The sun dial of 1770 at Dymock church in Gloucestershire is in a very typical position - above the entrance arch of the south porch. This example also appears to be made of the usual material - slate, though its surround of wood is somewhat more unusual. Often the engraved slate slab is fixed to the south wall of the chancel. Both these locations ensured that anyone wanting to know the time simply approached the church by the usual south footpath and, when sufficiently near, read the time by the position of the gnomon's shadow relative to the marked hours. That is, assuming that the sun was shining. On our visit we were favoured with sun and the clock was pretty accurate. The words in the centre of the sun dial, according to my fairly limited Latin, means "God's shadow".
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
