKHEATH. Date 1695.

SUNDIAL, 19th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, EARLY 17th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL, 20th CENTURY.

SUNDIAL ON YE OLDE WHITECHAPEL, WHITCLIFF, CLECKHEATON,
YORKSHIRE.

SUNDIAL AT LLANTYSILIS, NORTH WALES.

SUNDIAL, 18th CENTURY.

ORIGINAL SKETCH FOR A LEAP YEAR DIAL.

The sundials all are faithfully represented; the drawings are to suit the book, thus the sundials are introduced into pictures drawn to harmonise with the verses, for the purpose of recording which this work has been compiled.

• Abbeyfield, near Sheffield, 164
• Abbotsford, Scotland, 246
• Aberdour, Fife, 85
• Airth, Stirlingshire, Scotland, 265
• Aldeburgh, Suffolk, 234
• Aldington, Kent, 243
• Aldington, Kent, 393
• Alloa, Scotland, 52
• Appleby, Lincolnshire, 177
• Ashleworth, Gloucestershire, 87
• Ashurst, Kent, 40
• Astbury, Cheshire, 391
• Athens, 251
• Aussee, Germany, 73
• Badminton House, Gloucestershire, 83
• Bakewell, Derby, 130
• Balcarres House, Fifeshire, 320
• Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., 369
• Baslow, Derbyshire, 259
• Bastal Hall, Kent, 200
• Battle Abbey, Hastings, 305
• Baverhaus, Germany, 142
• Bedale, Darlington, 256
• Bedford Bridge, 212
• Berlin, 131
• Biddulph, Staffordshire, 389
• Bidstone, Cheshire, 385
• Bishopstone, Sussex, 70
• Blackheath, Morden College, Birmingham, Staffs, 394
• Blackwell Mill, Darlington, 264
• Bleadon, Somerset, 96
• Bolton Abbey, Skipton, 128
• Bridgewood, Columbia, 107
• Bromborough Hall, Cheshire, 367
• Brownsea Castle, Dorset, 179
• Brownsea Castle, Dorset, 341
• Brougham Hall, Westmorland, 241
• Broughton, Banbury, 257
• Brympton, near Yeovil, 362
• Buen Retiro, Churriana, Malaga, 360
• Buxton, Norfolk, 331
• Calne, Wilts, 299
• 417Calne, Wilts, 311
• Calne, Wilts, 327
• Calne, Wilts, 347
• Cambridge, Christ’s College, 160
• Cambridge, Queens’ College, 218
• Cambridge, King’s College, 238
• Canterbury, Kent, 274
• Canterbury, Kent, 373
• Carberry, Haddingtonshire, 207
• Carlisle, Cumberland, 185
• Castleton, Derbyshire, 273
• Catterick, Yorkshire, 48
• Cawston Lodge, Rugby, 225
• Charterhouse, Godalming, Surrey, 206
• Chartres, France, 36
• Château de Josselin, France, 65
• Château de Tournoeulles, France, 48
• Cheesburn, Northumberland, 141
• Chelsea, London, 112
• Chichester, Sussex, 365
• Chilham, Kent, 199
• Chilham, Kent, 285
• Chippenham, Wilts, 37
• Chorley Wood, Herts, 214
• Chorley Wood, Herts, 228
• Chorley Wood, Herts, 262
• City Temple, London, 116
• Colsterworth, Grantham, 190
• Compton Wynyates, Warwickshire, 108
• Connecticut, U.S.A., 295
• Cookham, Berkshire, 319
• Cookham, Berkshire, 375
• Covent Garden, 254
• Curiosity Shop, 203
• Curiosity Shop, 248
• Curiosity Shop, 339
• Dalston, Cumberland, 235
• Darlington, Durham, 161
• Denton, near Canterbury, 39
• Derby, 236
• Didsbury, Manchester, 172
• Ditchingham, Norfolk, 252
• Dover, 77
• Dover, 89
• Dover, 210
• Dryburgh, Scotland, 53
• Dryburgh, Scotland, 201
• Dundee, Scotland, 359
• Dutch Reform Church, New York, 110
• Ecclesfield, Yorkshire, 45
• Elmley, Worcestershire, 66
• Enfield Park, Middlesex, 303
