Diagram of box siphon gauge, 1897

Box gauges are an early type of tide gauge promoted by Sir Robert Moray, a Scottish natural philosopher, soldier, spy and diplomat from the 17th century. Often called 'stilling wells', these gauges consist of a vertical pipe attached to a tank which helps to still the turbulence of seas water, making more accurate measurement of changing sea levels.

Box Siphon gauges are an early type of tide gauge initially developed by Sir Robert Moray, a Scottish natural philosopher, soldier, spy and diplomat from the 17th century. This type of tide gauge was designed for recording tidal measurements of distant waters from the shore through the use of a siphon to draw water to the gauge.

Sir Robert Moray's design was based on stilling-wells which are used to dampen tidal surges and control waves whilst Moray's design has been improved on overtime, its core design is still used in modern box siphons.