Three polar sundials,
designed by Piers Nicholson, were built by the Royal Engineers in late
1999 for the Tylers and Briclayers Company of the City of Londo. One
is located on the north bank of the Thames, some 30 metres upstream
of the new Millennium footbridge, and was built to present to the Corporation
of the City of London to commemorate the millennium. It was opened by
the Lord Mayor of London in November 1999. The second is on the east
side of the Greenwich Peninsular, about halfway between the Millennium
Dome and the Thames Flood Barrier; it was opened in October 1999 by
Nick Raynsford, Minister of Housing and Construction, and MP for Greenwich.
The third is outside the museum of the Royal Engineers at Chatham.
The photographs below show each of these dials. The design process is described in more detail for your interest. For more pictures of the Blackfriars dial, which illustrate how it works, please click here The opening of the Blackfriars sundial by the Lord Mayor of London Nick Raynsford MP opening the Greenwich sundial |