Touchstone - No 048 - 1997 10

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 48
Date: October 1997
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, focuses on ley lines, ancient sites, and related earth mysteries. It features a lead article detailing a bicycle journey following a ley line from Addlestone to Windsor, exploring various points of interest along the way. Other articles discuss ancient stone circles, crop formations, and UFO sightings, reflecting the group's broad interest in the unexplained and historical sites.

From Addlestone to Windsor: Following a Ley by Bicycle

The main article details the author's personal investigation of a ley line, starting from a powerful access roadway at Marconi (formerly Plesseys) near Addlestone. Using a dowsing rod and bicycle, the author traces the line eastward. The ley is described as being about eight to ten paces wide. It passes through trees at the end of Garden Close, Addlestone, then heads towards St. George's Hill iron age fort in Weybridge and Cobham Church.

Continuing in the other direction, the ley crosses Woburn Hill, passes through a corner of the Runnymede Centre, and goes over Eastworth Road junction, where unusually shaped trees are noted. It then proceeds through Chertsey, passing a statue of the Madonna and child outside St. Anne's Roman Catholic School. The line is strongly picked up again at a junction in Grove Road, leading to speculation about a former grove.

Further along, the ley passes through Thorpe, near an ancient church and the grounds of The American School (TASIS). It also goes through Giles Travers Close, where the author experienced 'rodspin', indicating a ley centre. The line continues through a large wooden barn.

The author then describes encountering a mound near a motorway bridge, which appears to be a tumulus with a group of trees. This mound is noted as being on the ley line. The journey continues along a path by Great Foster's Hotel, passing a moat, and then crossing a road where the ley is again strongly detected. The route then leads into Egham, passing a house called "St. Agnes" with a dolmen-like structure and a large concentric stone structure in its garden.

The ley then leads to a college which is part of Brunel University, running along a triangular green and through woodland. Another 'rodspin' is noted at the end of a wooded triangular area. The line continues along a road bordering Windsor Great Park, passing a large track multijunction and a moat. The final point visited is a beautiful oak clump at Queen Anne's Gate, before the line proceeds through a church in Clewer New Town. The author concludes that this ley seemed to have ancient origins but many of its points were subconsciously sited.

Kingley Vale Field Trip

This section reports on a field trip to Kingley Vale, organized by Gill and Charles Refoy, guided by warden Brian Savage. Kingley Vale, located near Chichester, is noted for its ancient yew forest, with some trees estimated to be over 500 years old. Legend suggests the yew grove was planted to commemorate a battle against Vikings in AD859 and has been used as a meeting place for witches. The area also contains Stone Age flint mines.

The ridge at Kingley Vale features four Bronze Age tumuli, known as "The Devil's Humps". Two are described as "bell barrows" and two as "bowl barrows", considered fine examples. The view from the tumuli includes Chichester Cathedral. The reserve also includes the Tansley Stone, a memorial from which several leys are said to radiate, connecting to tumuli on the ridge, Stoughton, Hayes Down, Arundel, and Patching.

Several leys are described radiating from the Tansley Stone and the ridge tumuli, connecting to various churches, earthworks, and locations including Hayling Island, Devil's Copse, Ileyshott church, Balls Cross, Petersfield, South Harting, Uppark House, West Broyle House, and Chichester Cathedral. A west-running ley from a ridge tumulus leads to St. Roche's Hill and an earthwork north of Burpham. The group also visited Bosham, a harbour associated with King Canute, and noted a ley connecting a ridge tumulus to Bosham Church.

The View from the Tower

This piece describes a visit to the top of Guildford Cathedral's tower, offering a panoramic view of Guildford and the surrounding area. A ley centre is noted on Stag Hill, near the Cathedral, and in the grounds of the University. A ley is also described as passing through the Cathedral and linking it to St. Martha's-on-the-Hill and The Chantries. The ley's path is detailed, including points like the Pilgrim's Way, Holy Trinity Church, Normandy, Farnborough, andleckfield.

