name "Dial Post" appears to originate in Sussex where there is a
hamlet called Dial Post. The first recorded mention of this village
occurred in 1702, in a will. A Dial Post simply appears to be "a
dial on a post", or in other words ... a sundial. Shakespearean
references suggest that the 'dial' in place names refers to
shepherd's sundials cut into the turf, which gave rise to
placenames like Dial Bank or Dial Field. None of these turf-cut
sundials exist anymore. Sundials in their simplest form (a vertical
stick) have been used since at least the Iron Age, but it was only
since the 17th century that Dial Posts (with the dial supported on
a pillar) came into fashion.
There are also recordings of 'Dial Stones' which were located at
the side of the road to aid travellers. There is a modern-day
equivalent of these in many European holiday destinations. They are
usually very tall, digital pillars that tell you the current
temperature as well as the time. 
FTF goes to
Bonnie and
Clyde on 31st Aug 2007