Riddle of the Port Sunlight Sphinx

Why is it here?

It represents the extensive overseas trade conducted from the 1880s onwards by Lever Brothers, bringing raw materials from many different countries to the soap factories. It is meant to be a working sundial but the instructions are a bit complicated, and there was no sun at all today so I'll have to check some other time. The flower bed is planted out several times a year and I've been waiting for these tulips to come out for a while but I don't think they are going to last long!