The gnomon is the part of a sundial which casts the sun's shadow onto the dial plate, which is inscribed with the hourlines. In most sundials, the gnomon consists of a rod, or the side of a triangle, running parallel to the Earth's axis and pointing to the celestial pole.
A vertical sundial , as the name implies, has its dial mounted vertically, usually on the wall of a building. in distinction to a horizontal dial which has its dial plate placed horizontally, either on the ground or on a pedestal.
  Geographical location Dial Type
Vertical		 Latitude/Longitude
52°35'N 2°07'W
St. Peter's Church, Wolverhampton
 Photo By
P. E. Walker 		British Grid Reference
SO 914 988

St. Peter's Church

The present building stands on a site originally occupied by a minster church, built by Lady Wulfruna in 994 A.D. This church was replaced in the early 14th. century and has been added and amended. Above the door of the south porch is a sundial, declining South-West, and about 600 mm. square, probably in brass.

 

 

The dial is covered in verdigris and is quite difficult to read. At the top of the dial is the date 1778 and the bottom another date 1855. Their significance is unclear, while the motto, in Latin, TEMPUS VITAE MONITOR, translates as TIME IS LIFE'S GUIDE

 
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