The Sundial
Medal presentation at The Walk
(Reproduced from 1918 booklet about the hospital)
The history of the sundial is beguiling. It is a Sol Horometer-Helio Chronometer, made in around 1914-18 by Pilkingtons, and released by Negretti and Zambra of Regent Street, London. Originally installed at the old Prince of Wales Hospital in the Walk, Cardiff, it can be seen, mounted on a pedestal in the bottom right hand corner of the picture alongside.
It moved with the hospital to Rhydlafar and, after closure, it lurked for some time in the garden shed of Suzanne Goodall MBE, a former member of staff who had saved it from destruction during the demolition. When she heard that the residents of Parc Rhydlafar wished to remember all those lovely days from way back when, she got in touch with Liz Bourne, the St Fagans Community Councillor for Parc Rhydlafar.
The restored sundial
(Photograph by Liz Bourne)
The sundial has been expertly restored and, in 2008, was re-erected by the Community Council in the secluded garden of the Old Post Office in St. Fagans village, a short distance from Rhydlafar. Now in full working order and set to the correct latitude and longitude, it is once again serving its proper purpose of indicating the time, just as it did some 90 years ago when placed in the “miniature walk” for amputees to practice skills at the original Prince Of Wales Hospital.