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Medal presentation at
The Walk
(Reproduced from 1918 booklet about the
hospital) |
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The face of the
sundial prior to restoration
(Photograph by
Liz Bourne) |
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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 Sue Goodall, 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 sundial has been expertly restored to its original state
and will, in due course, be
re-erected in a suitable location. It is now in full
working order, adjusted to the correct longitude and latitude. But we shall
need further professional advice before it can be put on display.
Please keep watching this space for updates as we hope
that it will be on view in the near future - some 90 years after it was first
placed in the “miniature walk” for amputees to practice
skills when the Prince Of Wales Hospital
originally opened in Cardiff.
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