Peak District sundial mystery
Experts are appealing for help from the public
Experts are appealing for the public’s help to understand an old inscription on a recently restored sundial in the Peak District National Park village of Butterton.
The discovery of the unusual markings were discovered by a craftsman, whilst restoring the piece.
Butterton sundial is a late 18th century metal sundial on top of what is likely to be a medieval stone cross shaft, mounted on a later base and pedestal in the churchyard of St Bartholomew’s Church, Butterton.
Having seen better days and missing its gnomon (the sticky-up bit), the sundial was in need of repair.
Churchwarden Maggie Risby, chair of Butterton History Society, researched the sundial’s history, finding reference to it in church accounts of the late 18th century. There was also a single photograph from a wedding in the 1950s, showing the gnomon still in place.
After discussions with South West Peak cultural heritage officer Catherine Parker Heath, Butterton History Society adopted the sundial as part of the South West Peak Small Heritage Adoption Project. The History Society’s aim was to restore it to its former glory.
With permission from the Diocese, a sundial restorer was found and set to work - Alastair MacMillan of Macmillan Hunter Sundials. He had the tricky task of removing the remaining base plate to discover how much of the metal surface had oxidised with age and if he could reveal the original markings.
During the work, Alastair made the unexpected discovery that there were Gothic script markings on the underside of the plate. It's now thought the object may have had a previous life as part of something else.