Ley Hunter - 1966 vol 2 no 2

Magazine Overview

Title: The Ley Hunter
Issue: Vol. 2, No. 2
Date: April 1966
Publisher: The Ley Hunter's Club
Editor: Philip Heselton (with Jimmy Goddard acting as editor for this issue)

This issue of The Ley Hunter, published in April 1966, delves into the subject of ley lines across Britain. Due to the primary editor, Philip Heselton, being occupied with university work, Jimmy Goddard has stepped in to produce this edition. While smaller than usual, it promises to be made up for in the next issue. An article by Nicholas Odell has been postponed to the next issue due to reproduction difficulties.

Editorial

The editorial, written by Jimmy Goddard, explains the circumstances of his stepping in as editor and acknowledges the reduced size of the magazine. He highlights a key article in this issue concerning ley-hunting in the Warminster area, noting its strong connection to flying saucers. Goddard expresses his belief that while leys should be studied independently, their potential connection to extraterrestrial beings, if proven, would be a significant aspect of ley study.

LEYS IN BRITAIN by Philip Heselton

Philip Heselton contributes an article outlining his hopes to produce a booklet on ley patterns discovered across Britain. He provides a brief survey of leys he and others have found, dividing the country into regions:

• Cornwall: Few coordinated patterns found, but numerous prehistoric sites, stone circles, and holy wells suggest potential for future work. St. Michael's Mount is noted as a possible centre.
• Devon: Researches by Major F. C. Tyler (referenced in his book 'The Geometrical Arrangement of Ancient Sites') and contributions from Miss Theo Brown, Mrs. B. Carbonell, and Miss Sheila Hutchinson are mentioned. The pattern here appears to consist of parallel stone alignments, particularly in the eastern part of the county.
• Somerset: Glastonbury and the Temple of the Stars are discussed in relation to the ley pattern. The area between Taunton and Lyme Regis is noted as being particularly rich in leys with parallel systems.
• Dorset: A strong pattern is observed between Yeovil and Blandford, with church alignments predominating. This extends north to Cranborne Chase and the equilateral triangle pattern of Salisbury Plain.
• Wiltshire: Salisbury Plain, the Vale of Pewsey, and the Marlborough Downs show distinct patterns, notably an equilateral triangle system over Salisbury Plain and into North Dorset. A potential link between Stonehenge's angles and the Salisbury Plain ley pattern is questioned.
• The Cotswolds: An area rich in leys, noted for research by F.R. Watts and H.F. Trew, as is the rest of Gloucestershire.
• The Welsh Borders: Herefordshire and Radnor have been studied by Alfred Watkins, with many leys and camp alignments noted from Monmouthshire to Shropshire. Other parts of Wales appear sparse, possibly due to lack of research. Anglesey and the Isle of Man are suggested for further study.
• The Midlands: A varied area where leys are abundant, with common 'star' systems and predominant church and moat leys.
• East Anglia: Early research by W.A. Dutt in Norfolk and Alfred Watkins' book 'Archaic Tracks Round Cambridge' are mentioned. Rewarding work is suggested for Essex and Suffolk, where extensive ley systems may exist.
• South-East England: Evidence has been destroyed due to proximity to London, but a system extending over the Weald in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex is noted. A call is made for volunteers to help plot and analyze this area.
• The North of England: The Peak District of Derbyshire shows a system associated with stone circles, and a 'parallel-and-star' system is noted on the North York Moors. The Pennines and Lake District appear to lack a system, possibly due to insufficient research. The Fylde area of Lancashire is suggested for study.
• Scotland: No ley system has been found, but stone circles in the Orkney Islands and elsewhere appear aligned, suggesting potential for rewarding study.

Heselton reiterates that a booklet with more details and references will be produced later in the summer.

LEY HUNT

Kenneth Rogers and Jimmy Goddard investigated leys in the Warminster, Wiltshire area over the Easter weekend (April 8–10). Their report covers several sites:

• "The Minster": Located in an area named "Cold Harbour", it is on a ley leading to a 12-ley centre in Boreham, where a spectacular UFO sighting occurred. A 1,000-year-old yew tree in front is noted.
• St. Lawrence's Church: Also on the same ley, dating back to approximately 1290.
• Collegiate Ch. of Sts. Peter and Paul, Heytesbury: Two miles from Warminster, on another ley to the Centre, dating back to at least the 16th century. Near this ley, a report of "little men in balaclava helmets and glistening trousers" was made.
• Bishopstrow Mill: An old mill on a ley from the Centre, associated with a frightening UFO incident.
• Bishopstrow Church: On the same ley as the mill, its age is uncertain, with conflicting information suggesting it could be 19th century or older.
• The Warminster Centre: Described as an important centre for "Warminster Things" but visually uninspiring, being a muddy backwater of the River Wylye with no prehistoric sites.
• Cley Hill: Considered the most important ley site of the trip. This 784-foot high hill has a crater-like formation and earthworks. Four significant leys skirt it, one being a base-line of Philip Heselton's "Great Isosceles Triangle" leys, which runs across the country and challenges Alfred Watkins' theory of leys being built for foot travel. Another ley originates from the Charlton Crater ley centre, and two others from the Warminster centre.

LETTERS

Jimmy Goddard acknowledges that there have been few letters to LH and encourages reader participation.

• Egerton Sykes writes, expressing interest in the magazine and amusement at the "Merlin" article. He notes the article was from the Radio Times or The Listener in March 1942, printed out of London due to air raids. Sykes also comments on Miss Symms' coupling of Taurus with Atlantis, providing dates for Taurus and the fall of Atlantis.

ODD NOTES

• Stewart Miller of Cambridge University will use a computer ('Titan') to investigate whether ley lines are due to chance and to identify their locations and numbers by inputting grid-references of prehistoric sites.

• Publication Details: "The Ley Hunter" is published by The Ley Hunter's Club. The subscription is 4/6 for four quarterly issues. The Editor is Philip Heselton (12, Heathcroft Avenue, Sunbury, Middlesex), and the Secretary is J. Goddard (43, Walton Bridge Road, Shepperton, Middlesex). Publication material should be sent to the Editor, and subscriptions to the Secretary.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, their geographical distribution across Britain, and their potential connections to ancient sites and phenomena like UFOs. The editorial stance, as articulated by Jimmy Goddard, is open to exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement in the creation of ley lines, viewing it as a potentially crucial aspect of the subject, even while acknowledging Philip Heselton's preference for studying leys as an independent phenomenon. The magazine actively encourages reader contributions and research, as evidenced by the "Letters" section and the call for volunteers. The use of technology, such as computer analysis, is also highlighted as a future direction for ley research.