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Description: | Nearly complete lead post-medieval sundial dating to 1688. The sundial was originally etched into a flat square sheet of lead however it now remains in pieces. There is a rivet hole in each original corner. The sheet was discovered crumpled up.The face of the sundial bears an incised circle divided into twelve smaller wedges, each with the corresponding number above. The two sets of numbers run 1-12. Half way between each set of numerals is a pellet marking the half hour. The segments increase in size towards the numbers 5-7, and then decrease in size. This variation in segment size would have been calibrated according to the angle and position of the dial in situ.The segment widths measure as follows:0-1 = 8.6mm 1-2 = 11.6mm2-3 = 12mm3-4 = 15mm4-5 = 16mm5-6 = 17mm6-7 = 17.7mm7-8 = 16mmThere is a circular hole measuring 7mm diameter in the segment between numbers 5 & 6, and another beneath the date mark. Their exact function is not known. At the lower half of the sundial there is a date inscribed into the lead. The text reads 'May the 30th' and below this is an incised rectangle containing the date '1688'. There is another large capital letter 'M' below the 'M' in 'May'.The finder contacted the British Sundial Society, who replied:"The construction of the sundial would appear to have placed the centre of delineation at the centre of the dial-plate, suggesting that it is an early dial, dating from the 16th century, perhaps early 16th century. The style of the numerals, the size of the dial-plate and the fact that it was made of lead ( which is a rarity) instead of brass, supports this view, as does the fact that the hour-ring or chapter-ring of the dial is divided into just hours and half hours.As far as I can guage, the dial was constructed for a latitude of around the 51degree (North) mark; but it could well have been made for the place where you found it." | Publisher: | http://finds.org.uk | Source: | Portable Antiquities | Identifier: | http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/r... | Go to resource |
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