New sundials

A new dial near Sheffield

This new dial by Harriet James is at Worrall near Sheffield and is carved in Bretton Moor - a local stone. The gnomon is made of bronze as is the Equation of Time graph which is by the front door. The house had a forge which was used by outworkers in the Sheffield cutlery trade.>

West Park, Long Eaton, Derbyshire

The West Park sundial in Long Eaton was built by the Friends of West Park (with the assistance of the Erewash Borough Council). Their website provdes a very detailed description of the design and construction process, which would be useful and interesting to any other groups carrying out a similar project

Equatorial dial in Teruel, N.E. Spain

The equatorial sundial of wood and stainless steel was erected in 2009 at the Posada El Cadoncho in the village of Calomarde. The Hour lines and numbers are perforated in the equatorial ring. The time is read on the centre post from the sunlightr projected there through the perforations. The accuracy is claimed to be to the nearest minute. The dial also gives readings for the dates, solstices, equinoxes, and zodiac times. Materials: stainless steel and quality wood.

Hook Norton, Oxfordshire

This contemporary sundial was cut in 3mm stainless steel directly from an AUTOCAD design by a high pressure waterjet cuttting machine. The Gnomon is also watercut 3mm Stainless Steel. The latitude and longitude of the sundial were calculated exactly using Google Earth, the wall declination was calculated manually. There is a very interesting website describing the design, calculation, and manufacturing process for this highly individual sundial

Green's Windmill, Nottingham

This dial was made for the science centre at Green's Windmill, Nottingham, former home of the mathematician and physicist George Green (1793-1841) who worked as a miller. The dial was commissioned by the George Green Memorial Fund in memory of their former Secretary and biographer of George Green, Mary Cannell The trustees wanted an 'interactive' sundial as the museum is visited by school parties. The dial is read by swinging the gnomon round until its pointer is directed at the sun and its shadow disappears. The time is read off on the band of hours round the globe. The dial was made by Harriet James and was installed in 2006. It is carved in Portland stone. The sphere has a diameter of 300mm.

Utah Valley State College, Heber City, Utah

Sun Dagger was created by sculptor Robert Perless for the Wasatch Campus of Utah Valley State College off Route 40 in Heber City, Utah. It functions as a unique celestial observatory, and amplifies the union and synergy of man and nature. It is a polar-pointing gnomon horizontal sundial, which also works as a noon transit sundial, and as a seasonal calendar, celebrating the winter and summer solstices and the vernal and autumnal equinoxes with rainbows crossing the sun line. The gnomon of the sundial faces True North and is elevated at an angle of 40.46 degrees, the latitude of Heber City. At solar noon, when the sun crosses the meridian, the ray of sunlight coming through the slit in the gnomon illuminates the 12 o’clock position. ......more

London Wetlands Centre, Barnes, London

This Spot-On sundial is a memorial to a noted environmentalist who was associated with Peter Scott who founded the Wildlife and Wetlands Trust. The mirror-polished stainless steel gives strong reflections, and the gnomon, which casts the shadow, appears to "float in air" because the matt circle appears to be continuous though part of it is in fact a reflection. For about 5 minutes at solar noon, when the sun is at its highest in the sky, a line of light shines through the slit in the gnomon. This design feature is used to orient the sundial exactly to true North so that it can be read to the narest minute or two ....more

Sundial in Bitola, Macedonia

This sundial is located on the town square in the city of Bitola. It was designed by Aleksandar Shulevski of the Astronomical society of Bitola. The dimensions of the dial are 12 by 5 meters, and the declination of the wall is 9 degrees to the east. The sundial is positioned on the central city square. This project was undertaken as a part of the reconstruction of the old central part of the city in which structures from the 19 - th century are prevalent. The sundial is of a vertical design, with the wall declining to the east for an angle just short of 10 degrees. The dimensions are a bit unusual - 12 by 5 meters, but overall, the dial adds beauty to the surroundings, and is just right. Due to the large size, the time can be read off to a distance of about 30 mete

Treloars College, Hampshire, England

A new sundial at Treloars College, Hampshire in memory of two pupils. Two declination curves mark their birthdays. The dial is carved in Portland stone, painted and gilded with gold and platinum leaf. The gnomon is of stainless steel with a gold-plated sphere 'nodus'. The dial was made by Harriet James in 2003.

A new sundial in Porirua, New Zealand

The sundial was designed by Andrew Gray and manufactured by A E Tilleys Ltd and John Kinviq Engineering and installed by Gavin Dench.   Location - Corner of Parumoana and Norrie Street, Porirua CBD

A new sundial in Turin

This sundial was commissioned by Angelo Grasso and is at Via Pervinche 32, Turin, whic is part of the "Two Queens Estate" and owned by the Grasso family. . It is 1.5 metres square and was designed by Barbara Voarino and Mario Tebenghi. It is one of the few sundials in Turin and one of the largest. Particular consideration was given to the motto and, in the end, a religious sentence was chosen to helpipeople passing under it. The Latin translates as "None of us can do anything without God's help".

