Work of our members

What is that pole and rope doing out in the country? And what are those numerals around them?
Walkers, enjoying the Keelven nature reserve, may well wonder what it is all about.

It turns out to be a sundial - an hour or shadow plane sundial to be specific.

The footpoint of an imaginary pole style is marked on the ground, between the wooden pole and the hour points. The other end is the top of the pole, where the rope is attached

Some sunny day, take the end of the rope and pull it taut.
Walk around the numerals, rope in hand, until the shadow of the rope falls across the footpoint marker.
You can now read the time where the shadow of the rope falls on the circle with numerals.

This sundial reads summer, or daylight saving, time. Should you happen here on a fine winter's day, you would subtract one hour from the reading.

The line through the pole foot and the marker for the imaginary style foot runs exactly north-south.
If you extended it towards the south until it intersects the hour points circle, you could read that the sun souths as late as 13:40 summer time.

Design and counselling: Dees Verschuuren.