Lantern - No 06

Magazine Overview

This issue of LANTERN, the fourth in its new-look format announced last Autumn, is published by the Borderline Science Investigation Group (BSIG) for Summer 1974. The magazine is facing financial difficulties, with sales not covering production costs, and the editors are appealing to readers for support to ensure its continuation. The cover headline is 'INTRODUCTION', and the issue features a variety of articles on paranormal and historical topics.

Introduction

The editors express concern over the magazine's financial situation, stating that continuation depends on money. They explain that sales are not covering production costs, and if this trend continues, they may be forced to cease production. They appeal to readers to help by selling more copies and informing friends. The editors also mention the loss of a retail outlet in Lowestoft and invite suggestions for the magazine's continuation. The issue is described as an 'outdoor edition' with articles on Leys, Old Straight Tracks, haunted churches, and the bells of Dunwich, along with usual features and commentary on a previous UFO sighting.

The Search for the Straight Track

This article explores the concept of 'Ley lines,' networks of ancient trackways marked by churches, moats, and standing stones, as theorized by Alfred Watkins. The author explains that these lines, believed to be from pre-Neolithic times, connect ancient sites and were likely used by prehistoric people for navigation. Despite ridicule from archaeologists, the existence of these alignments is presented as a fact. The article illustrates several examples of Ley lines found on the Ordnance Survey map of the Lowestoft area, including alignments connecting churches, moats, ponds, and halls. It emphasizes the need for at least four points to define a Ley line and notes that old ponds can be considered. The author suggests that these ancient greenways may have evolved into modern roads and paths and urges a continued search for them before they disappear.

Haunted Churches of East Anglia

This extensive article serves as a guide to churches in East Anglia reputed to be haunted. It presents a cross-section of ghost stories, ranging from legendary accounts to more recently substantiated sightings. Each entry details the location, the nature of the haunting, and the spectral entities involved. Examples include:

• St. Michael, Geldeston, Norfolk: A ghost associated with a skeleton found with a mill-stone, seen wandering on unhallowed glebe.
• St. Andrew, Covehithe, Suffolk: The graveyard is reputed to be haunted by a white-clad woman with a blank, featureless face.
• St. Peter, Spixworth, Norfolk: Ghosts of William Peek and his wife are said to rise from their tomb.
• St. Margaret, Lowestoft, Suffolk: Features a ghost dressed like 'Guy Fawkes' with a blank face, and another spectral figure of a woman.
• St. Nicholas, Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk: An apparition of a monk, or possibly a nun, appears and walks through walls.
• St. Helen, Ranworth, Norfolk: The ghost of a 15th-century monk named Pacificus is seen in the church and rowing on the river.
• St. Edmund, Thurne, Norfolk: A ghostly light appears in the tower, possibly linked to a signal used in times of need.
• St. Gregory, Sudbury, Suffolk: Unexplained footsteps are heard in the church.
• St. Bartholomew, Corton, Suffolk: The ghostly scream of a man who committed suicide is heard.
• St. Margaret, Leiston, Suffolk: A phantom 'Shuck' dog, known as Galley-Trot, haunts the area.
• St. Peter and St. Paul, Cromer, Norfolk: A grisly spectre of a child-like figure with a gash on its throat was seen in the ruined chancel.
• St. Mary, Runwell, Essex: The ghost of a 15th-century monk named Rainaldus is seen both day and night.
• All Saints, Weybourne, Norfolk: A phantom coach pulled by black horses and driven by a headless coachman haunts the village.
• St. Nicholas, Canewdon, Essex: The ghost of a witch is said to appear and disappear through the churchyard wall.
• St. Mary, Burgh St. Peter, Norfolk: A legend of a hooded skeleton appearing annually on May 2nd, linked to a man who sold his soul to the Devil.
• St. Mary, Worstead, Norfolk: A 'white Lady' appears on Christmas Eve, and a man who went to kiss her went insane and died.
• St. Andrew, Brettenham, Suffolk: An 'invisible presence' is described, which stops people and flings them to the ground.
• Holy Trinity, Ingham, Norfolk: Effigies of Sir Oliver d'Ingham and Sir Roger de Bois come alive annually on August 2nd.
• St. Andrew, Ashingdon, Rochford, Essex: A spirit of a young girl who hanged herself in a barn is seen floating amongst tombs and trees.
• St. Peter and St. Paul, Honing, Norfolk: A phantom white donkey with smoke from its nostrils haunts the road to the church.
• Borley, near Sudbury, Suffolk: Mentions various psychical phenomena reported in and around the church, including unexplained noises, footsteps, and apparitions.

