Touchstone - No 026 - 1990 07

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 26
Date: July 1990
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, features a collection of articles detailing field trips, research into earth mysteries, folklore, and anomalous phenomena. The magazine aims to explore ancient sites, ley lines, and unexplained events, fostering a community of interest in these subjects.

Earth Mysteries and Ecology Field Trip, 28th April 1990

The lead article details a field trip organized by Chris Hall, which began at the Fleet service station on the M3. Members of the London Earth Mysteries Circle and the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group met there. The first stop was Butter Wood, on the boundary between Odiham and Nately Scures parishes. Chris Hall, who was born and raised in the area, spoke about the links between earth mysteries ideas and landscape conservation, emphasizing the importance of ancient woodlands. Butter Wood is described as ancient common land dating back to Saxon times and was mentioned in a 1562 perambulation. Hall showed photographs of the land before and after damage from overuse. Points of interest in the wood included a Saxon boundary stone and a huge hollow oak.

The group then traveled to another ancient wood, noted for its diverse species of trees, shrubs, and flowers. This wood had been earmarked for housing development but was saved when it was identified as a remnant of prehistoric woodland. Chris Hall identified yellow archangels, bluebells, and woodland anemones among the flora. A rare wild service tree, characteristic of ancient woodlands, was also noted.

From Butter Wood, the trip continued to Odiham Firs, an ancient beacon site. While its historical use as a beacon site is debated, it features a hilltop ring of Scots pines and deciduous trees. Hall mentioned a theory that pines were planted on beacon sites for quick-growing fuel. He also shared his personal experience of finding numerous ley lines converging at this location when he was new to ley hunting.

After lunch, the group visited Stratfield Saye House and walked to a flower-rich meadow. The next stop was Long Sutton church, a thirteenth-century building with two ancient yew trees in its churchyard. Nearby, ancient stones were found in a road bank, identified by historians as Saxon boundary stones.

The journey continued to the hamlet of Well, at the junction of the Harroway and the Maulthway, noted for Gistard's Well from a Saxon charter. The group then proceeded to Isenhurst, a Saxon wood on the boundary of the Cronall boundary, now Gravelly Wood. On the slopes of the ridgeway, four barrows were observed, though ploughed out. The name 'Gravelly Wood' might refer to a low wooded ridge where iron was smelted or to kingfishers. A point offering a view of Horsecown Common was considered significant, and a group of Long Purple orchids was also seen.

The trip concluded with a visit to Swanthorpe Lane, a medieval sunken lane, and Sheephouse Copse, another bluebell-carpeted wood. Two tumuli were found in the wood, one damaged. The group witnessed a sunset before returning home. The article acknowledges contributions from Chris Hall's verbal accounts and an information sheet provided to participants.

Hurt Wood Field Trip, 30th June 1990

This field trip, organized by the London Earth Mysteries Circle and the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, combined ley hunting and UFO interest. Members were joined by participants from the Association of Open University Graduates and Lionel Beer of the British UFO Research Association. The meeting point was Newlands Corner, near Guildford, where an object seen in 1967 by Squadron-Leader Shipwright was discussed, along with a strangely marked stone found at the site.

The group then visited Pitch Hill, south of Shere, a remote location where a courting couple reported seeing a brightly lit oval object and experiencing an unusual quiet on November 5th, 1988. The article also mentions a stranger sighting from 1967 in the same area, where an 'entity' frightened another couple, though no UFO was directly observed. The area is also associated with the mysterious Surrey Puma.

From Pitch Hill, the group proceeded to the Hurt Wood Track. The article notes that while the Hurtwood Track ley is not clearly marked, it features several significant indications like track multijunctions and prominent cross-roads, and aligns with Dorking parish church.

