Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 63
Date: October 2003
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Country: United Kingdom
Language: English

This issue of Touchstone, titled 'Disputed Maturity', explores various facets of Earth Mysteries and UFO research, presenting differing perspectives on the evolution and perceived maturity of these fields. It features articles on archaeological findings, historical sites, and personal accounts of investigations.

Disputed Maturity: Earth Mysteries and UFOs

The lead article discusses the 30th anniversary of Fortean Times and its coverage of subjects like Earth Mysteries and UFOs. It highlights differing views on the work of Tony Wedd, who proposed a terrestrial energy network and extraterrestrial visitors as interconnected concepts. Paul Devereux, a former editor of The Ley Hunter, is noted for his rejection of traditional ley theories, describing earth mysteries as a 'messy subject' and reinterpreting leys as 'geomagnetic routes for flying saucers' or 'unspecified energies'. The article contrasts this with earlier, more inspired articles from The Ley Hunter (beginning in 1969) featuring Tony Wedd and Circumlibra, suggesting these earlier ideas are now available online. Jenny Randles is also mentioned for her perspective on the 'Extra-terrestrial Hypothesis', implying a shift away from a singular focus on alien visitation.

The article critiques the 'British UFO community' for not considering ideas like habitability of near planets or George Adamski's theories. It notes the promotion of terrestrial energy field theories affecting brain waves and Paul Devereux's earth light theories as potentially advancing UFOlogy. Further resources are suggested, including 'Our Space Visitors Today' by Dan Ross and 'All the Planets are Inhabited', along with information on Solexmal.

The Great Fosters Roman Spur and Its Associated Leys

This section details the discovery and tracing of a Roman road spur near Great Fosters Hotel in Egham. A stone marker, the 'Edgell Stone', placed in 1850 by Wyatt Edgell, indicates the presumed course of a Roman road. The article discusses its likely route, referencing Turner's 'History of Egham' and John Margary's 'Roman Roads in Britain'. Aerial photographs are mentioned as showing the spur running southwards from the stone. The presence of a Roman denarius of Tiberius and a fibula found nearby are noted. The spur's alignment with Stroude Road and its potential connection to a branch road leading to entrenchments near Penton Hook are explored. The article also examines potential Roman remains near Thorpe Church, including a cinerary urn and building foundations, and discusses the Laleham Enclosure, noting its rounded corners which might suggest Roman origin, though it is considered 'improbably Roman' and possibly a medieval stock enclosure.

Several leys are described in relation to Great Fosters, including one linking the church, the moat, and various points towards Buckingham Palace, suggesting the moat might have been a ley centre or site of a monument. Another ley is traced from Sunningdale Church to Buckingham Palace, passing through Great Fosters moat.

Figures in the Chalk

This segment reviews a Channel 4 programme on 'Landscape Mysteries - Figures in the Chalk'. It discusses the dating of two hill figures: the Uffington White Horse, dated to around 800 BC (end of the Bronze Age), and the Long Man of Wilmington, dated by excavation to 1545 AD. The article mentions Alfred Watkins' theories about the Long Man being a surveyor. Regarding the Cerne Giant, it notes the lack of early records and suggests it might have been carved as a parody of statues of Oliver Cromwell. The article points out that these figures are often situated on leys featured in Paul Devereux's books, and the Cerne Giant is on the 'E-line' ley. The 'White Horse Triangle' formed by Wiltshire white horses, except Uffington, is also mentioned.

Two Layers of Chalk?

This short piece questions whether recent chalk figures might be carved on the sites of older, original figures, referencing T.C. Lethbridge's findings of obscured indentations. It speculates that the trench shown below the Long Man in the programme might indicate an earlier figure.

The Mother Ludlam's Hole Field Trip - July 1987

This article recounts a field trip by the London Earth Mysteries Circle to Mother Ludlam's Hole. The main ley of interest linked Sandy Cross cross-roads, Mother Ludlam's Hole, Maverley Abbey, and Frensham church. The trip involved visiting Mother Ludlam's Hole cave, Father Fook's Cave, and exploring the area around Millbridge cross-roads and Frensham church. The article mentions a stone found near Millbridge, which was identified as a replacement for an older stone marking a ley crossing. The trip also included visits to Frensham church and a large metal cauldron.

The Evening Part of the Mother Ludlam's Field Trip

This continuation of the field trip report describes a visit to Waverley Abbey ruins, followed by a climb up Stony Jump, one of the Devil's Jumps, for panoramic views. The author reflects on the folklore significance of the site and the ascent.

Letters

Norman Darwen from Bolton contributes a letter praising the ley-hunting material in Touchstone. He recounts a holiday in Anglesey, mentioning visits to the Gawres neolithic chambered cairn and Castell Bryn Gwyn, and describes discovering large standing stones in a field. He also notes Llys Rhosyr, a royal court site, and its alignment with a country lane.

Notes and News

This section provides announcements for upcoming meetings of TEMS (Montauk and Time Travel, Christmas Party) and the London Earth Mysteries Circle (covering topics like Doctor Dee, Paganism, and an Open Forum).

Surrey Earth Mysteries Group Meetings

Information is provided about the monthly meetings of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, held on the second Thursday of each month in Addlestone.

UFO on editor's photographs

The editor recounts noticing a strange object in three digital photographs taken from the tower at Fort Belvedere, Sunningdale, while photographing the panorama. The object was not visible at the time through the viewfinder but became apparent upon digital enlargement.

Some unusual "temples" on leys

This piece describes the Leptis Magna temple at Virginia Water, brought from Libya, and its location on a Roman road and a ley that passes through various places of worship. It also mentions the Temple to Shakespeare at Hampton, built by David Garrick, which is on the Buckingham Palace Ley.

MY NINETEEN WEB SITES

This section lists the web sites of the publisher, including the Buckingham Palace Ley site, the Tony Wedd site, and the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group site, providing a URL for access.

MEYN MAMVRO

This is an advertisement for 'Meyn Mamvro', a publication offering information on ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall, including details on earth energies, paganism, and megalithic mysteries. Subscription details and prices are provided.

THE HIDDEN UNITY and BEGINNINGS

This section reviews two booklets: 'The Hidden Unity', which explores subconscious ley point siting and the significance of worship places on leys, and 'Beginnings', detailing Jimmy Goddard's discoveries in earth energy detection, antigravity, and cognitive dissonance. Both are available from the Touchstone address.

EARTH PEOPLE, SPACE PEOPLE

This reviews a booklet based on Tony Wedd's unpublished manuscript 'Earth Men, Space Men', which details extraterrestrial contact claims, the STAR Fellowship, and extraterrestrial language. It is available from the Touchstone address.

THE LEGACY OF TONY WEDD

This describes a CD-ROM featuring Tony Wedd's travelling exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology, available from the Touchstone address.

TOUCHSTONE Subscription

Information on subscribing to Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, is provided, including the cost and address for payment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are Earth Mysteries, ley hunting, and UFO research, with a particular focus on the historical development and differing interpretations within these fields. The editorial stance appears to favour detailed research and the presentation of diverse viewpoints, even when they are in dispute, as suggested by the cover headline 'Disputed Maturity'. The publication actively promotes its own newsletter, 'Touchstone', and related publications and web sites, encouraging reader engagement and further investigation into these subjects.