Touchstone - No 042 - 1995 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 42
Date: April 1995
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone delves into the practice of ley hunting, presenting detailed investigations and discussions on the subject. It highlights the use of modern technology alongside traditional fieldwork to uncover ancient alignments.

Ley Hunting in York...without leaving Surrey!

The lead article explores the utility of the Discover York CD-ROM for ley hunting. The author describes the program as akin to having an aircraft to fly over the city, with the added advantages of switching between aerial photographs and maps at the same scale, and accessing historical maps from Roman and medieval times. A key feature for ley hunters is the 'user layer' which allows for drawing straight lines that remain fixed across different views and scales, enabling the identification and verification of leys. The author has identified five interesting leys within York using this program. One ley, originally found by Brian Larkman, passes through significant sites like Clifford's Tower, the Minster, and several churches, and is confirmed by the CD-ROM's historical data. Other leys are detailed, tracing paths through various churches, Roman sites, and medieval structures, with some crossing and potentially forming ley centres.

Ley Hunting in Lancaster...conventional style!

This section details a ley discovered while the author was staying at Lancaster University. The ley connects a spherical stone on a plinth on the campus shopping parade to the university buildings, Lancaster Castle, and an ancient Priory Church. The alignment is traced across the landscape, crossing the M6 motorway twice and passing by a Forton service area before reaching the Castle and Priory, which offer a significant viewpoint.

Preface to a Detective in Surrey by Donald Maxwell (Landscape Clues to Invisible Roads), Published 1932

This section includes a preface by Donald Maxwell, discussing the appeal of outdoor research and riddles compared to indoor studies. He draws parallels between scientific discoveries like Newton's Law of Gravitation and the invention of the steam engine, which originated from practical observation and impatience rather than purely academic settings. Maxwell highlights the discovery of 'invisible roads' or leys as a significant archaeological finding concerning prehistoric England that has received little attention.

He discusses the popularity of cross-word puzzles as an analogy for the mental engagement required in solving real-world mysteries. Maxwell emphasizes that great discoveries are not always laboratory-bound and that practical observation can lead to profound insights.

The Clue of the Moated Mansion, from the same book

This excerpt recounts the excitement of discovering a ley within ten minutes of becoming 'Watkinsians' (followers of Alfred Watkins' ley theories). The ley was traced from Castle Hill to the centre of Anstiebury Camp. The author notes that while Anstiebury Camp is not the highest point, it appears to be a significant meeting place. The ley is described as passing through a modern house called Bury's Court, situated on an ancient site, with the word 'bury' suggesting an earthwork or sighting mound. The ley then proceeds through the cross-roads at Leigh, where the church stands, and continues towards the Horsham-Dorking Road. Four points of 'suspicion' are identified within five miles, including two churches. The author expresses a strong inclination to believe that the moated mansion of the Copleys' stands on a cross-line, and notes that the Roman Stane Street crosses their identified ley near Holmwood Church. The article suggests that churches and cross-roads are frequently found at the intersection of these ancient tracks.

Maxwell discusses the potential Neolithic origins of these alignments, citing the discovery of flint flakes at mounds at cross-roads as evidence of ancient markets. He posits that this method of sighting and the adoption of straight tracks likely continued for centuries, even into Roman times, as evidenced by their straight roads. He suggests there is evidence that Romans also laid out minor straight tracks parallel to or at right angles to major Roman roads.

A narrative follows where the author is informed that Holmwood Church, identified on the ley, is modern and not of ancient construction, leading to a temporary setback in the investigation.

Notes and News

UFOs and Earth Mysteries: This section introduces 'Enigma', a magazine from the Bedford Earth and Aerial Mystery Society (BEAMS), which covers UFOs and Earth Mysteries. It mentions a ley connecting two Tesco stores, a henge, and religious sites, as well as an experiment with ground probes detecting tones. Recent corn circle pictures are also noted.

Travel and Earth Mysteries Society (TEMS): Information is provided about the activities of TEMS, including 20 events in 1994 and an upcoming program. TEMS is described as a non-profit, non-political, and non-sectarian social and study group.

Book Review: Merlin through the Ages

A review of 'Merlin through the Ages - A Chronological Anthology and Source Book,' edited by R. J. Stewart and John Matthews. The book explores the archetypal figure of Merlin across literature from ancient times to modern science fiction, noting his role in creating a just order and his often uncertain end.

Forthcoming Events

• This section lists upcoming events organized by various groups, including:
• History of the Knights Templar by Peter Williams.
• Field Trip to Hertfordshire including Lunardi Stones and other sites.
• London Earth Mysteries Circle meetings with various speakers on topics like UFOs, crop circles, druidry, ancient yew trees, sacred geometry, and magic.
• Outings and field trips including Kingston Green Fair, a trip to Breamore Turt Maze, and a ghost tour of Guildford.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

• This section reviews two booklets:
• The Hidden Unity: Discusses subconscious siting of ley points, the predominance of places of worship on leys, and the philosophical implications. It investigates two ley centres: the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking and the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple in Scunthorpe. It includes an appendix on the significance of Pagan religion.
• Beginnings: Covers potentially useful discoveries made over twenty years, including earth energy detection, natural antigravity, subconscious siting, ley width, and the solar transition effect. It also includes a chapter on cognitive dissonance and an account of ley discovery by Alfred Watkins.

Earth People, Space People

This section reviews a booklet based on Tony Wedd's unpublished manuscript 'Earth Men, Space Men,' detailing extraterrestrial contact claims. It also includes articles on the STAR Fellowship, evidence for life in the Solar System, and extraterrestrial language.

Exchange List

A list of publications and organizations that exchange material with Touchstone, including Fortean Times, Northern Earth Mysteries, Folklore Frontiers, The Ley Hunter, Magonia, 3rd Stone, Meyn Mamvro, London Earth Mysteries, Markstone, Centre for Fortean Zoology, and Travel and Earth Mysteries Society.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley hunting, ancient alignments, archaeology, and earth mysteries. The magazine appears to promote research into these subjects, encouraging both the use of modern technology like CD-ROMs and traditional fieldwork. There is a clear interest in connecting historical sites and understanding landscape patterns. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry into phenomena that challenge conventional explanations, as evidenced by the inclusion of UFOs and extraterrestrial contact claims alongside more traditional earth mystery topics. The publication actively encourages reader participation through articles and meetings.