Ley Hunter - 1973 no 50

Magazine Overview

Title: THE LEY HUNTER
Issue: No. 50
Date: December, 1973
Publisher: Paul Screeton
Location: Seaton Carew, Hartlepool, County Durham, United Kingdom

This issue marks the 50th edition of The Ley Hunter, described as a 'golden anniversary' issue published at the solstice and season of the comet. The magazine focuses on ancient skills and wisdom, with a particular emphasis on the beginnings and current state of ley hunting. The editor, Paul Screeton, expresses gratitude to contributors, the printer, subscribers, and others who have sustained the magazine since its inception in November 1969.

Lead In

The 'Lead In' section notes that despite being a 'decimal celebration', the issue coincides with the solstice and the season of the comet. It reflects on the magazine's origins in 1969 and its growth, attributing this to 'good vibrations of the Aquarian Age'. The editor thanks those who have made the magazine possible and states that this issue aims to provide an overview of ley hunting's origins and current status.

Notes and Correspondence

UK Subscribers Apologies are offered for recent delays in producing and dispatching copies, attributed to the hectic nature of running the magazine as a one-person operation.

USA Subscribers It is noted that eccentric amounts of money have been sent for one-year subscriptions, with the figure consistently maintained at six dollars.

Contributors No payment is made for articles, but each published article extends the contributor's subscription by one month.

Correspondents Replies to correspondents may be delayed due to the pressure of producing this issue.

Upcoming Issue (Issue 51) Issue 51 is announced to include articles on E.J. Eitel, Robin Holtom on William Blake, and more.

Comet Observation The editor comments on the comet, noting that while it may not be as 'marvellous as predicted', it is linked to momentous historical events and the appearance of strange aerial phenomena, citing the comet over the battlefield at Hastings as an example. The hope is expressed that The Ley Hunter No. 50 will 'brighten somewhat Xmas'.

From Page 12 This section refers to 'military exploitation' and a book that 'excels in many ways'. It suggests that for 'true ley hunters', research into the 'bioplasmic body of man' is recommended, describing the book as 'hefty' with 'mindblowers' in the final chapters.

Miscellany This section includes several brief notes: * THAT ZODIAC: Hawk Harrison is researching the biography of Glastonbury Zodiac rediscoverer Mrs K.E. Ma ltwood. * FAYRE ENUF: Refers to the Glastonbury Fayre organiser and Guru Maharaj Ji devotee, noting a recent excellent piece on Glastonbury in their magazine. * Reviews: Mentions receiving issue No. 2 of 'THE NEWS' and TORC 11, which contained pieces by John Michell and Charles Shepherd. QUEST 16 is also mentioned for a lucid article on parapsychology/occult argument and Sid Birchby. The editor hopes for more reviews of magazines and books in the next issue and requests articles.

The Moment of Discovery: How Alfred Watkins Found Leys

By Allen Watkins

This article, written by the son of Alfred Watkins, aims to bridge the gap in the records regarding the actual moment of his father's discovery of leys. Allen Watkins explains that his father was reticent about this moment, as detailed in his memoir "Alfred Watkins of Hereford".

On June 30, 1921, Alfred Watkins was on a journey to Blackwardine, Herefordshire. He consulted his local map and noted interesting hill-tops. His mind was not on investigation but on natural curiosity about his native county. His eye was drawn to Croft Ambury, then to Blackwardine, and further to Risbury Camp and Stretton Grandison, where he surmised a Roman camp.

Suddenly, he was struck by amazement and incredulity. He reached for his straight-edge ruler and found an exact straight line connecting these points. He described this as a moment of knowing, where a complete picture of 'The Old Straight Track' and its meaning flooded his mind. He stated, "It all happened in a flash," and that he never discovered anything afterwards that he did not see in his mind then, except for beacons.

This revelation is attributed to a long build-up in his unconscious mind, starting in boyhood when he and a friend found a Roman coin near Llanthony Abbey. This experience fostered an instinctive liking for historical and traditional things, drawing him to hill tops, camps, and ancient sites. His travels around the county for his work also contributed. At the age of 66, he made his discovery of leys.

Some Memories of Alfred Watkins

By Godfrey C. Davies

Godfrey C. Davies shares his recollections of Alfred Watkins, whom he first met around 1912 at a local photographic society meeting. Davies' father was a personal friend of Watkins and an active member of the society. Davies attended lantern lectures and observed Watkins, who was a founder member and past president of the society.

