Late 18th century Scientific sundials, designed to work with our modern concept of hours of a fixed length, appeared in this country from the 16th century onwards.
The making of these dials was considered to be part of a Gentleman's education, a practical application of geometry. We currently know of seven domestic dials in the village, plus a least one fragment built into a wall at the Partridge Lane, one missing one that used to be above the entrance to the church, and the most recent, the Millennium Sundial on the church tower.
These dials were built not to tell mass time, but were mainly used to calibrate the inaccurate clocks and watches of the period. On a south wall of Oak Farmhouse (47 High Street) is a small scientific dial. This is thought to be a relatively late one owing to the sharpness of the cut, possibly late 18th century. It might be an unfinished domestic project, as although the hours are correct, the numbers do not seem to have been finished.
Photographer: Dr Kevin Lodge
Image lent by : Dr Kevin Lodge
Connected Photos: AP055 | AP056 | AP057 | AP059 | AP060 | AP061 | AP062