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Armillary sundial on the day of autumn equinox at noon

Armillary sundial on the day of the autumn equinox at noon

Every day at noon the gnomon rod casts its shadow on the centre line of the meridian band. When the day of spring or autumn equinox arrives the two orb balls cast a double shadow onto the meridian band. Away from the equinox, only one orb shadow will show.

Our armillary sundial casts distinctive shadows at noon on the day of autumn equinox, as seen in the photo. Its unique design allows the noon shadow of the gnomon rod to fall on the broad meridian band at its centre line. The two orb balls also cast their noon shadow onto the meridian band. Continue reading

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A modern altitude sundial after Erasmus Habermel

A modern circular altitude sundial after Erasmus Habermel of Prague

Modern reconstruction of a 16th century altitude sundial for studying its mathematics and accuracy. An altitude dial uses the height of the sun to find the time. The dial is double-sided with the two half-years back-to-back.

Erasmus Habermel was a renowned scientific instrument maker working in the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague in the 16th century. He made instruments for all disciplines including astronomy and navigation. One of his sundials is an altitude dial in the clocks collection of the Augustine Museum in Freiburg im Bresgau*. It is an elegant circular dial and the mathematical construction is intriguing. Continue reading

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Calibrating a new obelisk sundial in stone

Inclined test dial facing east

This dial stone is a test piece for the new obelisk sundial, and is on a board at the correct angle for one of the faces of the obelisk. It faces East and inclines 61° to horizontal so the shadow of the temporary plastic gnomon will show the time.

Obelisk sundials carved in stone were popular in Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries. Quite recently stonemasons in Fife have done the work to carve a new obelisk sundial for one of their clients. Its dials have remained blank for mathematical calibration. Macmillan Hunter are responsible for the calibration and have supplied detailed dial instructions and drawings for the mason to use together with the required set of geometric bronze gnomons. Continue reading

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North alignment on a Victorian pedestal

Sun direction measured with an angle finder

The direction of the sun measured against one edge of the octagonal stone pedestal using the angle finder and light slit

A Victorian sundial pedestal stands in the gardens of Riccarton estate outside Edinburgh. It once held a beautiful octagonal dial which is now in safe storage. A replacement dial is to go on show and it must be in a correct orientation. The gnomon on a sundial must point north. A wrong alignment will make the sundial inaccurate, and nothing on the 19th century pedestal actually marks the north. Continue reading

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Historic Scottish Stone Sundial Restored

Scottish stone sundial restored

The octagonal base and baluster shaft support a carved cube stone. Before restoration the stones were covered in moss lying on the ground in the owner’s garden. The bronze horizontal dial is new.

Stone sundials were common in Scotland in the 17th and 18th centuries. They stood in the gardens of great houses, and in public places. The geometric form of the sundial would reflect the popular interests of the day in science and mathematics, and many displayed complex multiple dials. Originally this particular sundial may have belonged to a country estate near Falkirk. The present owner has had it for many years and in 2023 decided to restore it. Continue reading

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An 18th century horizontal garden sundial

A beautiful 18th century horizontal garden sundial

A historic horizontal bronze garden sundial, 1723

A fine 18th century horizontal sundial stands in the gardens of the House of Dun near Montrose. The dial is octagonal made in bronze set in a carved and moulded stone raised on a baluster pedestal and stone step. Elegant tracery scroll work supports the gnomon.

The dial engraving is detailed employing delicacy of variation in deep and light incisions and ornament. The chapter ring carries exact time divisions down to a single minute. Continue reading

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Looking for a place for our armillary sundial

Looking for a place for our armillary sundial

The armillary sundial captures the dynamics of the earth spinning on its axis and orbiting the sun. The equatorial band is pierced with markers for the hours. A meridian band shows the seasons.

Now that we have moved, we have been looking for a place for our armillary sundial. Before, it was nestling gently in its surroundings with plants in the garden growing up through the rings and wrapping themselves around. For the moment it is out in the open where  we can see it better. It has an air of almost floating on its stand with the lightness of the rings and the delicate shadows on the ground. Continue reading

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Wall sundial at Royal Square in St Helier, Jersey

Wall sundial at St Helier, Jersey

Wall sundial in Royal Square at St Helier, Jersey, Latitude 49.1839° N, Longitude 2.1057° W. The inscription reads: REGULATE YOUR CLOCKS BY THE SUN DIAL. CORRECTION MUST BE MADE FOR THE EQUATION OF TIME WHICH IS GIVEN IN ALL THE ALMANACKS.

This beautiful sundial is set into the wall of the old Picket House in Royal Square, St Helier, Jersey. Historical records show it was made by a talented Jerseyman called Elias Le Gros in the 1820s. In spite of being plastered over at one time by the military authorities and then restored again in 1875 after a public outcry over the dial’s obliteration, it is now in excellent condition, as our photo shows. Our host for lunch that day told us: “The dial is much admired but of course it isn’t accurate.” Poor old Elias Le Gros, now was the time to rescue his reputation! Continue reading

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Skein of geese art installation at RSPB Loch Lomond

Skein of geese art installation at RSPB Loch Lomond

Skein Dial, Hannah Imlach, 2023. Art installation and sundial at RSPB Loch Lomond, with the artwork constructed in Corten steel in the foreground and the towering mass of Ben Lomond in the distance. This is a remarkable piece that captures the ephemeral impression of geese in flight and shows the dates when they migrate by a sundial shadow. Photo: Hannah Imlach

In November 2022 visual artist Hannah Imlach approached us to talk about an art installation she had in mind for the RSPB Nature Reserve at Loch Lomond. The reserve is a prime site where Greenland White-fronted geese come and overwinter. Hannah’s concept for her artwork was a visual image of skeins of geese flying in the sky combined with a sundial showing the times when the geese arrive and leave. White-fronted geese migrate from Greenland in the autumn and return there in the springtime to breed. Continue reading

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Our new address and a sundial in the garden

New address and sundial in the garden

A sundial already standing in the garden at our new address for Macmillan Hunter Sundials

Macmillan Hunter Sundials has been in business for twelve years. Until March this year we were at 3 Peel Terrace in Edinburgh, and now we have moved. Our new address is only a mile away at 37 Alnwickhill Road. This property has excellent accommodation and ample working space. When we first came, we did not expect to find a sundial already standing in the garden, and this was a pleasant surprise. On inspection it even proves to have been installed on the correct north-south line to read the time.

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