A new dial in Wiltshire

This new cube dial at Crockerton, Wiltshire was made for the owner's birthday by Harriet James . A 'v' nodus tracks a declination curve for the day on the east and west faces. The dial is carved in Portland stone and painted. The gnomons are made of brass.

The floral sundial at Easton Lodge

Daisy, Countess of Warwick, laid out a small private garden at Easton Lodge near Great Dunmow in Essex,probably around 1865. It contained a floral sundial surrounded by hour lines made of planted box, and an inscription, also in box. There is a photograph of the Victorian sundial >in all its glory in " " available to visitors to the gardens. The present owners of Easton Lodge, Brian and Diana Creasey, have spnt many years of effort in recreating and adding to the magnificent gardens of Easton Lodge, which fell into complete decay during and after the last war. For the Millennium project, they decided to recreate the floral sundial. The British Sundial Society was approached, and the then Secretary, David Young, with other society members calculated the angles of the hour lines and laid out the lmeridian line so the sundial would point accurately to true North. Now. two years later, the yew is growing up well within the metal framework of the gnomon, and the box hedges are also growing well. In only a few more years, the sundial will be the equal of the equal of its predecessor. (Our thanks to Nicolina who kindly posed to give scale to the sundial) There is an extensive website describing the gardens of Easton Lodge which are open to the public , at present on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only Consult the website for location, opening times, etc.

West Overton dial restoration

The Victorian sundial at the church of St. Michael and All Angels, West Overton, Wiltshire restored by Harriet James in 2003. The dial was correctly delineated by its original makers to face 38° east of south. The fine cast bronze gnomon had fallen off but had been kept by the church wardens. It had originally been made to an incorrect angle and had been set into a slot in the stone to compensate. For the restoration the gnomon was reengineered and new clamps were made to fix it to the stone. The carved stone surface of the dial was cleaned and some small weathered patches were repaired. The carved detail was painted to make it readable from the ground as the dial is more than 50 feet up the tower of the church.

The Millennium Timespace at Gosport

The focal point for the waterfront promenade is a unique public time piece and performance space named the 'Timespace'. In celebration of the year 2000 the design draws a physical and spiritual ink between Holy Trinity Church and Portsmouth Harbour. The birth of Christ and the start of the measurement of modern time is symbolised by the line leading from the Timespace to the church and the year 2000 by a line leading from the space to the Harbour. The design takes as inspiration Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and his space-time cone diagram is represented within the paving. At the central 'here and now point' is a mast which casts the shadow for the sundial. The shadow of the cones fixed through the mast marks the sun time. When the sun crosses the meridian, the line of true north marked on the paving surface, a small circle of light through the cones indicates not only the time but also the date. The entrance to the timespace from the Millennium Promenade is via a sculptural millennium gateway of 9m clear span steel work infilled with blue toughened glass. The gateway houses a digital clock linked to LED coloured lighting within the paving surface which marks the hours, five minute and five second intervals. The clock is linked to an acoustic system built into the lower seating terrace which enables the clock to chime. The gateway also houses a remote PA system fitted with an induction loop for hearing aid users, a CD and tape player. The surfacing of the timespace consists of textured coloured concrete carefully chosen to associate with the coloured mosaics on the two adjacent landmark tower blocks, Harbour and Seaward Towers and a new mosaic around the perimeter of the space between the symbolic date lines depicts events and characters through Gosport's history over the past 2000 years. The tower block mosaics, central mast and millennium gateway are illuminated at night providing a dramatic backdrop for the harbour, visible from Portsmouth and out into the Solent.

The Leicester "Eye of Time"

Crafted in fine Portland Stone or marble in various sizes by English master stonemasons, the " " Analemma is a beautiful landscape feature that blends dramatic design with fascinating functionality. Sundial designed by Professor Allan Mills. This sculptural " " incorporates a small hole angled upwards in a north-south plane. At midday (or 1 BST) the Sun shines through it to project a spot of light upon a figure-8 shaped curve (known as an analemma) incised on the inner surface of the work. The time of year is indicated by the position of the pot around this curve.