Davies highlights Watkins' pioneering work in photography, noting his international recognition and invention of a photographic exposure meter. Watkins also discovered the relationship between time and temperature in photographic development and initiated the famous Watkins system for factorial development. He was an active member of the local archaeological society and conducted significant research.

In 1920, when Davies became secretary of the photographic society, he learned of Watkins' theory regarding trackways. Davies arranged the first public lecture on the subject, which was well-attended and appreciated, illustrated with lantern slides. Watkins also lectured on subjects like bee keeping and bread making, and famously, the journey of Little Nell from Dickens' "The Old Curiosity Shop", suggesting Dickens may have been inspired by the local district.

Davies recounts helping Watkins find a site he had overlooked, an overgrown piece of land. He describes Watkins as a familiar figure in Hereford, engaging with many people and discussing their questions. Watkins even attended an art school party dressed as an old farmer, much to everyone's amusement.

Special Watkins memorial lectures were inaugurated by the local photographic society, attracting prominent figures in the photographic world. Davies mentions that the Royal Photographic progress medal, awarded infrequently, was received by Watkins twice.

The Spirit of Popular Ley Hunting

Glimpses of an Outdoor Hobby of Forty Years Ago Through the Eyes of a Wealden Detective

By Philip Heselton

This section discusses the writings of Donald Maxwell and their appreciation by Philip Heselton, a follower of the paths Maxwell rediscovered.

Maxwell, writing between the wars, produced 'guide-books' of counties around London that were more like invitations to adventurous questioning of the landscape, aligning with the spirit of ley hunting. Heselton specifically mentions Maxwell's "A Detective in..." series (Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Essex, published 1932-34). Heselton started his own ley hunting in this area and found it exciting to see descriptions of leys in books written over 30 years prior.

Heselton notes that these books were popular in the 1930s and are still found in second-hand bookshops and libraries. He suggests that while the information is woven into a story, the essential message remains relevant. The books aimed to appeal to a popular audience and encourage people to look at the landscape with new eyes, becoming "Watkinsians".

Maxwell's Preface to "A Detective in Essex" is quoted, highlighting the professional archaeologists' attacks and unwillingness to engage with the subject, attributing it to potential insecurity. Maxwell addresses criticism for his 'discoveries', including a church on a ley that turned out to be modern. He defends his work as frank narratives of exploration, hopes, fears, and uncertainties, encouraging novices to make observations and follow clues.

Maxwell expresses a wish for machinery to collect evidence from amateurs (hikers, ramblers, motorists) who are 'raking over' archaeological fields. He contrasts this with the British Astronomical Society's postcard reports for meteor observation, where coincidence helps verify observations. He blames archaeologists for the lack of amateur input, stating that fresh evidence is often met with skepticism or antagonism.

Maxwell refutes a reviewer's claim that he discovered 'Roman roads in every possible direction', stating he did not. He also quotes the reviewer imagining 'the shade of Professor Haverfield returning in horror to view this new profession of Roman roads covering the face of Surry.'

Maxwell defends his work by questioning why Professor Haverfield would view fresh evidence with horror, inferring that experts are treated as infallible. He draws a parallel between the treatment of Watkins and Galileo, noting that while Galileo's arguments were sometimes unsound, the world still moves, and leys still exist despite expert ridicule.

Maxwell concludes by stating that the 'cranks' interested in these subjects and the 'demonstrably fallacious' arguments are often dismissed by orthodox scientists. He believes science will regain its rightful place as a tool for truth-seeking when scientists are guided by inward inspiration rather than fashion and prestige.

Notes on a Leicestershire Ley Network

Compiled by Paul Devereux

Paul Devereux describes a ley hunting experience with his wife Jay in the Leicestershire countryside. They felt a strong sense of being in a 'particularly rich ley landscape' as they drove through villages with names ending in "stone" (e.g., Shackerstone, Thringstone, Whetstone, Ravenstone, Nailstone).

They learned that friends David and June Morris had conducted preliminary research in the area. The article quotes David Morris's letter, which notes that Ibstock church has several leys passing through it, with the present building dating to the 10th century, but signs of earlier holy settlements exist. The ley continues through Heather and other churches. The Morris's found many tracks, gates, paths, and wall patterns fitting the ley. They observed a pattern of criss-cross leys forming a star shape, with the old site of Ratby or Ratae earthwork as its center. The area is largely untouched by industry.

