Giovanni's Sundial - Knutsford, Cheshire, UK.
N 53° 18.375 W 002° 22.441
30U E 541711 N 5906521
The sundial is located on Giovanni's Pizzeria on King Street in Knutsford.
Waymark Code: WM12XNH
Location: North West England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/02/2020
Views: 5
The sundial is located on Giovanni's Pizzeria on King Street in Knutsford.
"Giovanni's Pizzeria is located in the building that was originally Knutsford's main post office. Giovanni's is on the ground floor and offices and a flat above.
The building was once owned by Richard Harding Watt, the man who transformed the townscape of Knutsford with a series of eccentric buildings. He intended to move the post office into a more central location in the town, however his plans were met with indifference by the town council so he contented himself with adding a sundial in 1908, and a balcony."
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The sundial has two square faces mounted at a right angle on the front of the building.
The left hand dial has roman numerals marked at the edge, with LATITUDE 53 18 N, LONGITUDE 2 22 W in the centre above the gnomon. The dial is inscribed at the top as follows;
'Anno Domini
LORD THRO THIS HOUR
BE THOU OUR GUIDE'
The right hand dial has roman numerals, marked at the edge, with KNUTSFORD 192 FEET ABOVE SEA LEVEL in the centre next to the gnomon. The dial is inscribed at the top as follows;
'MCMV11 (1908)
SO BY THY POWER
NO FOOT SHALL SLIDE'
The inscription "All through this hour/Lord be my guide/And by Thy power/No foot shall slide" are words from a prayer that allude to Psalm 37:23-24 (
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Interestingly, there is a plaque in the clock room of Big Ben on which these words are inscribed. The prayer verse may be said in time to Big Ben’s quarter bell chimes. SOURCE: (
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