Monument MPM1887 - Sundial, Lump's Fort

Bronze sundial and stone pedestal in the Southsea Rose Garden, Lump's Fort. The sundial had previously been recorded in a report on the monuments and memorials in the city as originally having been located on the Saluting Platform. However, neither the pedestal or the dial appear to be original. The pedestal was probably replaced when the sundial was moved from the Saluting Platform to Pembroke Gardens around the early 1900s and the sundial appears to have been replaced around the 1980s.

Bronze sundial and stone pedestal situated at the centre of Southsea Rose Garden in Lump's Fort. The sundial was recorded as originally having been located on the Saluting Platform, the pedestal to a design of 1718 and the brass dial made by George Stebbing of Portsmouth in 1815 [1]. However, several sources appear to suggest that the sundial currently located at Lump's Fort no longer has any association with the sundial from the Saluting Platform [2].

The sundial has a square abacus, cylindrical pedestal, and a round plinth and base. The brass dial is small and round and has a compass in the middle and the hours in Roman numerals around the outside. The words 'Seize the present moment. The evening hour is nigh' are inscribed around the outer edge of the dial. The gnomon is missing. There are four holes in the abacus which have been infilled [2]. A drawing of the pedestal for the sundial which stood on the Saluting Platform dated 1718 shows this had a bulbous baluster pedestal with a square abacus, base and plinth [3]. A painting of the Saluting Platform dated c1730-1740 [4] and 19th century photographs show the pedestal as having been the same shape as the drawing [5, 6 & 14].

The Borough of Portsmouth Minutes of the Town Council for 1897 record that the sundial on the Saluting Battery was to be 'repaired and removed to the Pembroke Gardens' ahead of work that was to take place at the platform [7]. The Ordnance Survey maps support this as the sundial is marked at the platform in 1898 but is then shown in Pembroke Gardens on the 1910 edition [8 & 9]. The sundial can be seen behind railings in an early 20th century photograph of Pembroke Gardens, by which time it had the same pedestal as the current sundial in Southsea Rose Garden [10]. A letter which appeared in the Portsmouth Evening News on the 14th June 1934 stated that the dial had been made by a resident of High Street in 1815 [11].

A photograph of the metal plate on the sundial at Lumps Fort taken by the Department of Architecture and Civic Design in 1971 shows that it was a large square dial at this date [12]. The four holes on the abacus where this dial had been attached are still visible. At some point the dial was replaced with the current round one. This would probably have been at some point between 1971 and c1990, as slides in the museum archaeology collection show the new round dial [13]. It is not known whether the round dial has any historical relevance.

Taking all of this information into account it may in fact be the case that no part of the sundial from the Saluting Platform now survives. The pedestal was obviously replaced at some point during the earlier 20th century. The dial that was photographed in 1971 may have been made by George Stebbing in 1815 and may have been in use on the platform and/or in Pembroke Gardens [2].

<1> Howarth, A J, Norrish, K V, 1984, Monuments & Memorials in the City of Portsmouth (Unpublished document). SPM509.

<2> Macey, J, 2019, Sundial, Lumps Fort (Unpublished document). SPM564.

<3> 1718, Drawing No.6 Stone Pedestal for the Sun Dial on the Saluting Platform 1718 (Graphic material). SPM629.

<4> unknown, c1730-1740, The Saluting Platform, Portsmouth, in the Reign of Queen Anne
Anne (Graphic material). SPM630.

<5> unknown, 1875-1890, Grand Parade (Photograph). SPM631.

<6> unknown, 1865-1875, Saluting Platform looking towards the Garrison Church (Photograph). SPM632.

<7> Portsmouth City Council, 1897, Borough of Portsmouth Minutes of the Town Council 1897 (Bibliographic reference). SPM633.

<8> Ordnance Survey, 1898, Ordnance Survey Map 1898 (Map). SPM265.

<9> Ordnance Survey, 1910, Ordnance Survey Map 1910 (Map). SPM266.

<10> unknown, 1890-1910, Victoria barracks from Pembroke Gardens (Photograph). SPM634.

<11> Portsmouth Evening News, 1934, Portsmouth Evening News (Bibliographic reference). SPM636.

<12> Department of Architecture and Civic Design, 1971, Sundial at Lumps Fort (Photograph). SPM635.

<13> Portsmouth Museum Service?, 1990s?, Sundial - Lumps Fort Rose Garden (Projected and video material). SPM637.

<14> unknown, 1865-1875, View from ramparts next to Saluting Platform (Photograph). SPM640.