| The discovery of a 'hidden' treasure from the past
in Brancaster Church was announced recently at the Six o'the Clock celebrations arranged
by the Friends of Brancaster Church. A Preacher's Dial has
been high up under the roof at the back of the nave for a very long time and it was
unknown until recently discovered by a visitor and reported to the Church's Keeper of the
Tower.
The Preacher's Dial is a feature of this church shared with,
possibly, only four other churches in the country. Look up to the very highest part
of the wall, just under the apex of the roof, where you will see the board, looking very
dark. The original gilt markings are now so faded that they can scarcely be seen
unless with binoculars.
The markings are of an outer circle containing the roman numerals
laid out as usual, and an inner circle of single strokes. This arrangement confirms
that there was a single hand indicating the hour and the quarter within that hour.
There is a hole in the middle of the dial through which a shaft would have passed from the
movement behind. In the space behind there is a recess in the tower wall - an actual
window at some time in the past when the roof of the nave was lower, before the time of
the preacher's dial. The recess is just below the level of the present clock's
movement and is visible behind the pendulum - giving a back view of the board - in the
photographs of the clock in the book 'The Tower, a photographic tour'. which you will find
on the big chest at the back of the church. |
The Preacher's Dial can be seen
high up on the end wall above the window
|
The Dial with faded gilt numerals
|
