Repair and Restoration of old sundials
We repair and restore sundials and love the process of bringing an old sundial back to life.
This is sometimes very slow work and thus we prefer to do this in the workshop rather than on site.
1721 sundial less its gnomon!
Need to make a gnomon which will make use of the existing holes
Sundial shown with new gnomon
Made from plate brass and profiled to appropriate angle
Gnomon then patinated
Gnomon and repair aged to blend in with the old patina. Job done!
This magnificent noon day cannon sundial was brought in for restoration
The cannon is primed with gunpowder and the lens is adjusted to correspond to the altitude angle of the sun at noon. The magnifying glass then focuses the suns rays onto the cannon when the sun is at it's zenith and BANG!
Sundial and firing optic were both missing
Need to make these components in brass
Sundial shown with new lens mount
Arms and lens retainer made along with new gnomon
All components patinated
Gnomon and repair aged to blend in with the old patina. Job done!
Note we do not make replacement gnomons for reproduction or garden centre sundials.