A HISTORIC sundial which went missing from Stourbridge town centre in the 1980s has been unveiled at its new home in Mary Stevens Park.

The sundial, which was erected in a small public garden next to the town clock and market hall by King Edward VI Grammar School in 1952 to mark the quarter centenary of its charter, became damaged before disappearing from the town.

It is presumed that the sundial was removed in the early 1980s when the garden was replaced by the Crown Centre shopping development.

Former pupil David Humphries has been on the hunt for the artefact for a number of years and to his surprise, finally found the sundial last year.

After his discovery, David told the Black Country Bugle: “It was such a shock to see this wonderful artefact from Stourbridge's past and with help I intend to bring it back to its former glory. I had thought it was lost forever.”

And David lived up to his word, as he was able to unveil the newly restored sundial at Mary Stevens Park this week.

The sundial forms part of a programme of £3.1 million improvements to the park which followed a £2.6 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Councillor Hilary Bills, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for environmental services, said: “We’re delighted to see the sundial in place and it marks a final stage in the huge programme of improvements that we’ve made at the park.”

Alongside David, members of the local community, the park’s friends group and councillors joined together on Monday (October 10) to see the sundial be unveiled at its new home in the café’s tea gardens.