Compass Dial and Navigation Marker at Penpole Point

The Compass Dial and Navigation Marker at Penpole Point is a structure likely dating from the 17th century or earlier, with a 19th-century seating addition.

Constructed from limestone ashlar, possibly sourced from a nearby quarry, the marker features a cast-iron seat and stone sett paving. It has an octagonal shape and stands approximately 2 meters tall, consisting of a thick stone shaft on a plinth topped with a moulded capstone. Surrounding the structure is a circular paved area with a diameter of 2.8 meters. The plinth includes eight square sockets and four vertical recesses, likely remnants of an earlier timber seat.

The cast-iron seat is designed with a diamond-lattice pattern and supported by four moulded columns with a quatrefoil section, complete with bases and decorative spandrels. The stone shaft shows some signs of repair, with holes filled with hard mortar and areas covered in a thin surface render. The worn capstone features a series of carved graffiti on each face, and both the north and south sides have angled semi-circular carved slots that serve as a scafe sundial.

At the top of the capstone, there is a carved starburst compass rosette, although it is faintly visible, with a prominent fleur-de-lys indicating the North point. The surface of the capstone slopes downward from the center, where a finial or weathervane was once placed. Notably, the capstone is slightly off-center, overhanging more towards the north.