The Burdett Coutts Memorial Sundial, St Pancras Gardens, London - geograph

The Burdett Coutts Memorial Sundial is a structure built in the churchyard of Old St Pancras, London, in 1877–79, at the behest of Baroness Burdett-Coutts. The former churchyard included the burial ground for

St Giles-in-the-Fields St Giles in the Fields is the Anglican parish church of the St Giles district of London. It stands within the London Borough of Camden and belongs to the Diocese of London. The church, named for St Giles the Hermit, began as a monastery and ...

, where many Catholics and French émigrés were buried. The graveyard closed to burials in 1850, but some graves were disturbed by a cutting of the

Midland Railway The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom from 1844. The Midland was one of the largest railway companies in Britain in the early 20th century, and the largest employer in Derby, where it had its headquarters. It ama ...

in 1865 as part of the works to construct its terminus at St Pancras railway station. The churchyard was acquired by the parish authorities in 1875 and reopened as a public park in June 1877. The high

Victorian Gothic Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

memorial was built from 1877 and unveiled in 1879. The obelisk acts as a memorial to people buried near the church whose graves were disturbed; the names of over 70 of them are listed on the memorial, including the

Chevalier d'Éon Charles-Geneviève-Louis-Auguste-André-Timothée d'Éon de Beaumont or Charlotte-Geneviève-Louise-Augusta-Andréa-Timothéa d'Éon de Beaumont (5 October 172821 May 1810), usually known as the Chevalier d'Éon or the Chevalière d'Éon ( is t ...

, Sir

John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professor of architecture at the R ...

John Flaxman John Flaxman (6 July 1755 – 7 December 1826) was a British sculptor and draughtsman, and a leading figure in British and European Neoclassicism. Early in his career, he worked as a modeller for Josiah Wedgwood's pottery. He spent several ye ...

, Sir John Gurney, and James Leoni. The monument was designed by George Highton of Brixton. It was manufactured by H Daniel and Co, a firm of masons from Highgate, and includes relief carvings by Signor Facigna. It comprises a tall square tower in a

decorated Gothic English Gothic is an architectural style that flourished from the late 12th until the mid-17th century. The style was most prominently used in the construction of cathedrals and churches. Gothic architecture's defining features are pointed ar ...

style, topped by a tall Portland limestone pinnacle bearing a sundial, supported by columns of pink Shap granite and grey Cornish granite to either side of four inscribed marble plaques, each topped by a trefoil Gothic arch around a relief sculpture (busts of two saints,

St Giles Saint Giles (, la, Aegidius, french: Gilles), also known as Giles the Hermit, was a hermit or monk active in the lower Rhône most likely in the 6th century. Revered as a saint, his cult became widely diffused but his hagiography is mostly lege ...

and St Pancras, and of two allegorical figures depicting a youthful Morning with a cockerel and a more aged Night with a star and a crescent moon). The inscriptions on four marble panels include the Beatitudes from the

Gospel of St Matthew The Gospel of Matthew), or simply Matthew. It is most commonly abbreviated as "Matt." is the first book of the New Testament of the Bible and one of the three synoptic Gospels. It tells how Israel's Messiah, Jesus, comes to his people and form ...

, chapter 5, verses 3 to 9, and a religious poem. The tower stands on a square plinth of Portland stone, which rests on an octagonal base of three steps made from red Mansfield sandstone. The steps are decorated with mosaic panels, mostly stylised flowers. The structure is surrounded by

iron railing An iron railing is a fence made of iron. This may either be wrought iron, which is ductile and durable and may be hammered into elaborate shapes when hot, or the cheaper cast iron, which is of low ductility and quite brittle. Cast iron can also ...

s which create a square enclosure, with a Portland stone animal statue at each of the four corners, two lions and two dogs. The dogs may be modelled on

Greyfriars Bobby Greyfriars Bobby (4 May 1855 – 14 January 1872) was a Skye Terrier or Dandie Dinmont Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died on 14 January 1872. The story continu ...

, or possibly an animal owned by Burdett-Coutts herself. The railings also bear a plaque to Johann Christian Bach, buried in a pauper's grave nearby. The monument became a Grade II

listed building In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...

in February 1993, upgraded to Grade II* in September 2016. The garden is itself Grade II listed, and includes the tomb of Sir

. St Pancras Old Church is also Grade II* listed.

