Burdett-Coutts Memorial Sundial, Victorian memorial sundial in St Pancras Gardens, London, England
The Burdett-Coutts Memorial Sundial is a Victorian monument in St Pancras Gardens consisting of a square Gothic tower topped with a Portland limestone pinnacle. Stone animal figures guard each corner of its iron-railed enclosure, creating a distinctive memorial structure.
Built between 1877 and 1879, the memorial preserves the names of more than 70 people whose graves were displaced when the Midland Railway was constructed in 1865. This project responded to the loss of burial sites caused by railway expansion.
The memorial displays Latin inscriptions and biblical passages that show how Victorians thought about death, memory, and time passing. These carved details and reliefs reveal how people in the 1800s expressed their respect and grief.
The memorial sits within St Pancras Gardens, which is open daily and located near where Pancras Road meets Camley Street. You can reach the site easily from either of these two streets.
The structure serves as both a working timepiece and a memorial, decorated with mosaic designs and carved figures representing St Pancras, St Giles, Night, and Morning. These artistic elements blend practical function with elaborate remembrance.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
