Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 30
Date: July 1991
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, a quarterly newsletter from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, focuses on explorations of ancient sites and earth mysteries, particularly in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, and delves into the concept of ley lines and their connections.

Some Sites in Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

The lead article details a weekend trip taken by the author with Philip Heselton and his family, visiting several significant sites. The journey began in Hull and proceeded to St. Helen's Well near Market Weighton, described as a pleasant, peaceful setting with water emerging into a triangular stone basin. Following this, they visited Millington Wood for lunch, noting its beautiful woodland walks and wild flowers, and even spotting a hare.

The group then proceeded to the church of St. Michael and All Angels in Garton-on-the-Wolds, an ancient church notable for its nineteenth-century paintings of Biblical scenes, which had recently been restored.

A contrasting site was a huge obelisk dedicated to a local dignitary, likened to a Russian Vostok rocket. The windswept location made filming difficult, and the author muses on the subconscious siting of such obelisks, visible from great distances.

Next, they climbed the Willy Howe tumulus, characterized by a clump of trees and a large depression, possibly from treasure seekers. One of the trees was noted for its multiple trunks and a pool of water between them.

The day concluded with a visit to Rudston, home to the tallest monolith in England, standing by the village church. Cropmarks indicate it is at the center of neolithic cursuses. The author notes that the monolith has been capped with lead, a decision protested by Earth Mysteries enthusiasts concerned about its effect on the area's energies. The name 'Rudston' itself is thought to derive from 'rood stone', suggesting a cross was once fixed to it.

The following day involved traveling to Lincolnshire to meet Bob Dickinson, editor of Markstone, and his wife Jane. En route, they stopped at Julian's Bower maze near Alkborough, a site in danger of disappearing, which was being re-cut. The gentlemen undertaking the work, aged eighty-one and sixty-two, shared local information. A replica of the maze is found in the church porch, and some gravestones reportedly bear its design.

Further exploration in the Scunthorpe area included the Dragon Rock at Dragonby, described as serpentine with a groove and a depression, and also known as 'The Sunken Church' due to folklore about a church sinking into the ground, from which ghostly singing is heard. The Crosby Stone, located at a road junction, features round depressions on two sides.

The visit continued to Bob Dickinson's house, situated in a tranquil rural setting. The garden included a row of small stones pointing to the midsummer sunrise. They also visited a hillside with stones aligned near a spring, with Lincoln Cathedral visible in the distance.

A highlight was the Devil's Pulpit at Tealby, an area with Scots pines and rock outcrops, featuring a stream and waterfall. The natural setting evoked comparisons to the Chalice Well garden at Glastonbury, possessing a peaceful, benign power. The Devil's Pulpit itself is a rock outcrop resembling a pulpit, with a smaller rock nearby that can look like a human face with a dog.

Another site visited was Kingshill tumulus, associated with traditions of bad luck, which seemed to manifest during the visit with Philip falling ill and a sudden rainstorm interrupting an outdoor meal. The author interprets this as a reminder to respect the forces of nature.

The trip concluded with seeing a maze designed by Philip in Hull city centre, a square pattern made of buff brick on a red brick concourse, with a plaque describing it.

Alignments Through Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Scunthorpe

This article by Bob Dickinson examines three ley line alignments passing through the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Scunthorpe. The temple itself is housed in a former bungalow.

Alignment (A): This eight-mile alignment, possibly related to midwinter moonrise, starts at St. Michael's Church and passes through the 'Stock' Stone. Folklore suggests the stone was once buried by a farmer and later unearthed for a tree planting. The alignment continues through the Sikh Temple, a Mesolithic settlement on Risby Warren, medieval cross bases at Appleby, and the Norman church of St. Bartholemew, notable for its 'Green Men' carvings and a 'Seal of Solomon'. It also passes 'Youll' Close, possibly linked to 'Yule', and terminates at a crossing of tracks near Saxby All Saints.