The article stresses that these churches are still in use and should be treated with respect.

Local Curiosities

This section presents several unusual local legends and historical accounts:

• East Anglian Belief: A common belief was that sitting in a parish church porch at midnight on St. Mark's night would reveal apparitions of those who would die or suffer serious illness in the coming year.
• Dragon Battle: An ancient chronicle describes a battle on September 26th, 1449, near Little Cornard, Suffolk, between two fire-breathing dragons, one black from Suffolk and one reddish from Essex, with the red dragon being the winner. The site is known as 'Sharpfight Meadow'.
• Witch's Heart: In Kings Lynn, a diamond-shaped brick with a heart carved in it marks the spot where the heart of a witch named Margaret Read allegedly burst from her body and hit the wall after she was burnt at the stake in 1590.

The Bells of Dunwich

This article revisits tales of bells ringing under the sea at Dunwich, a topic previously discussed in the 'East Anglian Daily Times.' Mr. W. C. Allum of Leiston inquired about these phenomena, and Mr. H. D. Hall suggested the bells might have been carried down with church rubble. Mr. Allum received letters from people who had heard the bells, some awakened by them. Local fishermen considered the sound a sign of a coming storm. Mr. S. L. Day recounted how his grandfather, a Master Mariner, used the toll of the bell from the submerged church at Dunwich to navigate. Mr. Bill Good, a cook on a barge in 1919, heard a bell tolling at 10.30 pm on a stormy night, recognizing it as a bell used by a local pub landlord. The article notes that for such a bell to be heard at sea above heavy weather, it must have been very loud. Mr. Patrick G. Siggers of Sudbury also reported hearing the clanging of a large bell from the direction of the sea at Dunwich beach in 1972, with no ship in sight. A search for the bell by divers yielded no results.

News Round-Up

This section contains brief reports on unusual occurrences:

• Ghost of Man Seen Near Lowestoft: A local man reported seeing a figure with a 'sneering face' on the A12 road near Corton. His car passed through the figure, and he later recalled a similar uncanny experience on the same spot involving a sudden icy coldness and inexplicable fear.
• Similar Experience: Another witness recounts a similar event on the same stretch of road where his car became icy cold, and he felt an unexplainable wave of fear.
• Very Shaken: The witness's wife and a friend confirmed he was very shaken by the experience, unable to forget the 'horrible sneering face'.

Comment

This section discusses local curiosities and UFO sightings:

• Aldeburgh UFO: The article refers to a previous report in LANTERN 3 about an object seen over Aldeburgh, Suffolk, during WWI, described as a 'round platform with a handrail' with 8-12 men in blue uniforms and hats. The author investigates this, referencing the book 'Flying Saucer Occupants' by the Lorenzens.
• Georgia Bay, Lake Ontario, Canada (August 1914): A sighting is described where witnesses observed a shiny sphere with a square platform, crew members, and a hosepipe. Two of the crew appeared to be taking on water. The craft took off vertically with one crew member still clinging to the rail.
• Saw Tooth Bay, Lake Ontario, Canada (July 2nd, 1950): A second sighting, similar to the Georgia Bay incident but with more figures and bright green hosepipes, is described. The author notes that this craft is more in keeping with modern UFO sightings, suggesting a possible evolution in design.
• Comparison to Aldeburgh: The article questions whether the Aldeburgh sighting was a UFO and if space travellers have progressed in craft design over the years. It also speculates whether the water was for fuel or drinking and if the Aldeburgh UFO was seeking water.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of the unexplained, including ancient mysteries (Ley lines), paranormal phenomena (haunted churches, ghosts), and modern mysteries (UFOs). The editorial stance, as expressed in the introduction, is one of earnest dedication to publishing despite financial hardship, with a strong appeal to the readership for support. There is a clear interest in local folklore and historical anomalies, presented with a desire to investigate and share these findings. The magazine aims to inform and engage readers on subjects often on the fringes of conventional understanding.