Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 53
Date: July 2000
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth mysteries, ley lines, ancient sites, archaeology, dowsing.

Field Trips to Northamptonshire and Sussex

This issue of Touchstone details two recent, thought-provoking field trips organized by the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group (TEMS). The trips were led by individuals known for their insights into the landscape.

Northamptonshire Trip (May)

Eileen Roche led a trip to Northampton and its surroundings, visiting a number of places with diverse origins that contributed to the 'Northampton genius loci'. An interesting pattern of leys was discovered.

• Holy Sepulchre Church: A medieval crusader church founded by Earl St. Liz, which dowsed strongly as a ley centre. Leys from this church connected to other visited sites.
• Hunsbury Hillfort: An Iron Age hillfort, also the site of an ironstone railway. The area was explored, noting its connection to ley lines.
• Boughton Tumulus: A peaceful tumulus in a field, with multiple leys detected passing through it.
• Brixworth Country Park: Explored for its maze, a 'musical sculpture', a bird observatory, and a 'human sundial'.
• Saxon Church at Brixworth: Originally a monastery built around 750 AD, with arches constructed by Saxons using Roman bricks.
• Rushton Triangular Lodge: Built by Thomas Tresham in Elizabethan times, this lodge is filled with religious symbols representing the Holy Trinity. A specific window was noted to align with Tresham's house and a building marked as 'The Hermitage', indicating a significant ley.
• Doddridge Chapel and Castle Site: Built by Earl St. Liz, the castle was demolished due to support for the Roundhead cause and later by the railway. The chapel was built from salvaged castle stone.
• Eleanor Cross at Hardingstone: Erected by Edward I to commemorate Queen Eleanor, this cross marks a stop on her funeral cortege route. A ley passes through this site, connecting to Hunsbury Hill and other churches.
• Delapre Abbey Site: While not the original building, the site had two leys passing through it. A powerful ley was detected passing through a pond.
• Thomas a Becket Well: Where the archbishop allegedly refreshed himself while fleeing King Henry II.

Sussex Trip (June)

This trip was described as a pilgrimage, focusing on the Long Man of Wilmington, identified by Alfred Watkins as a 'dodman' or ley surveyor. Bob Brown, an earth mysteries enthusiast, led the trip.

• Lewes: Explored the ancient town with its dominating Castle and tilting green. Notable houses and sites were pointed out, including Southover Grange (boyhood home of John Evelyn) and Castle Place.
• The Mount: A viewpoint offering insights into potential ancient sites and sarsen stones.
• Alfriston: Visited the church, known as the 'Cathedral of the Downs', noted for its unusual west-end door and tower position. The adjacent green, known as the Tye, suggested a former ancient site, possibly a stone circle.
• Alfriston Clergy House: The first property owned by the National Trust.
• Lullington Church: Described as one of the country's smallest churches, hidden in trees, it is believed to be the remains of a much larger church.
• Wilmington: Visited the viewpoint for the Long Man, whose origins are mysterious. The history and folklore of the Giant were discussed.
• Wilmington Priory: Noted the figure framed in one of its windows.
• Church at Wilmington: Had an embroidered kneeler depicting the Giant, serving as both parish church and chapel for the Priory.

Ley Lines and Animal Reactions in the Netherlands

By Rienk Noordhuis, this article discusses a book by Wigolt Vleer on over 200 ley points in the Netherlands. Noordhuis found leys of low energy (2-3 paces wide) and notes that near churches, it is interesting to concentrate on all size leys. He mentions Vleer's concept of 'churchlines' and his findings on 'terps' and 'hunebedden' being associated with ley centres. The article also touches upon energy spiraling, the influence of water veins, and the potential for negative energy to be caused by past human suffering.

Animal Behaviour and Ley Lines

The author notes observations of bats and swallows showing interest in ley lines. Bat roost sites were found on or close to leys, and some important roe deer formsites were on five-pace leys. Jackdaw sites also seemed related to leys. Tawny owls' favourite sites were not necessarily on leys, but long-eared owls were associated with them. The author is seeking contact with bat conservationists.

Other Articles and Features

• Letters: Norman Darwen from Blackpool writes about a visit to Bishop's Castle in Shropshire, mentioning the 'Arbor Tree' and its ley connection, and observations of 'double sunrises' related to hillforts.
• Notes and News:
• Healing Stone Circle in Pyrford: Reports on Jack Temple, an alternative therapist, claiming to have cured Terry Hall of breast cancer using methods involving dowsing and extraction tablets on meridian lines. The article includes a quote from Dr. John Toy of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund advising caution with unproven therapies.
• Light Boxes: Discusses the use of light boxes in Christian churches between 1650-1750 as solar observatories to calculate Easter dates and study the solar system, referencing J. L. Heilbron's book "The Sun in the Church."
• London Earth Mysteries Circle: Lists upcoming meetings and speakers for September to December.
• Travel and Earth Mysteries Society: Lists upcoming meetings for August and September.
• Book Reviews:
• Timpson's Leylines - a Layman Tracking the Leys by John Timpson: Praised for its humour and exploration of leys across the country, including a personal ley of the reviewer.
• Stonehenge and Avebury by Robin Heath and Evelyn Francis: These books are noted for their substantial look and feel, and for presenting unconventional contributions to understanding these monuments, including dowsing evidence and geometrical phenomena.
• Meyn Mamvro: Advertises ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall, offering a current edition and subscription details.
• Special Book Bargains for Year 2000: Lists discounted books on UFOs, covert agendas, and the life of Joanna Southcott.
• Print of Glastonbury Abbey: A print found on Glastonbury Market with an inscription mentioning William Blake Newton.
• Print of 'The Druid's Stones, near Keswick': Another print from Glastonbury Market, presumably Castlerigg.
• Publications from Touchstone: Details on booklets like 'The Hidden Unity and Beginnings', 'Earth People, Space People', and 'The Legacy of Tony Wedd', available from the Touchstone address.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, ancient sites, earth energies, and the investigation of landscape phenomena through dowsing and earth mysteries. The magazine appears to promote exploration and open-mindedness towards alternative theories and therapies, while also acknowledging the need for evidence and caution, as seen in the response to Jack Temple's claims. The editorial stance is one of detailed reporting on field trips, research findings, and relevant publications within the earth mysteries community.