• Farnham, Surrey, 376
• Folkestone, Kent, 217
• 418Fountainhall, Midlothian, 192
• Frankford, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 330
• Fredricksberg, Virginia, 111
• Gadshill, Gillingham, Kent, 271
• German Town, Pennsylvania, 76
• Glamis, Scotland, 195
• Golder’s Green, London, 321
• Gracechurch, New York, 193
• Grafton Regis, Stony Stratford, 153
• Great Edstone, Yorkshire, 44
• Great Fosters, Egham, Surrey, 67
• Greystoke, Cumberland, 126
• Grittleton House, Chippenham, Wilts, 157
• Gunnersbury, Middlesex, 167
• Haddington, Scotland, 123
• Hampstead Heath, London, 386
• Hampstead West, London, 382
• Hampton Court, London, 324
• Harrow, Middlesex, 336
• Hartburn, Northumberland, 352
• Harworth, Darlington, 292
• Hawkshead, Ambleside, Westmorland, 38
• Hawkshead, Ambleside, Westmorland, 80
• Haydon Bridge, Northumberland, 63
• Hedsor, 354
• Heriot’s Hospital, Scotland, 132
• Hillside, New York, 261
• Ilford, London, 287
• Iniscaltra, Lough Derg, 99
• Innes, Morayshire, Scotland, 226
• Isel, Cockermouth, Cumberland, 182
• John Knox’s House, 378
• Kilmalkedar, Ireland, 109
• Kilravock, Scotland, 344
• Kingston Lacy, 302
• Kirkdale, Yorkshire, 79
• Kirklees, Brighouse, Yorkshire, 335
• Kirk Maughold, Isle of Man, 196
• Lainshaw, Ayrshire, Scotland, 211
• Langford, Berks, 78
• Laon, France, 105
• Leap Year Dial, 401
• Lee, Devon, 118
• Lee, Lanarkshire, 163
• Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire, 230
• Lelant, Cornwall, 390
• Leyburn, Yorkshire, 152
• Leyland, Lancashire, 165
• Lewannick, Lancaster, 322
• Liberton, Midlothian, 150
• Little Brighton, Northants, 151
• Little Malvern, 309
• Llantysilis, North Wales, 399
• 419Louvres, Paris, 71
• Lower Harlston, Northants, 240
• Lydney, Gloucestershire, 47
• Madeley, Shropshire, 223
• Malvern, Worcester, 98
• Market Harborough, Leicester, 372
• Marsden Park, Nelson, Lancs., 268
• Martock, Somerset, 334
• Marwenstow, Cornwall, 119
• Melbury, Dorsetshire, 50
• Mellor, Derbyshire, 371
• Merchantville, New Jersey, U.S.A., 266
• Mersham, Kent, 56
• Millrigg Culgaith, Penrith, 260
• Minley Manor, 101
• Minster, Isle of Sheppey, 184
• Minster, Isle of Sheppey, 275
• Moccas, Herefordshire, 237
• Monkend, Yorkshire, 308
• Monthey, Canton Valais, 58
• Moor Park, Herts, 381
• Morocco,316
• Morristown, New Jersey, 191
• Mount Melville, Scotland, 269
• Neasham, Durham, 332
• Newbattle, Scotland, 366
• Newcastle-on-Tyne, 143
• New York, 125
• Normandy, 388
• North Stoke, Oxfordshire, 104
• Old Willesden, Middlesex, 140
• Orchomenos, Boeotia, 122
• Oxford, Oxfordshire, 93
• Oxford, Oxfordshire, 147
• Oxford, Oxfordshire, 351
• Packwood, Warwickshire, 296
• Patrington, Yorkshire, 356
• Penn, Buckinghamshire, 392
• Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 135
• Pennsylvania, U.S.A., 227
• Pembrokeshire, 272
• Perivale, Middlesex, 144
• Perth, Scotland, 133
• Peterborough, Northampton, 180
• Philadelphia, U.S.A., 286
• Port Sunlight, 379
• Potterspury, Stony Stratford, 175
• Pra, The Riviera, 158
• Prestbury, Gloucestershire or Macclesfield (Ches.), 343
• Putney, London, 49
• Rochester, Kent, 209
