It is not generally known that the Trust, rather than the local authority, owns the Seven Dials Sundial Pillar and is therefore responsible for its upkeep.  High level inspections in 2009 revealed an alarming amount of damage to the dial faces and other carved areas and we embarked on a fund-raising exercise to implement restoration works and re-gilding of the dial faces and orb. Legal & General Property, the joint developers of nearby Central St. Giles, kindly enabled these works, with assistance from the Heritage of London Trust, Shaftesbury PLC and Camden’s Community Chest.

Further cleaning is now scheduled to address the growth of algae on the surfaces of the pedestal.

Dial face 60 degrees West of North, 2009.

Dial faces 60 degrees West of North and 60 degrees West of South.

Dial face 60 degrees West of South.

Dial face of South Dial, 2009. 

The sorry state of the dial faces in 2009.

Works inspection.

Deterioration of egg and dart detail.

Dial face 60 degrees East of North restored.

Dial face 60 degrees East of South restored.

Dial face 60 degrees West of North restored.

South face restored.

Gilding detail.

Restored Orb.

Restoration of dial faces completed.

Striking the scaffolding.

The cleaned and restored Sundial Pillar looking resplendent in the sunshine.