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Hi Richard,
I think the simple answer is that, although English
churches are nominally aligned east-west, the builders didn't bother too much
about getting it exactly right. This is not to say that they lacked the
ability, just that other factors such as the topology of the site took
precedence. Previous buildings on the site were also a factor. Most
churches are within around 20 degrees, with some much closer.
Best regards,
John
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----- Original Message -----
Sent: 22 July 2001 18:11
Subject: Hello and a question
Hello Sundiallists,
This is my first post hence
'hello!' though I've been listening for quite a
while.
I have a
question about church orientation. For a while now I've been
collecting
sundials, photographically that is, and I notice that not a few
that are
mounted on churches are mounted at an angle to the south-facing
wall.
Sometimes by means of a bracket , sometimes by simply setting them in
the
wall at an angle and one fairly modern-looking one is simply declining
east
(by about 13 degrees). The magnitude of the angle varies between the
dials
though they are all in the Cotswolds and at similar longitudes.
So
what's going on? I was always told the churches are oriented east-west
so
the south wall should really be facing south. The church with the
east
decliner also has a much older (and more decrepit) dial which, as far
as I
can see, is an ordinary direct south vertical dial.
If I ever
get a dial web-site organised you can see for yourselves. In the
meantime,
does anyone know what's going on
here?
Cheers,
Richard
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