The Amble Dial

Due to be finished by the end of March and formally opened on 27th May 2001 is the Town Centre Development at Amble, Northumberland. An impressive and imaginative development, this conversion of a former car park provides a garden, a curved trail with marker plaques, peripheral seating, a small 50 seat amphitheatre and a large horizontal sundial. The dial is 12 m in diameter and has a stainless steel gnomon over 7 metres high. It has been commissioned by the Amble Development Trust with Northumberland County Council. Dial delineation and consultancy is by Patrick Powers. The dial may be viewed at: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/patrick_powers/amble.htm

Tagg's Island, Hampton Court

This unique sundial designed specifically for Taggs Island consists of 13 fins, a hemispherer and rings which represent the tropics of Capricorn and Cancer, and two polar circles. The dial has been made for the exact latitide and ligitude of Taggs Island by David Harber Sundials

Hinckley Sundials

Ship sundial

Solar energy Research Center, Rehovat, Israel

Hemingborough Millennium dial

La Meridiana

New sundial in Putney, London

The Putney Society decided, at the end of 1998, to erect a sundial as our contribution to marking the Millennium. We were fortunate to obtain permission to put up a vertical strip dial on the south face of Zeeta House at the junction of Putney High Street and the Upper Richmond Road. We wanted a design which would reflect our commitment to improving the environment, to echo our swan logo and to reflect the importance of the river to Putney The base plate of our sundial is the swan, the gnomon (the shadow casting rod) is in the form of an oar, and the we hope that the design of the sundial proves an enhancement to the local environment. The dial is made of brass, which will gradually oxidise and become darker, making the sundial more prominent. Our designer, David Harber, suggested that we add a motto as these are traditional and uplifting features associated with sundials, which were often seen as oracles as well as timepieces. You will see that the motto is "Time like an ever rolling stream" which has echoes of the motto on the sundial on the tower of St Mary's Church at the other end of the High Street. Posted 17 January 2000

Sundial to be presented to the Horniman Museum, London

The Wenger Sundial uses a glass globe with the outline of the continents of the world scribed by laser. The user's location is at the top of the globe. The user places a pointer (finger or pencil) on the globe moving the pointer until the shadow of the tip falls upon the center of the globe. Nearby time lines (analemmas) are used to read the time of day. Following the current position of the sun parallel to the Equator to the local horizon line the user may read the time and direction of sunrise and sunset. Designed by Daniel Wenger Posted 17 January 2000

South Wraxall, Wiltshire, UK

A new dial at South Wraxall, Wiltshire, UK made by Harriet James. Carved in green slate with painted and gilded decoration, this dial declines 55° west of south. The layout of hour lines is divided about the thickness of the gnomon and the time is told from the leading edge of the gnomon. The dial reads local time. The motto translates as 'Better late than never'. Posted 11 January 2000

Museum of the Royal Engineers, Chatham, England

On 19th November 1999, a polar sundial was presented to the Corps of Royal Engineers of the British Army by the Worshiplful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers, one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London. The picture shows the sundial being unveiled by Lieutenant General Sir Scott Grant KCB, Chief Royal Engineer, and Sir Idris Pearce CBE TD DL, Master of the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers. This polar sundial is mounted on a plinth of exactly 2000 brickss. It was designed by Piers Nicholson. There are two other sundials of a similar design have been built at Greenwich and at Blackfriars (see below).

The Millennium Village, Greenwich, England

	On 29th November 1999, a polar sundial was presented to English Partnerships, the urban regeneration agency which owns the Greenwich Peninsula by the Worshiplful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers, one of the ancient livery companies of the City of London. The picture shows the sundial being unveiled by Nick Raynsford, the MP for Greenwich and Minister for Construction..
A closer view of the sundial with the designer, Piers Nicholson, (on the left) and the Minister for Construction, Nick Raynsford. It was raining for this opening too!

Pauls Walk, Blackfriars, London

(30 m. upstream from the new Millennium footbridge)

The pictures show the sundial outside the City of London Boys School, and the view downstream to Southwark Bridge (before the Millennium footbridge was built)

New College, Oxford, England

The background of the dial is painted white. The Roman numerals, hour lines, MM for 2000 and WW for William of Wyckham, founder of the College, are all carved directly into the tower. The hour lines an noon cross are gilded, the numerals are painted blue. The gnomon is 13ft long made of 1" stainless hollow tube, painted black with supporting stainless scrollwork and a pair of braces with a pair of stainless yacht cables to give extra stability. The dial declines 10° W of South. It tells Local Apparent Time. The gnomon was aligned with the help of a laser trigon mounted on the gnomon bar. This was made by Dr. John Davis. The dial was designed, carved and delineated by Harriet James. It was commissioned by the Warden and Scholars of New College with funds provided by Professor E.T.Hall. FBA. Posted 11 October 1999

Durham University, England

New sundial at Ashby, Suffolk

The new sundial at Ashby was commissioned by one of the parishoners, and designed and carved by Harriet James. It was dedicated in March 1999. The sundial is of Portland Stone, with the hour lines formed by carved arrows flying to the centre. The hour is indicated when the shadow is exactly over the shaft of the arrow, the half-hours when the gap between the arrow heads is centrally in the shadow, and the quarter hours when the shadow is on the edge of the flight.

posted 15 April 1999