Sunshine Recorder

A ceramic pillar sits on the roof of the weather cabin. This was for the sun ball (there were different ones for the different seasons). The sun ball - most likely, the Campbell Stokes Sunshine Recorder, was used at that time, in late 1800s - was accessed by climbing a ladder up the back of the cabin. (It has been cut off now probably for safety).

The recorder measures the intensity of sunshine on any given day, factoring in the clouds or lack of clouds. This is a simple measuring device which is a crystal ball. Underneath the ball, sits calibrated paper. The rays of sun are magnified by the crystal, when the sun is strong, they burn a hole in the paper. Example sun burn The shape and form of the burn gives information about the strength of rays on that day.