June Morris discovered that Ibstock church was referred to as the "Mother of Churches" in old records.

The ley pattern is described as complex, featuring regular structures, possibly six isosceles triangles with base angles between 65° and 70°, partially superimposing to suggest a 'star' shape. Several specific alignments are detailed using Ordnance Survey grid references.

Devereux mentions Jimmy Goddard's "Handbook of Leys and Orthoteny" and Philip Heselton's discovery of a primary ley (Arbor Low-leading) that passes through Overseal, about seven miles from Ibstock. Goddard reported a UFO sighting in Overseal in 1962, where a UFO came low over a car.

Devereux suggests that ley hunters in the Leicester area should investigate this complex, noting that fieldwork and folklore research are needed. He speculates that another 'zodiac' might be hidden within this complex.

A Bend in the Road

By Circumlibra

Circumlibra describes a personal journey and pilgrimage to Carnac, France, to view its famous stones. This journey is framed as a release from daily responsibilities, allowing more time to devote to the 'enigma of the leys'.

The author's son presented him with Professor Thom's "Megalithic Sites of Britain" for the occasion. The journey involved visiting Dorset and the Channel Isles before reaching Brittany. The author describes the Carnac alignments, noting 15 parallel rows of stones leading up an incline, with another row linking them. He also mentions a possible circle or part of a circle and various arrangements of stones. The alignments are described as striding across the countryside for several miles.

The author prefers to visit sites first and study them later. He compares the impact of the Carnac stones to those in Dorset, finding the latter more impactful due to their number. He suggests the alignments were laid down first, with other arrangements added later. He believes the rows and circle at the eastern end were used for ritual or religious purposes, providing power for the rest of the alignment, likening it to 'a head with a body'.

A visit to the museum in Carnac town was helpful, though the author was critical of its illustration of 'ancient man', questioning why orthodoxy regards intelligent people capable of building such monuments as a 'missing link'. He notes that 'approved thinking' is changing regarding ancient man.

The author also visited sites in Jersey, including Hogue Bie, a site with a passage grave, mound, and various buildings. He also visited Guernsey and a small museum in St Peter Port. He recalls a similar experience at a passage grave near La Rochelle.

Alderley Edge: Some of Its Mysteries

By S. L. Birchby

S. L. Birchby describes Alderley Edge in Cheshire, a ridge of high ground known for its wooded landscape and National Trust property status. The area has a history of copper mining, possibly from prehistoric times, and evidence of an axe factory. It features the Armada Beacon mound, records of flints and stone hammers, and ploughed-up tumuli and stone circles.

The main legend of the district is that of the Wizard of Alderley, first recorded in the 18th century. It tells of a farmer who is warned by a stranger that he will fail to sell his horse. The stranger then leads him to a cavern of sleeping horsemen, buys the horse, and the cavern is never found again. This legend has many parallels elsewhere.

Alderley Edge is considered a place where strange things happen. Alex Saunders, self-proclaimed 'King of the Witches', claims to have performed ceremonies there. The woods are described as eerie, especially on misty days. The Baskerville family, with a hound on their coat-of-arms, lived in the area for nearly 700 years, and a ghostly hound was reportedly seen in 1970.

The region is noted for its peculiar psychic properties and 'bad reputation'. Alan Garner's books, "The Weirdstone of Brisingamen" and "The Moon of Gomrath", hint at these properties, drawing on his knowledge of local traditions. A graffiti tag found on a rock face, "Out, demons, out!", is described as fitting for the area.

Stramonium: Some Observations on a Herb of Power

By Getafix the Druid

This article discusses Datura stramonium, commonly known as Thorn Apple, Jimson Weed, or Stinkweed. It is described as one of several plants from the Nightshade family used by Druids, witches, and magicians to gain knowledge of realms not accessible in ordinary life. With proper mental preparation, it can offer a new perspective on the world, as detailed in Carlos Castaneda's books.

Stramonium contains hyoscyamine, a poison that stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system and affects the eyes, causing 'fantastic visual hallucinations'. These visions are described as realistic, flaring up and dying away without obeying the participant's will, and are considered more intense than those induced by LSD.

