Mass or Scratch Dial on Ecton Church Wall Northamptonshire

Mass/Scratch dials such as this one at Ecton, Northamptonshire, are still a relatively common feature built into the south wall of a church. The majority are medieval in origin. They were used to inform local villagers of the time of day, and of the time of a particular Mass. A gnomon, or stick, was inserted into the hole and the shadow cast by the sun would indicate the time of day, in exactly the same way that a sundial operates. Church clocks at this point were still a long way off.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Ecton, Ancient England, Churches

Camera Make: FUJIFILM Model: FinePix S6500fd

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Ecton Parish Church, Northamptonshire

The Parish Church in the village of Ecton, Northamptonshire, a few miles east of Northampton town, is famous for being the resting place of Benjamin Franklin's aunt and uncle whose much-visited graves are in the churchyard. On the right-hand side of the southern porch (seen at the end of the pathway in the photograph) is a fine example of a 'scratch' or 'mass dial'.

This picture appears in the following picture tours:
Ecton, Northamptonshire, English Churches Tour, Cemeteries, Churches, Trees and Woodlands

Camera Make: OLYMPUS CORPORATION Model: FinePix S6500fd

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