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Hello British Dialists:
Years ago, one of England's best and most beautiful
stained glass sundials was stolen from the bay window in the little house at
Didsbury Old Parsonage. (Now called Fletcher Moss). Chris Daniel once
suggested that it is an ideal candidate for a replacement dial. (This is
the SGS that inspired me to make a bay window for my SGS).
All we have are two old grainy black & white
photographs and an artist's sketch of the stolen dial. See photos click here:
http://advanceassociates.com/Sundials/Stained_Glass/sundials_files/Stained_Glass_Sundial_71_combo.jpg
We also have the following information about
it:
Maker:
Fletcher Moss, prominent Manchester businessman
Date: 1904 (Edwardian) Original Location: Lat: 53º 24' 45" N. Long: 2º 15' 30" W. For Moss's 1884 home at Old Parsonage, Didsbury UK Present Location: sundial pane probably lost or destroyed but window still exists. Orientation: declines 25º west of south Size: unknown Adornment: Lavish. abundance of red Tudor-style roses and green foliage, heraldic devices in red blue and yellow Mottos: As Sunshine Passeth, So Pass We Condition: unknown, but probably lost or destroyed Comment: Left photo (c1907): exterior view. Center photo (photo c1907): interior view. Right photocopy: drawing by Dorothy Hartley from "Ye Sundial Booke" by T. Geoffrey W. Henslow, 1914. This is a perfect candidate for a replacement reproduction, since Old Parsonage is now cared for by local museum authorities. We are looking for more information and better photos of this dial. Photo © C StJ H D (left & center photos) I think that replacement dial would indeed be
possible to make. Since the surrounding windows in the bay are
still there and since they use the same artistic motifs that were in the sundial
panel, it might even be possible to match the color and texture of old glass
using newer glass. If I lived in England, I would peruse this. I'm
sure one of England top glaziers (such as The York Glaziers Trust) would jump at
the chance to work on a project like this. I would offer to make the
replacement dial myself, but I doubt that my glazing abilities are up to the
challenge. But I would be willing to help make a glass pattern without
charge for the glazier to use. If we had good new photos of the
surrounding panes in the bay window, with accurate measurements of them, I could
use them to make the replacement glass pattern for the sundial. I'd need a
wall declination measurement too. And we'd need permission and some
funding.
Lots of "ifs" I know. But it's something to
think about.
In the meanwhile, if any of you live near
Manchester, you could have a fun day by going there and taking some good color
photographs inside and out and some window measurements. The Manchester
website says that it is a nice day's outing to Didsbury Old Parsonage. If
you walk back into the woods, you will find hidden away a charming old
house. That's where the bay window is. (I don't think anyone from the BSS,
even Chris, has ever seen it in person).
See Manchester website: http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/districts/didsbury.html
I hope that the BSS brings this topic up in one of
its meetings as a possible future project. Maybe some of you would
like to be involved with this.
John
John L. Carmichael
Sundial Sculptures 925 E. Foothills Dr. Tucson AZ 85718-4716 USA Websites:
Sundial Sculptures: http://www.sundialsculptures.com Stained Glass Sundials: http://www.stainedglasssundials.com |
