Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 64
Date: January 2004
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

This issue of Touchstone delves into various aspects of earth mysteries, local history, and unexplained phenomena, with a strong focus on the Egham area and the concept of ley lines.

Confirmed Roman Road in Egham

The lead article, "Confirmations of the Roman Road," details recent findings that corroborate the course of a Roman branch road originating from Egham. The piece of road near the Edgell Stone, visible on aerial photographs, is confirmed to point directly at Egham Church. The alignment continues along Stroude Road to the Wickham Lane junction. An 1802 map, reproduced from the book "Echoes of Egham," shows a footpath in a southerly direction from the church, which aligns with Wickham Lane, the stone, and the road visible from the air. A bank leading away to the south from Egham Church today still marks this path. A seventeenth-century drawing of Egham from 1669 also suggests higher land to the south and marshy ground to the left, consistent with the road's presumed course.

Further analysis by Frederick Turner in his book on Egham theorizes that the branch road may have led to "entrenchments near Penton Hook." The article discusses a footpath south of Great Fosters that turns roughly eastwards, passing close to Thorpe Church. This stretch, known as "Monks' Walk," is believed to be part of the Roman road's route. The vicar of Thorpe Church suggests that a building on the church site might have been a Mithraeum. The path from Stroude Road features a distinct bank, potentially indicating the course of a spur running towards the Thorpe Church site.

Jill Williams' map of Thorpe from 1650-1810 shows this trackway making an unbroken path from Stroude Road towards Thorpe Church. Her 1810 map of the village center indicates the path continuing southwards from the church, making another right-angled turn to follow a field called "The Road." Historical records suggest a causeway linked Thorpe and Chertsey between 1215-1350, possibly indicating the Roman branch road's destination was the site of Chertsey Abbey.

Roman Roads and Leys

Several sections explore the connection between Roman roads and "leys," which are described as alignments of significant geographical and historical points. The article "Most of the sections of the main and branch roads seem to be coincident with leys" notes that the Egham Causeway itself runs along an interesting ley. This ley passes through various sites, including the Air Force memorial, Runnymede Bridge, and several churches. Another ley is identified passing through a Catholic church in Englefield Green, Thorpe Church, Chertsey Church, and other religious sites.

The moat behind Great Fosters is highlighted as a ley centre, with one ley connecting to Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Monument. Another ley from Great Fosters originates from Windsor Castle and passes through the Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede. A third ley comes northwards from the Six Crossroads at Horsell, also connecting to the Great Fosters moat and the Edgell Stone.

UFO Sightings and Personal Experiences

Paul Screeton contributes "Sky West and Crooked," reflecting on a recent UFO sighting. He describes a "blink and you miss it" aerial manifestation that had a profound psychological impact. Screeton discusses the film "Sky West and Crooked" and touches upon the philosophical implications of extraterrestrial life. He references John Michell's observation that UFO sightings can be habit-forming and often followed by good luck. Screeton recounts his own "repeater" sighting on September 24, 2003, near Westbury, Wiltshire, where he observed a gleaming circular "daylight disc."

Another personal account details a sighting of a silver disc near Tiverton Parkway. The author also reflects on the possibility of UFOs originating from different dimensions or even a "Martian heritage class."

The White Horse Triangle

Doug Chaundy's article, "The White Horse Triangle," discusses the alignment of three white horses in Wiltshire: Oldbury Castle, Milk Hill, and Pewsey Hill. These are spaced five and a half miles apart, forming a symmetrical triangle. An additional white horse is noted near Preshute Down. Chaundy suggests that the construction of these figures implies a "high standard of technology," possibly built by or for "Space People."

The Salisbury Star Map

In "The Salisbury Star Map," Doug Chaundy explores his findings after studying an Ordnance Survey map of the Salisbury Plain area. He discovered that long barrows on the map coincided with constellations near the north pole of the heavens, such as Ursa Minor, Ursa Major, Draco, Triangulum, and Andromeda. In cases where long barrows did not fit the pattern, towns had been built in their place, suggesting a connection to the "Temple of the Stars" (Somerset Zodiac) and Stonehenge.

Ridgeway Trip and Earth Mysteries

A report on a "Ridgeway trip" on Saturday, June 13, 1981, details a visit to Waylands Smithy, a long barrow, and Uffington Castle. The author notes the "curious wording" of a Department of the Environment notice regarding the monument, implying a sense of life within the place. The trip also included a visit to Charney Bassett Church, noted for its unusual shape and a "half-tower."

Book Reviews and Publications

The issue includes a review of "Seekers of the Linear Vision" by Paul Screeton, a comprehensive history of ley hunting. It also highlights other publications available from the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, such as "The Hidden Unity and Beginnings," "Earth People, Space People," and "The Legacy of Tony Wedd" (a CD-ROM).

Notes and News

This section provides information on upcoming events, including TEMS meetings on Roman Roads and Dowsing, and London Earth Mysteries Circle meetings covering topics like Grimoire Magic, Dragons, Leylines, and Rennes-le-Chateau. It also announces "The Earth Spirit' Moot," a 25th-anniversary event celebrating "Northern Earth."

Britain's X-Files

This segment discusses a TV documentary on British UFO sightings, which, while covering incidents like the Rendlesham incident, also focused on the association with 1960s LSD culture and mystical experiences. It mentions an "enjoyable aerial swoop over Glastonbury Tor."

Other Mentions

The Aetherius Society is mentioned in relation to a television programme featuring Bernard Byron and the song "Ms Anya Ray," which is suggested to be about spaceship construction. The magazine also features a brief mention of Paul Baines, involved in UFO detection equipment and a member of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of ancient sites and their alignments (ley lines), the exploration of unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), and the connection between landscape, history, and mystery. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting evidence, personal accounts, and theoretical discussions without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to explore these phenomena themselves. The emphasis on local history, particularly concerning Egham and its Roman past, is a significant element, interwoven with broader themes of earth energies and ancient mysteries.