Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Sundial at Pool Park
Efenechtyd, Denbighshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Gardens, Parks and Urban Spaces
- Date of designation
- 25 January 1999
- Locality
- Pool Park
- Community
- Efenechtyd
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 53.08967, -3.34685
- Cadw reference
- 21220
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1608 "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Location
Located on top of a terraced rise immediately opposite the main front of the house.
History
Garden sundial dated 1661 and bearing the carved initials C.S. These probably refer to Charles Salesbury of Bachymbyd (near Ruthin, Denbighshire), second son of Colonel William `Blue Stockings' Salesbury, the famous royalist commander and defender of Denbigh Castle. Charles Salesbury also served as a royalist officer during the Civil Wars and was amongst those nominated as Knight of the Royal Oak at the Restoration. It was he who rebuilt Bachymbyd in 1666; he served as High Sheriff of the county in 1661, significantly the year which appears on the sundial. It seems probable that the sundial originated at Bachymbyd and was brought to Pool Park at the time of the rebuilding under Lord Bagot of Blithfield between 1826 and 1829. The Bagots had inherited the Pool Park and Bachymbyd estates through marriage into the Salesbury house in 1670.
Exterior
Sandstone sundial base of columnar type. On a moulded square plinth with chamfered corners. The shaft has noticeable entasis and sits upon a tall rectangular base with strapwork decoration to its 4 faces. Surmounting the shaft is a square abacus with paired, chip-carved rosettes to two of its faces, and the date 1661 and the initials C.S. to the other two respectively; these are raised in relief. The sundial plate itself is missing and the sundial is supported by modern strapping wires.
Reason for designation
Listed for its special interest as a dated C17 garden sundial.
Nearby in the register
- Pool ParkHealth and Welfareunder 1 mi
- Quadrangular Agricultural Complex at Pool Park Farm including associated FarmhouseAgriculture and Subsistenceunder 1 mi
- Walls to Former Kitchen Garden at Pool Park including Former Gardeners' Bothy Adjoining to SGardens, Parks and Urban Spacesunder 1 mi
- Pen-y-Gaer CampHillfortunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.