This sundial has had a rather nomadic existence before it ended up in its present location in the walled garden of Clifton Park in Rotherham.
The sundial was created in 1739 and was originally situated at the Holmes, then moved to Ferham House in Rotherham. In the 1970's it was moved again and placed in the sunken garden behind the Clifton Park Museum. It stood there until about fifteen years ago when it was laid flat after being damaged by vandals.
From 2009-11 a massive restoration of the park and museum took place as part of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Parks for People programme at a cost of £7.6m and a water play area, other new play areas, Garden House and walled gardens were added to a restored Victorian parkland landscape.
At this time the sundial, complete with brass gnomon, was fully restored with the cooperation of 19 different companies who worked as sub-contractors for UCS Civils Ltd - the company which spent over a year working on the park's renovation programme. It was at this time that it was relocated to the newly created walled garden.
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I would think the sundial and it's base are around 2 metres (6 feet and 6 inches) tall, so quite an impressive size, and a lot of work involved in it's creation.
However, since we now adjust the clocks to British Summer Time for half the year, the sundial only shows the correct time during winter.
Hello Lizzy! I really like the work that they have done to restore this park, and the museum in the grounds is quite fascinating. Rotherham has changed a great deal since I was born there. It was an important iron and steel making centre, and there were quite a few coal mines as well. There is still some steel processing, but all the mines have closed. It is becoming more of a visitor centre, with lots of wonderful old buildings and country estates.
I hope that you are keeping well. It is lovely to hear from you again!
Thank you all for your lovely comments and favs, they are very much appreciated.
I would think the sundial and it's base are around 2 metres (6 feet and 6 inches) tall, so quite an impressive size, and a lot of work involved in it's creation.
However, since we now adjust the clocks to British Summer Time for half the year, the sundial only shows the correct time during winter.
Ian
Thank you Nina, it is quite unusual to place a sundial so close to a wall. I don't know why they did that in this case.
Ian
Hello Lizzy! I really like the work that they have done to restore this park, and the museum in the grounds is quite fascinating. Rotherham has changed a great deal since I was born there. It was an important iron and steel making centre, and there were quite a few coal mines as well. There is still some steel processing, but all the mines have closed. It is becoming more of a visitor centre, with lots of wonderful old buildings and country estates.
I hope that you are keeping well. It is lovely to hear from you again!
Ian
Thank you Vesna. I think it is a lovely piece of carving.
Ian