Touchstone - No 012 - 1987 01

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 12
Date: January 1986
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a publication focused on earth mysteries, delves into a variety of topics including a recent gathering, local folklore, and upcoming events.

A Moot in Burton

The magazine reports on a moot held in Burton-on-Trent, a meeting point for the Northern Earth Mysteries Group and the Welsh group Earthlines. The event featured a guided tour of Staffordshire's ancient sites and sacred landscapes by Chris Fletcher, accompanied by slides. Leslie Grinsell spoke about the Christianisation of ancient sites in Britain. The Lichfield Women's Morris provided entertainment, and Michael Wysocki offered insights into chambered tombs. Paul Devereux discussed his recent tour of the USA. The moot concluded with an audio-visual presentation by Chris Ashton on living earth culture in Indonesia. The author expresses regret at being unable to join a planned visit to local sites the following day, which was reportedly very interesting. Plans are also underway for a spring visit to Mother Ludlam's Hole and surrounding sites, in conjunction with the London Earth Mysteries Circle.

The Cauldron and the Cave: The Legends of Mother Ludlam and the Frensham Cauldron

Authored by Chris Hall, this extensive article explores the folklore surrounding Mother Ludlam's Hole and the Frensham Cauldron. The narrative begins with the problem faced by the monks of Waverley Abbey in 1216 when their spring dried up, leading to the discovery of a new spring named St. Mary's Well by a monk named Symon. This event is linked to the creation of a cave, possibly Ludwell, which later became associated with a witch named Mother Ludlam.

The article traces the legend through various historical accounts. John Aubrey, visiting Frensham in 1673, recorded a version where Ludwell was named after King Lud, and the monks used it as a source of inspiration. Aubrey also mentions a belief that a great cauldron was brought to Frensham by fairies from Borough Hill. Later accounts, including those by Grose and Salmon, link the cauldron to Mother Ludlam and her cave, suggesting it was used for lending utensils to fairies.

The legend has evolved over time, incorporating elements associated with standing stones and stone circles. The name 'borough' can refer to a hill or earthwork, and folklore accounts describe fairies living in mounds. The article speculates on the possible connection to the three tumuli on Frensham Common.

A more recent version from The Farnham Herald in 1985, recounted by Reg Baker, describes the cauldron being borrowed from fairies at Stony Jump and its subsequent condemnation to follow the borrower. The story culminates with the borrower seeking sanctuary in a church, leaving the cauldron trapped.

The article also discusses Stony Jump, the highest of the Devil's Jumps, as a potential natural outcrop that may have been a sacred site for early humans. It suggests that the legends might contain folk memories of ancient rituals.

Two versions provided by Matthew Alexander are presented: one from 1869 where the cauldron was stolen by the Devil and dropped on Kettlebury Hill, and another from an elderly lady who lived until 1937, describing Mother Ludlam as a witch who refused to lend her cauldron to the Devil, leading to the formation of the Devil's Jumps during their chase.

The Frensham Cauldron itself is described as being made of hammered copper, three feet in diameter and 19 inches deep, resting on a tripod in the church. Its historical use is suggested to have been for containing ale at medieval festivities. The article concludes by noting the rich folklore associated with the cauldron and its connection to the Frensham landscape.

Books and Publications

Several publications are listed for sale from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, including "Skyways and Landmarks Revisited" by Philip Heselton, Paul Baines and Jimmy Goddard; "Earth Mysteries - An Exploratory Introduction" by Brian Larkman and Philip Heselton; and "Campus Lines - Leys and Modern Universities" by Jimmy Goddard.

Tony Wedd: New Age Pioneer

A biography of Tony Wedd (1919-1980) is featured, highlighting his work in linking UFO sightings with ancient landmarks. He is described as an artist, designer, RAF pilot, teacher, psychic, and writer who founded the STAR Fellowship. His pioneering work on leys, earth energies, Stonehenge, and the Glastonbury Zodiac is mentioned, as is his later life as a youth hostel warden in Australia. The book detailing his life is available from Northern Earth Mysteries.

London Earth Mysteries Circle Programme

The programme for the London Earth Mysteries Circle for the first quarter of 1987 is detailed. It includes evening meetings with talks on topics such as "Skyways and Landmarks Revisited" (connecting leys, UFOs, and trees), dowsing for treasure, runes, prehistoric sites in Kent, and aromatherapy. The programme also lists field trips to the Rollright Stones for instrument familiarisation and a mini-bus trip to Avebury and local sites, as well as an outing to the Coldrum Chamber Tomb.

Exchange List

An exchange list includes "Quicksilver Messenger" from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on earth mysteries, folklore, and unexplained phenomena, with a particular interest in ancient sites, ley lines, and UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of exploration and documentation of these subjects, presenting various accounts and legends for the reader's consideration. There is a clear effort to connect historical folklore with contemporary earth mysteries research.