Photo-a-Day  (Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025)

I would have put the sun dial in the middle flanked with the fossilised tree trunks. At 1st glance it looks like some one has just thrown the pieces down any where.And what is the stone in the background? It looks like a grave head stone?

They look heavy to me Peter. So your probably right they have just been thrown down

I can't find anything to say about this PAD.

I would have put the sundial in the sun. Not under a tree.
I would also spell it as sundial not as sun dial. It is a compound noun.

It doesn't even look like a sundial. Where is the gnomon? Are you sure about this Mick?

A Sundial that looks more like a stone bird feeder.

I'm sorry but I can't see a traditional sundial anywhere in that photo. Is that shape nearest the front of the photo, which looks like a face with eyes and a mouth, meant to be the sundial? It reminds me of the head of a Stormtrooper out of Star Wars. I'm a bit lost with this.

Maybe Big H has had it away for scrap O.R. ?

On the British Sundial Society website it says, The carved stone cuboid top of this multiple dial is unfortunately no longer on its plinth, but it is preserved within a safe area adjacent to the Hall. It is reported to date from the 1800s

Irene, I'm very surprised that someone like you, who is supposed to live life in the 40s, has ever heard of a Stormtrooper.
Anyway, back to today's very interesting Pad, what I like about this photo is the way the Wigan council have preserved those ancient petrified trees, that would have been growing in Wigan along long time ago.

What a waste of a pad.

How strange.....on Easter Sunday no less than FOUR regular p-a-d people commented on Mick's photo that it would have been nice to have an Easter theme. for Easter Sunday. It wasn't Mick's fault, as it is Admin who choose what photos go on each day, but of the four people who commented, there was only ME who Mick had a go at. Today, a number of people have said they either don't like. or can't understand, Mick's Sundial photo, but again it's only ME who comes in for criticism from him. I just have to assume he doesn't like me.....heigh ho....we can't please everyone. I know every character from Star Wars, Mick, as my son, born in 1976, lived and breathed Star Wars as a child in the 1980s,, and his son, (now 16), loved them too.

Take no notice Michael , this Sundial must be very important to be mentioned on the British Sundial Society website, thank for unearthing it by your camera.

Thanks, Mick, for showing us the Haigh Hall Sundial. I had a look at the Sundials website and found that In 1874, 26th Earl of Crawford Ludovic sailed to Mauritius to record the transit of Venus which occurs every 243 years, recording this was essential for the advancement of astronomical calculations to establish the distance between planets and the size of the solar system. On his return to Wigan, he was given a hero’s welcome with locals lining the streets, and brass bands performing on his way back to the hall.
I think this must be a piece of forgotten Wigan history that, for me, is more important and interesting than the Romans coming.
It's a shame you have to put up with the silly comments.

If Mick's comment at 11.02 am had appeared under the photo instead of halfway through the morning, people would have understood what they were looking at, instead of being perplexed by the lack of a recognisable sundial. A little explanation is a great help.

How come those who find Mick's photo fascinating are people we've never heard of before ?

Thank you ‘ Tommy’ for coming to Mick’s rescue. It would have been helpful in the introduction though. It’s all so easy when you know where to look.

Irene, I think it's always nice to do your research, it makes it more interesting and that way it sinks in better.

Exactly DDastardly. As if we can’t see through the cover.

This stupid feud between Mick and Irene has been going on almost as long as the conflict in the Middle East and I for one am sick to death of it . If you would be prepared to accept my advice , I would recommend that the pair of you grow up , as It long since got beyond being tedious .

Best regards to you both nonetheless … Ozy .

Chances are that this post , like most of my other posts will be disregarded and consigned to the ether .

I will never instigate an argument, Ozy, but I WILL stand up for myself when pushed, as I was on Easter Sunday. I will ignore his photos in future and will not comment on them, or converse with him if it annoys you. Whether that will be reciprocated remains to be seen. Watch carefully to see what happens regarding that! Best regards to you too, Ozy. I hope all is well with you.

Happy Easter Ozy, I gave you a knock on Easter Sunday, no answer so I went to Haigh Hall all on my own.
BTW there is no feud between me and Irene and never has been, I just sometimes feel sorry for her having her strings pulled, then getting the wrong end of the stick if you know what I mean, I only step in to help her the best I can.
But I do wonder sometimes why so many people are against me, like your comments. Like this one, maybe Big H has had it away for scrap, you know I don't collect scrap, but its comments like this that the dozy people who don't know take in as being true, and then you've got the racist vertriloquist trying to get Teasy in her gang and have a go at me

There’s only one person needs to grow up and we all know it’s not Irene. She is one of the most polite people on this site.

Nothing wrong with sticking up for yourself Irene , I’m all for that , but if Mick irritates you as much as he appears to , then the best option would appear to be to ignore his comments both consistently and persistently . I think that’s the most sensible option don’t you ?

You’ll probably find that he’ll most likely grow weary eventually … of that I remain firmly convinced .

I make no pretence at being a psychologist , but it ain’t quantum physics after all is it ?…
Christ ! … it’s just common sense .

And thats as far as I’m willing to be drawn into this nonsense , so you’ll hear nothing more from me on this topic .

Respect . Ozy .

Lemme see … wasn’t it persisting down all day on Sunday Mick ? … or was that Saturday ? …
Every day’s the same to me lately .
Bottom line … I have no idea where I might have been .
And regarding the Big H scrap metal comment …
Just having a bit of fun .
I thought you would have known me by now .

And if folk think that Big H is a synonym for Mick Byrne , who would you say was responsible for that misconception ?

Anyroad …
Feel free to call round again when you haven’t got as much time .

CALM DOWN ! … CALM DOWN ! … only joking mate … Jeez !
Talk about touchy folk .

We can all understand why we see little of Garry now.
I agree with Veronica, Mick has been giving Irene stick lately, I can't understand why, she's the most thoughtful and caring person on this site, her comments bring photos to life and is so accurately described what ever the subjects are.
Give it a rest Mick you making a fool of yourself. Arthur.

I agree with Irene the sundial looks like a stormtroopers helmet and if some one had not posted that it was a sundial I would have said it was a capping stone for a stone post. Has to the fossilised trees they were created before Wigan even existed probably millions of years ago.Down the mines if you came across them in the roof you were extra cautious because they had a sudden tendency to slip out of the surrounding rock and could easily crush you.