Edinburgh, Gilmerton Road, Inch House, Multiform Sundial
Sundial (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Edinburgh, Gilmerton Road, Inch House, Multiform Sundial
Classification Sundial (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 301237
Site Number NT27SE 80.06
NGR NT 27758 70861
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/301237
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT28SE 80.06 27758 70861
This sundial is described and illustrated in MacGibbon and Ross, and a photograph appears in 'Old Sundials in and around Edinburgh' by A Niven Robertson, Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, 1949. Like the two other sundials at Inch House (NT27SE 80.02 and NT27SE 80.05), it was not observed when the site was visited by Dr Andrew Somerville in August 1986 (MS 5741/7/11). (A Cassells, 26 November 2009).
Field Visit (15 April 1921)
SUNDIALS.
Three 17th-century sundials are preserved in the grounds. The first, standing about 20 yards north-east of the house, is a cubical dial-stone, 1 foot 4 ½ inches in height by 1 foot 1 ¼ inches wide, on a moulded seating, which was removed from Craigmillar Castle and erected on a modern shaft and base; there are four dials.
The second stands about 100 yards north-east of the house and is a more elaborate example of the craft. On a modern baluster rests a cubical dial-stone containing three dials, and on the fourth face an armorial panel bearing the Preston arms; an upper dial-stone, in this case octagonal, surmounts the lower one, and the junction of square and octagon is effectively treated with cherubs' heads. The upper stone has eight dials on the sides and one on the upper surface.
A third sundial, also cubical, measuring 1 foot 1 inch broad and 1 foot 3 ½ inches high, has been erected on the lawn south-east of the house. It has four dials.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 15 April 1921.
