Cast of a Saxon Sundial, original at Kirkdale Church, Yorkshire

Plaster cast of the Saxon sundial on Kirkdale Church, Yorks, originally made 1055-1064 CE, reproduction cast made 1935-1958. It marks the daylight period into four equal periods, using a horizontal gnomon which is now missing.

The Saxon sundial on the Minster of St Gregory at Kirkdale, North Yorkshire, splits the day into the Canonical hours of Christianity. The sundial is inscribed in Old English, and the original was flanked by an inscription on either side, reading: "Orm Gamal's son bought St. Gregory's minster when it was all broken down and ruined, and he had it built anew from the ground for Christ and St. Gregory in the days of King Edward and of Earl Tostig". On the dial itself is: "This is the day's sun-marker, at every tide." and "And Haward wrought me and Brand priest".

The references to Edward the Confessor and Earl Tostig Godwinson allows us to date the reconstruction of the church, and the construction of the sundial, to between 1055 and 1065 CE.