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There is an illustration of the Charles
II dial as well as some information about its maker on the NASS
website:
Also, I put the photo of the
interesting eBay dial on the page with the NASS Register photo. Note that the
latitude appears to determine the position of the center front
column.
Bob
The new Johnny Depp movie The Libertine opens in the U.S. on March
10. It's the story of the second Earl of Rochester, friend and confidant
of King Charles II - and noted for his lewd poetry and drunken
debauchery. It's based on Stephen Jeffreys' play by the same name.
What does this have to do with sundials? One of Rochester's more
dastardly deeds involves the complete destruction of the sundial in the King's
Privy Garden. The dial was like a huge candelabra of glass spheres and
panels; it was considered one of the greatest - or at least most expensive -
scientific instruments in Europe. Jeffreys' play includes a scene
'featuring' the destruction of the sundial. I do not know if the movie
captures the same act - the director might have decided it was simply too
traumatic to film!
Having read about Rochester's wasted life, I frankly find it hard to
believe that this movie will be something I would want to see - but I may need
to sit through it to see if the dial appears and if what they show is anywhere
near close to the original.
Fred Sawyer
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