National Sky Watch: 21st June 1997

This report details a sky watch event on Pewley Downs, near Guildford, organized by TEMS and SEMG. Members observed a double rainbow, aircraft resembling flying triangles, bright flashes in clouds, and a significant firework display. Despite deteriorating weather, some members returned early in the morning to observe the sunrise.

Notes and News

This section discusses a perceived schism within the earth mysteries movement, particularly concerning 'earth energy dowsing'. It highlights a disagreement between 'The Ley Hunter' (TLH) and other publications, with TLH editor Paul Devereux critiquing certain approaches. The section also includes a brief report from The Observer about Danny Sullivan, an architect and editor of The Ley Hunter Journal, who advocates for a more serious and rational approach to ley hunting, distancing himself from those he calls 'crazies'.

Non-Mysterious Crop Formations

This article, sourced from The Guardian, discusses the phenomenon of crop circles, comparing them to logical geometrical patterns and mazes. It highlights Isabelle de Beaufort's work in creating environmentally friendly labyrinths in growing crops as a form of tourism, drawing parallels to ancient pagan and religious practices. The article mentions the revival of interest in mazes and the cataloguing of existing European mazes.

New Light on Ancient Stones

Scientist Terence Meaden claims that the stone circle at Avebury was used for pagan fertility rituals, particularly celebrating the 'marriage of the gods'. He identifies a 'female stone' with markings representing a woman's anatomy, which he believes aligns with the 'phallus stone' (obelisk) at sunrise on May Day to symbolize this union. Meaden's research, spanning 18 years, also includes Stonehenge and megalithic sites. He credits 18th-century antiquarian William Stukeley for drawings that aided his discovery. Archeologist Michael Pitts offers a more cautious view, finding Meaden's theory imaginative but difficult to prove.

Stonehenge - The Secret of the Solstice

This section poses questions about the purpose and meaning of Stonehenge, its alignment with the midsummer sunrise, and the symbolism of its structures. It suggests the answers lie in the 'Divine Marriage' fertility myth, involving the union of a female divinity with a male god, represented by the sun and megaliths.

Salt Lines and Ley Lines

This article by Alan Butler discusses the work of Alfred Watkins and Xaviar Guichard in discovering ley lines and 'Salt lines' respectively. Butler suggests that both researchers were looking at similar phenomena, with Guichard focusing on 'Compas Rose' navigation systems and Watkins on ancient trackways. The article posits that Salt lines, which are proposed lines of longitude and latitude, are mathematically determined and marked by place names, burials, standing stones, castles, and churches. The author argues that 'proximity' to these lines is important, rather than exact placement of markers. The article also touches upon criticism of Salt lines and the difficulty in substantiating their existence compared to ley lines.

Book Reviews and Listings

The issue includes listings for books such as 'The Sun and the Serpent' and 'Walks in Mysterious Oxfordshire', as well as details of a book on Egyptian Magic. It also provides information on upcoming TEMS and SEMG meetings, including a Christmas party and presentations on topics like 'Earth Mysteries and Nature' and 'Mysterious Guildford'. A review of the magazine 'Meyn Mamvro: Ancient stones & sacred sites in Cornwall' is also featured.

Poetry and Web Addresses

A poem titled "Surrey Pines" by Frances Jessup is included. The issue also provides a list of useful web addresses for those interested in earth mysteries, ley hunting, and UFO contact.

Booklets: The Hidden Unity and Beginnings, Earth People, Space People

Information is provided on two booklets available from Touchstone: 'The Hidden Unity', which explores subconscious siting of ley points and the significance of worship places, and 'Beginnings', detailing Jimmy Goddard's discoveries in earth energy detection and other phenomena. 'Earth People, Space People' is also mentioned, a booklet based on Tony Wedd's manuscript about extraterrestrial contact claims.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of Touchstone are ley lines, ancient sites, earth mysteries, and unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting research and personal investigations while also acknowledging debates and differing viewpoints within the earth mysteries community, such as the discussion on the authenticity of Salt lines and the perceived schism in ley hunting circles. The magazine aims to inform and engage readers interested in the intersection of history, landscape, and the unexplained.