St. Anne's Hill

This section, by Chris Hall, revisits St. Anne's Hill near Chertsey, referencing John Aubrey's description from 300 years prior. Aubrey noted magnificent views over seven counties and described woodland on the lower slopes. The article mentions that the hill's older name, 'Eldebury', suggests an ancient 'old camp' or fortification, with earthworks on the hill possibly dating to the Iron Age. A Bronze Age spearhead found on the hill is now in Chertsey Museum. The hill overlooks the Thames flood plain and is part of a scatter of hills south of the Thames. The article contrasts the view from the north with the experience of approaching from the south, where the hill is less noticeable. It also references a 1908 publication, 'Highways and Byways of Surrey', which describes the hill as thickly planted with trees, limiting views. The article also mentions the dedication of a medieval chapel on the hill, though only a ruined wall remains.

Ritual Sites in Thames Valley

Rob Stephenson contributed an extract about a group of ritual sites in the Thames Valley, covering areas like Egham, Chertsey, Walton-on-Thames, and Heathrow Airport. These sites include earthworks, an avenue of pits, and a modern stone circle.

Pyrford Perambulations

This piece discusses the enigmatic Pyrford Stone, which was moved to a new site at Pyrford Place. A legend attached to the stone describes it moving around at midnight, suggesting its ancient origins.

A Sad Sight and a Modern Circle!

This short piece describes a visit to Gills Lap, a clump of Scots pines in Sussex, which has been severely damaged by recent hurricanes. The author notes that while many pines remain, their tops are broken, diminishing the landmark's prominence. Interestingly, a small modern stone circle was found nearby, seemingly commemorating A.A. Milne, the creator of Winnie the Pooh. An alignment is noted between this circle, Friends Clump, Gills Lap, and a clump near Withyam road.

The Fascination of Brittany

This section, based on a book by Daniele Hart, explores the persistence of ancient traditions in Brittany. Standing stones are still revered, and the church has attempted to Christianize them. Legends associated with these stones are described as more horrific than those in Britain, involving little black men who mesmerize people and stones that drink water. Tales of people being turned to stone are also mentioned.

Chalk Horse Could Be the Last of a Long Line

An article by David Kays discusses the White Horse figures, suggesting they might be the last in a long line of similar figures. It mentions the White Horse of Uffington and the White Horse of Westbury, noting that their origins are debated but that they are significant historical markers.

London Earth Mysteries Circle Meeting - Hypnotic Regression and Past Lives

This report details a project by Paul Bew on hypnotic regression and past lives. It highlights that spontaneous regressions are often more successful than rigorously scientific ones. The report discusses how subjects might embody the character, speak as them, or incorporate the hypnotist into the scene. It also touches on the difficulty of confirming details from distant past lives and suggests that information from dreams might be more reliable than hypnotic sessions.

Publications Available from Jimmy Goddard

A list of publications is provided, including "Skyways and Landmarks Revisited" by Tony Wedd, "Campus Lines" (a nine-year project on leys), "Cosmic Friends" (communication with extraterrestrials), "The Inhabited Solar System", and "Enigma of the Fhain" (Salisbury Plain mysteries). The newsletter "Touchstone" and "Amskaya" (Newsletter of the STAR Fellowship) are also listed.

Letters

Chris Hall from Fleet writes about the place name 'Wishmoor', explaining that it likely derives from Old English words related to marshland and boundary stones, rather than the granting of wishes. He discusses the historical spellings and the landscape of the Wishmoor area, noting its richness in folklore, including legends of Herne the Hunter and wish-hounds.

Notes and News

This section includes information about 'Earth Pulse', a newsletter on earth energies and mysteries. It also announces upcoming meetings for the London Earth Mysteries Circle and the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, featuring topics such as legendary London, witch doctor healing, E.M. research, and mystical experiences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Touchstone are Earth Mysteries, ecology, ley lines, UFO phenomena, ancient sites, folklore, and personal accounts of anomalous experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry and exploration into these subjects, encouraging members to share their research and experiences. The magazine serves as a platform for disseminating information about field trips, research findings, and community events related to earth mysteries and related fields.