Names on the memorial

* Charles Louis Victor De Broglie (1765–1849) *

French Minister Plenipotentiary (1728–1810) * Joseph Franz Xaver von Haslang (c.1700–1783) * Louis Charles d'Hervilly, Marshall of France (1756–1795) * Paschalis De Paoli, of Corsica (1725–1807) * Comte de Pontcarre (c.1746–1810) * Michael Joanned Baptista, Baron De Wenzel, Occulist to the Court of Hungary (died 1790) * Charles Dillon, 10th Viscount Dillon (1701–1741) and Frances, Lady Dillon (1670–1751) *

Arthur Richard Dillon Arthur Richard Dillon (1721–1806) was archbishop of Narbonne in France. He was the youngest son of Arthur Dillon (1670–1733), who came to France with Mountcashel's Irish Brigade. At the French Revolution he refused the civil constitution ...

Archbishop of Narbonne The former Catholic diocese of Narbonne existed from early Christian times until the French Revolution. It was an archdiocese, with its see at Narbonne, from the year 445, and its influence ran over much of south-western France and into Catalon ...

(1721–1806) *

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Sir Rufane Shaw Donkin (1772–1841) * Miss Frances Doughty (1691–1763) daughter of

Sir Henry Tichborne Sir Henry Tichborne PC (Ire) (1581–1667) was an English soldier and politician. He excelled at the Siege of Drogheda during the Irish Rebellion of 1641. He governed Ireland as one of the two Lord Justices from 1642 to 1644. In 1647, he fou ...

* Guy Henry Marie Du Val, Marquis de Bonneeval (died 1863) * Reverend Joseph Duncan (died 1797) * Sidly Effendi, Ambassador of the Ottoman Empire to the United Kingdom (died 1811) *

, sculptor (1755–1826) * Sir John Fleetwood, 5th Baronet (died 1741) * Phillippo Nepumuceno Fontanae, Ambassador from the Court of Sardinia to Spain (died 1793) * Francis Pietri Fozano (c.1748–1838) * Claude Joseph Gabriel, Ciscount Le Vaulx,

Marshal of France Marshal of France (french: Maréchal de France, plural ') is a French military distinction, rather than a military rank, that is awarded to generals for exceptional achievements. The title has been awarded since 1185, though briefly abolished ( ...

(died 1809) *

Bonaventure Giffard Bonaventure Giffard (1642–1734) was a Roman Catholic bishop who served as the Vicar Apostolic of the Midland District of England from 1687 to 1703 and Vicar Apostolic of the London District of England from 1703 to 1734. Life He was the second ...

, Roman Catholic bishop (1642–1734) and Andrea Giffard (died 1714) * John Ernest Grabe, Anglican

divine Divinity or the divine are things that are either related to, devoted to, or proceeding from a deity.divine< ...

(1666–1711) * Antoine Francoise, Comte de Gramont (died 1795) * Sir John Gurney, Baron of the Exchequer (1755–1845) *

Samuel Harrison Samuel Bealey Harrison (March 4, 1802 – July 23, 1867) was Joint Premier of the Province of Canada for Canada East from 1841 to 1842 with William Henry Draper PM for Canada West. Draper was a member of the Family Compact and Harrison was ...

, singer (1760–1812) * The Hon Esme Howard of Norfolk, youngest son of

Henry Howard, 15th Earl of Arundel Henry Frederick Howard, 15th Earl of Arundel PC (15 August 160817 April 1652), styled Lord Maltravers until 1640, and Baron Mowbray from 1640 until 1652, was an English nobleman, chiefly remembered for his role in the development of the rule aga ...

, (1647–1728) and his wife Margaret Zukn (1646–1716) * Jean Francois Lamarche, Count La Marche, Bishop and Count of Leon (1729–1806) North West side: * His Excellency Phillip St Martin Count De Front (died 1812) * Morris Leivesley, 54 years Secretary of the Foundling Hospital (died 1849) * James Leoni architect (1686–1746) * Count Ferdinand Luchesse, Envoy from Naples (died 1790) * Andres Marshall, physician (died 1813) *

Maurice Margarot Maurice Margarot (1745–1815) is most notable for being one of the founding members of the London Corresponding Society, a radical society demanding parliamentary reform in the late eighteenth century. Early life Maurice Margarot was the son of ...

, radical political reformer (1745–1815), and his wife Elizabeth, (died 1841) * Thomas Mazzinghi, (died 1775), violinist father of

Joseph Mazzinghi Joseph Mazzinghi (25 December 1765 – 15 January 1844) was a British composer. Biography He was descended from an ancient Corsican family, the eldest son of Tommaso (Thomas) Mazzinghi (d. Old St. Pancras 1775), a wine merchant settled in Londo ...