The author obtained a commercially available sample of powdered Stramonium leaves. A teaspoonful and a half was sufficient to induce a three-day 'trip'. Effects include a feeling of drunken unreality, heightened senses, a sensation of being 'uncomfortably full of water', mental stupor, confusion, drowsiness, and sometimes sleep. Upon awakening, participants experience visions.

The author admits his own skepticism has been a barrier to experiencing these effects fully, but recounts reports from others. These include being transported to other locations and times, conversing with deceased relatives, and even attempting to 'make' them tea. One person reportedly spent half an hour trying to persuade a bannister post to sleep. Others experienced shared visions, such as an atom bomb on a hillside, a Hell's Angels' 'gang bang', orgy, and Breughel-like cripples hanging themselves in hallways or on picture rails.

Astral projection is reported as common. One person described lying on their bed and then seeing their body still on the bed while they were elsewhere, or flying out to sea and circling an island.

The author highlights several key points about Stramonium:
1. Its ability to make several people 'see' the same thing simultaneously, a property not attributed to other drugs.
2. Astral projection is easy and conscious, though not always realized at the time.
3. The ability to transport the participant to other times and places, used by Carlos Castaneda for looking into the past and future.
4. The dreamlike sequence of events, which can encompass the unconscious and imagination.

The author also notes that a friend reported seeing large spiders dropping from the ceiling, which he made explode into golden light. This friend also reported visions of his astral body and seeing into his hand below the skin layers.

The author stresses that while Stramonium is useful for those on the 'Path of Knowledge', it carries significant dangers, especially in modern society. He advises anyone wishing to try it to remove themselves to a remote location, far from cities and authority, and to have a trusted friend present who can handle mental and physical difficulties.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of The Ley Hunter revolve around the exploration of ancient landscapes, historical sites, and esoteric knowledge. Ley hunting, as pioneered by Alfred Watkins, is central, with articles delving into its origins, methods, and contemporary practice. The magazine also touches upon broader themes of mysticism, folklore, and the potential for hidden knowledge within the landscape, as seen in the discussions of Alderley Edge and the Carnac stones.

There is a clear editorial stance that supports amateur research and challenges the skepticism of orthodox archaeology, as articulated in the quotes from Donald Maxwell and the editor's own commentary. The inclusion of UFO reports and the discussion of psychoactive herbs like Stramonium indicate an openness to phenomena that lie outside conventional scientific understanding.

The magazine appears to foster a community of like-minded individuals interested in exploring alternative perspectives on history, geography, and consciousness. The editor's personal tone and direct address to subscribers and contributors reinforce this sense of community. The overall stance is one of encouraging curiosity, independent investigation, and a deeper connection with the earth and its ancient mysteries.

This issue of FATE magazine, dated October 1984, features a prominent article titled "THE MYSTERY OF THE ALDERLEY EDGE LEYS." The magazine explores themes of ley lines, psychic phenomena, UFOs, folklore, and ancient sites, with a focus on research and personal conviction.

The Mystery of the Alderley Edge Leys

The main article, seemingly written by an anonymous author (though referencing a country saying from 1881), discusses the presence of leys in the Alderley and Macclesfield area of the UK. A saying from "Cheshire Notes and Queries" for 1881 is quoted:

"Broken Cross and Lung Moss
And Whirley dyne below,
Kettle's i' th! dyche and Trugs
i'th' hole
A stond a' in a row."

The writer notes that Trugs is a farmhouse in a valley between Alderley and Macclesfield, and that these four places form a line. The area is described as rich in barrows, stone circles, and has place names like 'Cold Arbor'. A tradition mentioned in Alan Garner's "Gomrath" speaks of an "old straight track" from Alderley Beacon to Shining Tor near Dove Dale, suggesting a ley.

The author posits a theory that leys, associated with 'earth currents' or 'dragon lines', can sometimes 'go sour'. Defects in these leys are suggested to manifest as psychic events, UFOs, and hauntings. This phenomenon is sometimes linked to underground streams, which are also theorized to be connected to poltergeist activity.

At Alderley Edge, three natural wells are mentioned: the Holy Well, the Wishing Well, and the Wizard's Well. However, an archaeologist named Roeder mapped nine wells, and the significance of the 'Nine Wells' in Celtic mythology is noted. The author speculates that this might have been a power centre for local leys that is now out of control.

