Sundials have played an important role in regulating the daily life of mankind throughout Europe and the British Isles. This text describes and illustrates each particular class of sundial likely to be found on buildings, in churchyards, public squares, and remote countryside locations.

For over 1000 years sundials have played an important role in regulating the daily life of mankind throughout Europe and the British Isles. Indeed the study of the art of constructing sundials, or the 'Art of Dialling', was a part of every scholar's education. Only with the coming of modern communications and the extreme accuracy of timekeeping equipment has the sundial been eclipsed as a scientific instrument and ceased to provide a useful service. This text describes and illustrates each particular class of sundial likely to be found on buildings, in churchyards, public squares, and remote countryside locations.