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Hugh Miller's Dial

Cromarty - NH793670 - Ross 433

This dial was carved by the stonecarver, geologist, journalist and folklorist and all round victorian - Hugh Miller (1802-1856).

It is a horizontal dial on an elaborate plinth.

The cottage was built by 1698 for John Feddes (Hugh Miller's grandfather) and now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland. Since the 8th of April 2004 Miller House has been open to the public.

There are some lovely little snippets of stories included in MacGibbon and Ross' books and there is one about this dial.

It was carved by Hugh Miller for his uncles (as he wrote in his book My Schools & Schoolmasters - chap xxiii) when during a period of convalescence as a young man.

'from an original design, an ornate dial-stone; and the dial-stone still exists to show that my skill as a stone cutter rose somewhat above the average for the profession'

Impressively his fossil collection of over 6,000 specimens became the heart of the national collection in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. His achievement do not stop there as writings by Hugh Miller include: The Old Red Sandstone, The Cruise of the Betsey, Footprints of the Creator, Testimony of the Rocks, Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland, and My Schools and Schoolmasters. I've not read any yet but I am tempted.

The other dial shown in the engraving above is a lectern dial discovered by Hugh Miller. He thought that it had belonged to the ancient castle garden of Cromarty and remounted it. It is no longer at Miller House but has now travelled to Albion House. The plinth made for it by Hugh Miller remains at Miller House and is inscribed 'H M MDCCCXXX'. It carries a brass dial plate with a worn inscription.

Discover Hugh Miller

Because I have not yet made it up to Cromarty to see these dials the images are thanks to the marvellous SCRAN website which I can highly encourage anyone to join.

Home Summary Analysis Dials by Location Dials by Type Dials by Date Contact Links	Hugh Miller's Dial
	Cromarty - NH793670 - Ross 433 This dial was carved by the stonecarver, geologist, journalist and folklorist and all round victorian - Hugh Miller (1802-1856). It is a horizontal dial on an elaborate plinth. The cottage was built by 1698 for John Feddes (Hugh Miller's grandfather) and now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland. Since the 8th of April 2004 Miller House has been open to the public.


	There are some lovely little snippets of stories included in MacGibbon and Ross' books and there is one about this dial. It was carved by Hugh Miller for his uncles (as he wrote in his book My Schools & Schoolmasters - chap xxiii) when during a period of convalescence as a young man. 'from an original design, an ornate dial-stone; and the dial-stone still exists to show that my skill as a stone cutter rose somewhat above the average for the profession' Impressively his fossil collection of over 6,000 specimens became the heart of the national collection in the Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh. His achievement do not stop there as writings by Hugh Miller include: The Old Red Sandstone, The Cruise of the Betsey, Footprints of the Creator, Testimony of the Rocks, Scenes and Legends of the North of Scotland, and My Schools and Schoolmasters. I've not read any yet but I am tempted. The other dial shown in the engraving above is a lectern dial discovered by Hugh Miller. He thought that it had belonged to the ancient castle garden of Cromarty and remounted it. It is no longer at Miller House but has now travelled to Albion House. The plinth made for it by Hugh Miller remains at Miller House and is inscribed 'H M MDCCCXXX'. It carries a brass dial plate with a worn inscription.
	Discover Hugh Miller
	Because I have not yet made it up to Cromarty to see these dials the images are thanks to the marvellous SCRAN website which I can highly encourage anyone to join. © Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland / Licensed via www.scran.ac.uk © Nick Haynes / Licensed via www.scran.ac.uk