Pleach

By Pleach

Sundial 10 South Queensferry

Today  I decided to leave the crowds of Edinburgh and blip the oldest sundial I could find.   However my visit to South Queensferry on the outskirts of Edinburgh was anything but quiet, as I didn’t realise it was the Ferry Fair with numerous bands playing and people everywhere enjoying the carnival atmosphere.
This scratch dial on the church wall presumably dates from 1441 when the Priory Church (now St Mary’s Episcopal Church) was built.  It has 24 hour lines and although the type is fairly common in England it is very rare in Scotland.   I have seen the fragment of a scratch dial in the Museum of Scotland but it is of an unknown date.
The other stone faced sundial used to be on a chimney stack which has been removed and was not easy to find. It is supported by a head with wings and topped with a pyramid and a flower and probably dates from the mid 17th century.
In the background can be seen the Forth Rail Bridge,  the island of Inchgarvie and St David's in Fife.

(best in large)

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