• Rockingham, Uppingham, 171
• Rome, 75
• Rome, 250
• 420Rome, 338
• Rougemont, Switzerland, 100
• Roxburgh Park, Harrow-on-Hill, 282
• Rye, Sussex, 64
• Rye, Sussex, 136
• Sag Harbour, Long Island, U.S.A., 242
• Salisbury, Wilts., 102
• Sandringham, Norfolk, 198
• Saul, Co. Down, Ireland, 154
• Schwerin, 358
• Scotscraig, Fifeshire, 61
• Selborne, Alton, Staffs., 279
• Seven Dials, London, 253
• Sheepstor, Dartmoor, 258
• Shenstone, Lichfield, 127
• Shirley, Warwick, 377
• Shrublands, 300
• Smeeth, Ashford, Mersham, 289
• Southampton Row, London, 380
• St. Andrews, Fife, 138
• St. Anne’s, Tintern, Monmouthshire, 349
• Stanton St. Quintin, Chippenham, Wilts., 315
• St. Barbara Mission, California, 148
• St. Beat, Hautes Pyrenees, 186
• Stoke Albany, Northants., 294
• Stoke d’Abernon, Surrey, 124
• St. Paul’s, London, 301
• Stretton, Cheshire, 245
• St. Sepulchre’s, Newgate Street, London, 222
• Sudbrooke, Gloucester, 306
• Temple, London, 204
• Temple Gardens, London, 281
• Thelwall, Warrington, 357
• Thorpe Perrow, Yorkshire, 59
• Thursley, Surrey, 224
• Tideswell, Derbyshire, 329
• Tonbridge, Kent, 288
• Tongue, Sutherland, 139
• Trellick, Tintern, Monmouthshire, 337
• Tunbridge Wells, Kent, 60
• Twickenham, 82
• Upton, Northants., 81
• Unrecorded Site, 41
• —— ——, 42
• —— ——, 46
• —— ——, 51
• —— ——, 54
• —— ——, 55
• —— ——, 57
• —— ——, 62
• —— ——, 68
• —— ——, 69
• —— ——, 72
• —— ——, 74
• —— ——, 88
• 421—— ——, 90
• —— ——, 91
• —— ——, 92
• —— ——, 94
• —— ——, 95
• —— ——, 103
• —— ——, 106
• —— ——, 113
• —— ——, 114
• —— ——, 117
• —— ——, 120
• —— ——, 129
• —— ——, 137
• —— ——, 145
• —— ——, 146
• —— ——, 149
• —— ——, 156
• —— ——, 159
• —— ——, 162
• —— ——, 166
• —— ——, 168
• —— ——, 169
• —— ——, 170
• —— ——, 173
• —— ——, 176
• —— ——, 178
• —— ——, 183
• —— ——, 187
• —— ——, 197
• —— ——, 202
• —— ——, 205
• —— ——, 208
• —— ——, 213
• —— ——, 215
• —— ——, 216
• —— ——, 221
• —— ——, 229
• —— ——, 231
• —— ——, 232
• —— ——, 233
• —— ——, 239
• —— ——, 244
• —— ——, 247
• —— ——, 249
• —— ——, 255
• —— ——, 267
• —— ——, 270
• —— ——, 276
• —— ——, 277
• —— ——, 278
• —— ——, 283
• —— ——, 284
• —— ——, 290
• —— ——, 291
• 422—— ——, 293
• —— ——, 297
• —— ——, 298
• —— ——, 307
• —— ——, 310
• —— ——, 312
• —— ——, 313
• —— ——, 314
• —— ——, 318
• —— ——, 323
• —— ——, 325
• —— ——, 326
• —— ——, 328
• —— ——, 333
• —— ——, 340
• —— ——, 342
• —— ——, 345
• —— ——, 346
• —— ——, 350
• —— ——, 353
• —— ——, 361
• —— ——, 368
• —— ——, 370
• —— ——, 383
• —— ——, 384
• —— ——, 387
• —— ——, 395
• —— ——, 396
• —— ——, 397
• —— ——, 400
• Valdemora, Majorca, 174
• Waltham, Grimsby, 181
• Walton Hall, Wakefield, 121
• Warwick, Warwickshire, 188
• Westbourne Park, Bayswater, London, 374
• West Ham, London, 220
• Westwood, Bradford, Wilts., 155
• Whitcliff, Cleckheaton, Yorks., 398
• White Plains, New York, 43
• Whitstable, Kent, 317
• Wilmslow, Cheshire, 355
• Wilton Cross, Wilts., 115
• Wimborne, Dorsetshire, 84
• Winchester, 86
• Winchester, Hants., 304
• Windsor, 263
• Wingfield, Derbyshire, 194
• Woodhouselee, 97
• Woodstock, 364
• Wreste, Bedfordshire, 219
• Wroxton Abbey, Oxfordshire, 363
• Wycliff-on-the-Tees, 189
• Yarrow Kirk, 134
• York, 280