The Sundial Register
Thank
you for coming here to the Register section of our Web Site. You
should find something to interest you whether or not you are a
member of BSS. The compilation and update of the Register of Fixed
Dials for the British Isles is a large ongoing Society project
which is by no means complete. We are always looking for
volunteers to help in the work and if you are interested to help
or just want to find out more about the Register please don't
hesitate to e-mail me.
As time goes by I hope to be able to extend the information we have here. If you have any ideas for information to add I shall be very happy to consider them.
The Dial Recorder is sent periodically to all registered recorders. You can download or read it here in PDF format.
John Foad - BSS Registrar
PLEASE SELECT A LINK
The Dial Recorder (Issue 6 – Apr 2008)(PDF)
How it all started
Even before the Society was founded in 1989 Chris Daniel, our current Chairman, and Gordon Taylor had the idea that a Register of existing UK sundials would be a good idea. However it was David Young with the help and encouragement of Andrew Somerville who set out the first proposals and designed the first forms for collecting data on sundials. David also published regular listings both of dials recently found by Members and of those already found by Andrew. When, in 1991, it became necessary to divide the work of the Society up, Gordon became the first Registrar and he developed a modified form by which Members could record dial details and set about filing them and storing the details on a custom designed database using 360kb capacity floppy discs.
Ian Wootton took over the reins in 1993 and arranged to use the then new Microsoft relational database Access 1 and a more powerful PC. He started an archive of all the submitted forms and bound them into volumes. Ian was also responsible for publishing the first two editions of the Printed Register using data taken from the database. These were issued in 1993/4 and in 1996. I took over as Registrar in 1997.
The
present Register Archive now comprises over 8000 reports, the
early record forms were personally bound by Ian in volumes each
holding 250 reports. The data from these are summarised in a
database running under Access 2002.
Photographs that are
submitted with reports are identified and dated so that the
changing condition of a dial can be followed and then they are
archived 'off site' .
Some recorders also submit A4 sized
photocopies of an image and these are kept alongside the submitted
report.
Submitted forms and selected photographs have been
scanned and digitally stored since 1998 to provide an additional
computerised image record. At the present time some 5640 dials
have been recorded over the years via 8195 reports sent in by our
Members. Around 400 reports are submitted each year.
The
Fourth Edition of the Register, based on the contents of the
database was published in 2005. This lists the known dials of the
British Isles by County and was published in three versions. The
full printed version, in two volumes, contains a thumbnail print
of more than 3500 of the 5600 listed dials. An Abridged, more
portable, single volume edition was also printed and a searchable
CD edition was generated as well. See Register
Ramblings for more details. Subject to
availability, members may purchase a copy by application to Elspeth Hill.