Historic and complex sundial returns home after restoration work

HISTORY: First of its kind in Scotland, 17th Century obelisk is now back in place

An ancient sundial, the earliest example of its kind in Scotland, has returned to its Perthshire home.

The 17th Century obelisk was put back in place at Drummond Castle Gardens after two years of painstaking restoration.

Installed in 1630, the sundial has endured nearly 400 years of Scottish weather and, before restoration by leading sculptor and stone restorer Gabriela Ainsworth, had deteriorated badly.

Designed and created by John Drummond, the second Earl of Perth, and John Mylne, Master Mason to the Scottish Crown, the sundial forms a focal point in the St Andrews Crossshaped gardens.

Drummond, a mathematician and scholar who lived in France before acceding to his earldom, had designed the gardens as a showpiece for his wealth, influence and status.

The sundial, a piece of European Renaissance he introduced to Scotland, reflected his intellect and learning.

Sebastian Miller, managing trustee for the Grimsthorpe and Drummond Castle Trust, said: “This wonderful sundial has been the centrepiece of the gardens for almost four centuries.

“We have been monitoring it for a number of years and decided if we didn’t act promptly we would lose some of the intricate stone carving. We are all very excited to see it restored to its rightful place in full working order.”

As well as being historically significant, the Drummond Castle Sundial is extremely complex – with 68 facets and 85 shadow gnomons it measures time in 131 different ways and at different times of the year, with special shadows for the summer and winter equinoxes.

It was created using only Sebastian Munster’s Treatise on Sundials – written 100 years previously – as a guide, as well as their own imagination, mathematical and masonry skills.

The piece was so complex that an index was inscribed into the base of the dial to help decode the measurements.

Mylne went on to create sundials across Scotland, including the famous one at Holyrood House in Edinburgh made for the Scottish coronation of Charles I.

This wonderful sundial has been the centrepiece of the gardens for almost four centuries.

SEBASTIAN MILLER

ON a day when torrential rain caused flooding chaos in parts of Courier Country, residents may well be left wondering if Scotland’s summer will ever arrive. But one place where they are remaining upbeat is at Drummond Castle in Perthshire where a 17th Century sundial has just been reinstalled after being restored.

The multi-faceted sundial – which is remarkable in that it measures time in 131 separate ways – has been returned to its rightful spot at the heart of the castle gardens.

No we just need some sun to let visitors see it in action.

The stunning obelisk was returned to Drummond Castle Gardens after two years of repair work.