PRIMITIVE SUNDIALS ON WEST SUSSEX CHURCHES.
By E. F. SALMON.
In 1919 (S.A.C. lx) Mr. H. M. Whitley, our former Editor, had
a very interesting article concerning these Mass clocks of former ages.
This note is to record two which escaped his observation :
I.-ST. JULIAN, KINGSTON BUCI.
This is worthy of more than a mere note of its existence, so much so that my
friend, Mr. T. Ward, has made a sketch for reproduction.
Although facing S. and capable of service to-day it is not in its original
position. In the 18th century a buttress was rebuilt on the S. side of the
Church, probably in 1738 as on a central stone is legibly incised
John Paine April
ye 13 :: 1738
presumably the name of the Churchwarden of that date. The block of Caen stone
on which this Mass dial was carved now forms part of the buttress.
The Dial has a diameter of 7½ ins. and consists of a circle divided by
meridional and horizontal lines. Each of the lower quadrants is divided by the
Mass line (9 a.m.) in one case and the hour line for evensong (3 p.m.) in the
other. They are again subdivided. There are also pits in the upper half placed
for symmetry, certainly not for use. The exceptional features of this Dial are
to be found in the deep grooves of the lower quadrants leading downwards to a
circular opening almost 1½ in. diameter, which itself slopes down to the style
hole, ½ in. diameter. The pits outside the circle, as well as the upper ones,
are unusually large, 3/8 in. diameter. The unusual character of this Dial at
Kingston will be best appreciated from a study of the drawing.
II.-ST. MICHAEL, SOUTHWICK.
The Dial on this Church is on the SW. angle of the Tower, facing S. and about
7 ft. from the ground.
There is nothing remarkable about it. It consists of the usual series of small
pits, marking the hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. divided by a noon line (the only
incised one), the pits indicating Mass and Evensong and these subdivided as in
the Kingston example. One pit at the top opposite the noon one ; no incised
circle. Diameter about 7¾ ins.