Alignment (B): This alignment begins at the Crosby Primitive Methodist Chapel and passes through the Guru Nanak Temple, an Iron Age/Romano British settlement at Dragonby (associated with the Dragon Rock), and the 'Sunken Church'. The Dragon Rock is described as a ninety-foot serpent-like outcrop with pagan veneration history and folklore about a sunken church. The alignment continues through a Mesolithic settlement and the fourteenth-century church at Roxby, ending at a well north of Winterton.

Alignment (C): The shortest alignment, considered potentially 'suspect', starts at Elim Pentecostal Church, passes through the Guru Nanak Temple, a tumulus at Santon Hill, and ends at a wooded area known as 'The Follies'.

'Sound' Connections: The article notes that many sites on these alignments have 'sound' connections related to worship, including hymn singing, chanting, and organ music at churches and the Sikh Temple. The Crosby Stone's hollow is likened to a vibrational image of a seed sound, 'Om'.

Letters

From Norman Darwen, Sidcup: Discusses a 'straight line' in the Fylde, possibly a Roman road known as 'Dane's Pad', and wonders if it connects to the line observed by Philip Heselton and the author near Hardhorn. He references James C. Plummer's work on the road.

From Gillian Bull, Isle of Man: Inquires about previous structures at the Woking Mosque site and highlights the significance of trees near churches as potential markers for old trackways, referencing Alfred Watkins.

From Chris Hall, Fleet, Hampshire: Identifies a circular road pattern near Farnborough as 'Church Circle' and notes a tumulus in Albert Road. He also discusses the Crookham Village road junction and the canal.

From Gillian Bull, Isle of Man (continued): Discusses ley energy meeting points on the Isle of Man, including tumuli and hills, and mentions her work on a large-scale ley plot. She also provides a glossary of Manx place names and their meanings, relating to stones, chapels, wells, and cairns.

Notes and News

Another mosque ley!: A visit to Clandon House revealed a ley line passing through the house and connecting to a Scots pine clump and Woking Mosque.

Skyways and Landmarks!: A ley line being studied crosses the 'E-line' and C.E. Street's Earthstars axis line, passing through Westminster Cathedral and the Central Synagogue.

Subterranean mysteries: An account of a visit to Dorking Caves by the London Earth Mysteries Circle. The caves are artificial, with carved dates, the earliest being eighteenth century, though the tunnels are thought to be older. The upper levels were used for wine storage, and the bottom level has a round 'room' with a stone seat, possibly for religious rituals. The caves are currently closed due to water seepage.

London meetings: A list of upcoming meetings for the London Earth Mysteries Circle, covering topics such as popular survivals, science of the gods, King Arthur, earth consciousness, and the paranormal. It also mentions an evening class on Earth Mysteries.

Owner of Rollright selling up?: An article from The Independent reports that Pauline Flick, owner of the Rollright stone circle, is considering selling the site due to the pressure of damage and visitor numbers. She has implemented measures like unsignposting and an entrance fee to manage the site.

Old Sarum and Winchester: Eileen Grimshaw and the author attended a field trip to Old Sarum and Winchester. They dowsed leys at Old Sarum and found lines between wells. In Winchester, they visited the cathedral crypt and the castle's Round Table, confirming previously found leys. They also encountered crop circles at Cheesefoot Head, one of which was considered a hoax.

Publications Available from Jimmy Goddard

A list of publications by Jimmy Goddard is provided, including books on leys, flying saucers, communication with extraterrestrials, and local mysteries, along with videos of field trips. Touchstone newsletter is also listed, available quarterly for £2 for four issues.

Exchange List

This section lists various other publications and groups in the Earth Mysteries and Fortean fields, such as Fortean Times, Northern Earth Mysteries, Folklore Frontiers, and Magonia, encouraging exchange and networking.

Editor's Note

The editor apologizes for including two separate letters from the same person due to an error in typesetting. He mentions his booklet 'The Hidden Unity', which explores subconscious siting of buildings, the significance of sound, and religious tolerance, concluding that worship of all kinds is necessary and valid.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, ancient sites, folklore, and the interconnectedness of various belief systems (pagan, Christian, Sikh). The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into earth mysteries, encouraging exploration, documentation, and discussion of these phenomena. The editor's note suggests a philosophical perspective on the validity of different forms of worship and the underlying unity in the landscape and human experience.