, the composer * The Hon Isaac Ogden (died 1819) * Father O'Leary, (1729–1802) * Don Joseph Alonzo Ortiz, Consul General of Spain (c.1753–1813) * Stephen Paxton, musician (1734–1787) * Peter Pasqualino, musician (died 1766) * Madeline Antoinetter Pulcherie, Marquise de Tourville, (1756–1837) * Senora Dona Maria Manuela Rapaol, native of Cordova (died 1839) *

Simon François Ravenet Simon François Ravenet (1706 – c. 4 April 1764) was a French engraver. In Britain he is usually termed Simon Francis Ravenet. He was one of William Hogarth's assistants. Biography He was born in Paris, where he studied engraving under Ja ...

, engraver (1706–1764) * Lady Slingsby, actress ( fl. 1670–1685–1693) *

Sir John Soane Sir John Soane (; né Soan; 10 September 1753 – 20 January 1837) was an English architect who specialised in the Neoclassical architecture, Neo-Classical style. The son of a bricklayer, he rose to the top of his profession, becoming professo ...

, architect of the Bank of England (1753–1837) * Jeremiah Le Souef for 20 Years Vice Consul of the United States (c.1783–1837) * Sir Charles Henry Talbot, 1st Baronet, his wife and other members of the Talbot family (1720–1798) * Sir Henry Tempest, 3rd Baronet (died 1753) * Manoel Viera, Portuguese merchant (died 1783) * John Walker author of the '' Pronouncing Dictionary'' (1732–1807) * Edward Walpole (died 1740) * Sir John Webbe (c.1760–1797) and his wife Barbara (died 1740) North East side: * Rt. Hon. Mary Dowager Lady Abergavenny (died 1699) * Francis Claud Amos (died 1800) * Hon Thomas Arundell (1696–1752) and his wife Anne (died 1778) *

Claude Bigot de Sainte-Croix Claude Bigot de Sainte-Croix (3 May 1744, Paris – 25 August 1803, London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. I ...

, Minister Plenipotentiary for the King of France in Sweden (1744–1803) * Lady Bowyer relict of Sir William Bowyer, Bt. (died 1802) * William Brett, artist (died 1828) * Henry Burdett, goldsmith (died 1736) * Mary Burke, wife of John Burke, author of ''

The Peerage The peerages in the United Kingdom are a legal system comprising both hereditary and lifetime titles, composed of various noble ranks, and forming a constituent part of the British honours system. The term ''peerage'' can be used both coll ...

'' (died 1846) * The Hon Elizabeth Butler, daughter of Marmaduke Langdale, 5th Baron Langdale of Holme (died 1823) * Rt. Hon. Elizabeth, Countess of Castlehaven, daughter of Henry Arundell, 5th Baron Arundell of Wardour (1693–1743) *

Tiberius Cavallo Tiberius Cavallo (also Tiberio) (30 March 1749, Naples, Italy21 December 1809, London, England) was an Italian physicist and natural philosopher. His interests included electricity, the development of scientific instruments, the nature of " ai ...

, Scientist (1749–1809) * The Hon. Amy Constable, daughter of

Hugh Clifford, 2nd Baron Clifford of Chudleigh Hugh Clifford, 2nd Baron Clifford of Chudleigh (21 December 1663 – 12 October 1730) was an English aristocrat. Early life Clifford was baptized on 21 December 1663 in Ugbrooke. Though the seventh child and second son, he was the eldest living ...

(1705–1731) * Catherine Constable (1762–1783) * William Cummings, General of HM Forces (1761–1833) * John Danby, composer, (1757–1798) * Alexandre-César d'Anterroches, Bishop of Condom (died 1793) * Joseph Cayetano De Bernales, Spanish merchant (c.1751–1825), and his wife Elizabeth, (1791–1823) File:Burdett-Coutts sundial mosaics - geograph.org.uk - 475598.jpg, Detail of mosaics File:St Pancras Old Church Burdett Coutts 0717.JPG, Railings File:Burdett Coutts Memorial, Old St Pancras Churchyard, London (detail).JPG, Inscription and bust of Night File:The south face of the Burdett Coutts memorial.jpg, Inscription and bust of Morning File:The Burdett Coutts memorial, Old St Pancras.jpg, Inscription and bust of St Giles

References

Burdett-Coutts Memorial Sundial
National Heritage List for England, Historic England

The Victorian Web
The Burdett-Coutts Memorial Sundial
UCL

* ttp://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/burdett-coutts-memorial-sundial Monument: Burdett-Coutts Memorial Sundial London Remembers {{coord, 51.53540, N, 0.13087, W, type:landmark_region:GB, format=dms, display=title 1879 in London 1879 sculptures Gothic Revival architecture in London Grade II* listed monuments and memorials Grade II* listed buildings in the London Borough of Camden Monuments and memorials in London St Pancras, London