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On the south-east corner of the tower is a sundial installed to celebrate the Restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. The 15th-century font.
- The church was a makeshift prison during Oliver Cromwell's reign. Did you know the entrance to the Charnel House was used as a prison by Cromwell's men?
- The sundial. As you leave the church by the south porch with its medieval door, the sundial can be seen on the south east corner of the tower. It was placed there in thanksgiving for the restoration of Charles II.
- The mouse. Have you seen the mouse? Once lockdown is lifted and guidelines allow visits to the restorative calm of St Mary's take a look for a small mouse.
- The Angel Screen. St Mary's Angel Screen is considered one of the finest in the country. Take a look on its eastern side for the fraternity stalls used by the guild of 'Our Blessed Lady St Mary the virgin', dating from the mid-15th century.
May 4, 2020 · Though 17th century Hitchin was a centre of Puritanism, the tower bears a sundial, with the inscription ‘1660 the year of salvation’, a reference to the restoration of the monarchy following the turbulent years of civil war and republican rule.
The Sun’s position in the sky tells us time, direction, and location in our orbit. A sundial lets us track the Sun’s movement throughout the day and year, turning it into a clock, compass, and calendar. There are many types of sundials, but we will focus on the simplest: a vertically standing object.
There is a large sundial on a mound outside Tower Hill tube station. Constructed in bronze and stone in 1990 it depicts the history of London Transport 1066-1982. Can you spot Margaret Thatcher and why does she feature in 1381?
Most sundials end up in cupboards because people don’t know how to set them up properly – they come without instructions and people may not know that they have to be pointed to true north. Or they try to do it with a compass and can’t remember how to adjust for magnetic deviation. [For Piers' clever solution, see box.]
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Different ways to orient your sundial so it points towards North. A detailed explanation of how sundials work, how to read a sundial and how to find North for setting up your own sundial.
