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.

The completed dial faces, 1989.

Each face of the dialstone enables different hours of the day to be read. To achieve this it was essential for the stone to be accurately carved, gilded and, finally, placed. The dial faces were designed, carved and gilded by Caroline Webb, in her studio in Wiltshire in 1989. 

The gnomons (which cast the shadow on each dial face), the orb, the Donors' Ring and other work, were kindly sponsored by architectural ironmongers Comyn Ching & Co. who traded on Seven Dials from the early 1700s, just one of the many examples of sponsorship in-kind which were key to our success.

The one tonne dialstone rising off its pallet, ready for work on the sundials at Caroline Webb's Wiltshire workshop. It had travelled from Ashby & Horner's Essex works in a special crate.

Drawings of the dial faces taken from the Trust's fundraising brochure. Three have been sponsored to date. 

Initial drawings.

Caroline Webb on top of the scaffolding putting the finishing touches to the gilding in situ.

(L) 60 degrees east of North. (R) 60 degrees east of South.

(L) 60 degrees west of North.  (R) 60 degrees west of South.

(L) North dial.  (R) South dial.

South dial wrapped for protection.