Seven Dials Covent Garden is a unique quarter of London whose star-shaped layout remains as constructed in the early 1690s. It was brought back to life largely through the dedication of the Seven Dials Trust, working in partnership with the local authorities and landowners for nearly forty years.

Even though clocks existed in the 1670s, public sundials were an important part of everyday life in London and throughout Europe. This story from the Athenian Mercury of 1692/3 (iv, No. 4), the year before the erection of the original Sundial Pillar, provides a graphic illustration of the need for sundials:

"I was walking in Covent Garden where the clock struck two, when I came to Somerset-House by that it wanted a quarter of two, when I came to St. Clement Danes it was half past two, when I came to St. Dunstans it wanted a quarter to two, by Mr. Knib's Dyal in Fleet-street it was just two, when I came to Ludgate it was half an hour past one, when I came to Bow Church it wanted a quarter of two, by the Dyal near the Stocks Market it was a quarter past two, and when I came to the Royal Exchange it wanted a quarter of two. Thus I averr for a Truth, and desire to know how long I was walking from Covent Garden to the Royal Exchange?"

The following extracts are from The Seven Dials by founder trustee, the late Sir John Summerson.

Book  THE SEVEN DIALS - Erected 1694, Removed 1773, Reconstructed 1988-9.
Published by  The Trust in 1989.