What is the history of the Seven Dials sundial pillar?
Posted on Jan 08, 2026 / Travel
The Seven Dials sundial pillar was originally constructed in 1693‑94 as the focal monument of the Seven Dials development, designed by Thomas Neale. The decorative column was topped with six sundial faces carved and gilded to indicate local solar time, with the column acting as the seventh dial. Although considered one of London’s great public ornaments, the original pillar was removed in 1773 by Paving Commissioners in an effort to reduce undesirable gatherings around it. For more than two centuries, no central monument stood in the junction until a faithful reconstruction was completed in 1989. The reconstruction was based on original measured drawings by carvers and engineers and was one of the most ambitious conservation projects in London since Nelson’s Column. Its re‑erection marked a significant milestone in the area’s urban renewal and public realm improvement. Today the sundial column remains a photogenic symbol and navigational centre for visitors exploring Seven Dials.
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