Reader's Letter: David Toop

David Toop of London provides two small points regarding a previous appraisal of Marie Yates's Arnolfini Gallery exhibition poster. He clarifies that a photograph shows 10 stones, with the tenth being himself, not Marie. He also notes that the poster is more accurately described as a Hilson's Ho poster, recognizable to Dartmoor ley hunters as a large photograph of a long stone row south of the 'Stingers Hill/Green Hill' row.

Lines of Thought: Phil Grant

Phil Grant, writing from Wacky Wessex-Southbourne, Bournemouth, shares research conducted with a group of friends on local leys. He presents several startling findings:

• A) Alignment of Sites: Prehistoric and ancient sites, along with schools, hospitals, cemeteries, and public buildings (even post offices), often fall on leys, suggesting a pattern beyond coincidence.
• B) Local Landmarks: Local landmarks, follies, and water towers conform to leys. One water tower is noted to be sited directly on an old ley centre in Southbourne.
• C) Urban Gaps: Gaps in urban areas often connect roads and alignments, frequently being pedestrian-only.
• D) Place Names: Street and road names containing 'ley' or 'leigh' often follow ley alignments, indicating contemporary use of ley terminology.
• E) Dowsable Water Lines: Dowsable 'water' lines consistently conform to ley patterns, serving as a reliable method for pinpointing alignments.
• F) Psychic Links: There are puzzling connections between friends' houses and leys, suggesting apparent mental and intuitive links, raising the question of whether people living on leys are subconsciously aware of it.
• G) Inspirations and Ideas: Members of the group have experienced strange inspirations and dream ideas about ley details that later proved correct.

Grant asserts that their research is conducted objectively and honestly, aiming to move beyond skepticism. He notes that his own research has gone deeper than many colleagues in the Bournemouth Unexplained Phenomena Research Group.

He further states that in an area 35-45 miles around Bournemouth, he has plotted numerous leys, some passing through significant sites like Stonehenge and Old Sarum. He claims that 90% of 170 plotted UFO sightings appear either travelling along these alignments or over points on the leys. Additionally, all local black puma-like animal sightings since 1965 also appear on leys.

Grant is working on a book about the ley-ghost and UFO tie-up and requests help from ley hunters in his local area. He can be contacted at 24 New Park Road, Southbourne, Bournemouth, Hants.

Dowsing Methods and Theories

Grant describes the dowsing method used, involving metal angle rods, which he best describes using Guy Underwood's "The Pattern Of The Past" under "track lines." These are parallel triads about 6 to 9 feet apart, with weaker secondary triads radiating out up to 35 feet from the centre. These triads appear to cross over, creating a corkscrew effect or influence.

Grant shares his theories on the nature of leys, ghosts, and UFOs:

1. Perception of Leys: Leys are part of our perception of things, not necessarily material tracks, but possibly representing the Earth's capillary system to our material senses.
2. Subjective Perception: Ghosts, UFOs, and apparitions are also part of our subjective perception, possibly properties of higher dimensions that we perceive as movement, solidity, or animation.
3. Unreality of Existence: Our current existence is an unreality compared to a greater reality, and our attempts to localize the Universal with 'nuts and bolts' concepts are misguided.

He emphasizes that he cannot teach or convince others of the unexplained but offers to share his convictions and struggles for enlightenment, encouraging readers to come to terms with these phenomena in their own way.

PSI: Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain

A review of the book "PSI: Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain" by Sheila Ostrander & Lynn Schroeder is included. The reviewer praises the book as exciting and informative but advises readers not to let the authors' own opinions unduly influence their judgment. The authors' categorical statement that they regard parapsychological discoveries as non-spiritual is noted, leading to a book that reflects a materialistic viewpoint. The reviewer suggests that readers who reject the notion of having only five senses, and who believe in other organs of perception related to Spirit, might find the book's perspective limiting.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of the paranormal, unexplained phenomena, and ancient mysteries. There is a clear editorial stance that encourages open-minded investigation and personal conviction, rather than indoctrination. The articles and reader contributions suggest a belief in interconnectedness between seemingly disparate phenomena like leys, ghosts, UFOs, and psychic abilities, often linking them to the Earth's energies and potentially higher dimensions or realities.