Two Out-of-use Sundials, Layer Marney Tower, near Tiptree, Essex. CO5 9US. - Sundials on Waymarking.com

Building of this, the gatehouse of an uncompleted Tudor palace, was started in 1515 by Henry, 1st Lord Marney. The tower is some 80ft high, built of red brick with diapering to a design probably by Henry VIII's architect Guiliamo de Travizi.

The sundials are high up on the northern sides of the tower at the 5th floor level, one on the east face and one on the west. The dial on the east face is about 9ft (2.66m) square, that on the west face of the tower being slightly smaller at about 7ft6" (2.3m). The gnomon on the east face dial is missing whilst that on the west face is still in position, this remaining gnomon is a three-legged construction, two legs forming a triangle at the lower end with the gnomon proper running from it to a third leg at the top of the dial. The missing gnomon must have been similar as the remaining mounting holes on the east face are in similar positions on the dial but inverted. Nothing remains of any marking on the dials.

These were very large dials and would have been visible from a great distance, but of little use for half of the day as one received the morning sun and the other the afternoon sun. The picture of the west-face dial was taken shortly before 1300 in September, one hour ahead of GMT, and gives some idea of how little the shadow would have moved by the time the sun would be setting, small wonder that there has been little attempt to restore or maintain these dials.

Sundial Type: Vertical - Wall mounted dial plate Related Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Only one log per location per person. You should log your own waymarked sundials as well.
GPS in photo optional.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.