THE hands of time have passed over 150 years since the first shadow was cast on the Bishopthorpe sundial.

Generations charmed by the feature have tried to uncover its origins for years, watching as it faithfully told the time from various walls around the village.

Still, the mystery continues as residents prepare to unveil the restored sundial on the village Co-op store wall on Thursday.

The stone dial is inscribed with Tempus Labile (translated as 'time is fleeting') and once hung on the walls of Sundial Terrace in Main Street, mounted on a marble slab.

Linda Haywood, chair of Bishopthorpe Local History Group said she would love to hear from anyone who could unravel its past.

"We know that the sundial was not originally meant for Sundial Terrace - which eventually took its name - because it would not have been exposed to enough sunlight there," she said.

"We do, however, know it belonged to Bishopthorpe, but who made it, who first owned it and on which building was it first placed?

"These are all mysteries we have yet to discover."

The dial is thought to date back to the late 17th to early 18th century and was moved to the Co-op building in the 1930s.

The marble slab, which bore the date 1691 and the initials TPM, was not retained.

Last November, sundial restorer Harriet James stripped years of flaking paint and lime wash from the dial, repainted it and replaced the rusted iron shadow caster with a brass replica.

o If you can shed more light on the sundial's past, phone Linda Haywood on 01904 704584.