Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 65
Date: April 2004
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth Mysteries, Ley Lines, Archaeology, UFOs

The Coopers Hill Centre

The lead article details the discovery of a significant ley centre on Coopers Hill, Egham. The author, after identifying a convergence of three leys on a map, visited the site near the Air Forces Memorial. One of these leys, originating from Windsor Castle, is described as one of two 'royal' leys meeting at the Great Fosters moat. The other royal ley goes to Buckingham Palace and the Victoria Monument. The Coopers Hill centre itself is located in a wooded area on National Trust land. Upon visiting the site, the author found unmarked cross-tracks, a semicircle of oaks, a small rivulet, and a cutting that appeared to be man-made. Visible in the bank of the cutting were small pieces of sarsen stone, which are not natural to the area. Dowsing at the site indicated it was indeed the centre, with head-hum felt. The author considers this discovery a vindication of the reality of leys.

Ley Lines Explored

The article further explores several other leys passing through the Coopers Hill centre:

• Egham Causeway ley: This ley passes through the Negen Stones site near Staines Bridge and has evidence of a Bronze Age/Neolithic site at Runnymede Bridge. It also aligns with the Egham Causeway, potentially Roman or medieval, and the Spelthorne moot site.
• A ley from Sunningdale: This ley crosses Virginia Water lake, passes through the Air Forces Memorial and Coopers Hill centre, then crosses Runnymede Meadow and the river to Ankerwyke Priory.
• A ley from Chobham Common: This ley passes through St. Cuthbert's Catholic church, Englefield Green, to the Coopers Hill centre, then to St. Andrew's Church, Wraysbury, a twelfth-century church within a circular bank.
• A ley from Frogmore: This ley passes through Frogmore, missing the Royal Mausoleum, then through the Home Park, the John F. Kennedy Memorial at Runnymede, Coopers Hill, St. Anne's Hill, and a hillfort at Chertsey.

Merton Priory and Stane Street

This section discusses a ley passing through several important sites in the Kingston area, identified by Lionel Beer. It includes the ancient church at Littleton, the Diana Fountain at Bushy Park, Kingston Parish Church, the Chantry Chapel, Norbiton Church, and Merton Priory. Merton Priory, an Augustinian house founded in 1117, was largely dismantled in the time of Henry VIII. The Roman road Stane Street is clearly visible passing through the site. The alignments of Stane Street are described as having three slightly different sections, all aligning on a spot adjacent to the Chapter House. The leys associated with Stane Street are noted to be mainly of churches, with some also including mosques. St. Mary's Church at Merton has associations with Lord Nelson, with a memorial in the churchyard. The ley width here was dowsed as 16 paces.

Several modern churches are mentioned as being on ley alignments, including the Baitul Futuh mosque and St. Lawrence's Church in Morden. St. Anselm's Catholic Church at Tooting Bec and St. Mary's, Balham, are also highlighted for their architectural significance and historical connections.

UFO Incident at Broadlands

A significant account details a UFO contact claim at Broadlands in the 1950s, investigated by Desmond Leslie and published in Flying Saucer Review. Sgt. Briggs, an ex-Army NCO, reported seeing a large disc-shaped object descend into a dell. A man in 'blue overalls' emerged, then retreated into the craft. A green light affected Briggs. Lord Mountbatten was reportedly interested in these events and had Briggs interviewed. A perfect circle melted in the snow was observed where the UFO had been. Briggs later confided another incident where he met the extraterrestrial again and was invited aboard the craft. He was taken on a trip to see the Pyramids, allegedly at supersonic speed. The location of the dell is suggested to be on the estate, possibly related to the E-line ley, and the event's trajectory on a great circle aligns with the Pyramids in Egypt.

Old Paths and New Ways - A Fresh Look at Leylines

This section summarizes a talk given by Rose Heaword to the London Earth Mysteries Circle. She discussed the history of ley research, illustrating it with a timeline and focusing on the relationships between personalities and ideas in folklore, archaeology, astronomy, and dowsing. She termed this approach 'cognitive archaeology'. Heaword highlighted the friction between archaeologists and 'antiquarians' like Alfred Watkins, who publicized his discovery of leys. She also noted the development of dowsing societies and the linking of leys with archaeology by researchers like Reginald Smith and Major Tyler. The emergence of UFOs in ley research was linked to Aimé Michel's work. Heaword also addressed common arguments against ley theory, such as the random dropping of peas, contrasting it with the purposeful placement of ancient sites. She demonstrated how ancient peoples might have understood geometry without formal knowledge of Pythagoras.

Letters and Notes

• Letter from Norman Darwen: Describes a visit to 'Ladyewell' near Preston, a Marian pilgrimage site with a well, chapels, and a museum containing Roman and Saxon artefacts, suggesting long site continuity.
• TEMS meetings: Announcements for upcoming meetings of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, including topics like Landscape Geometry, Field Trips, and Earth Spirit Moots.
• London Earth Mysteries Circle meetings: Schedule of talks and events, covering topics from 'Will You Survive Death' to 'The Gruesome History of Body Snatching'.
• The E-Line at Broadlands: Further details on the E-line ley, noting it passes south of Romsey Abbey and through the estate of Broadlands.
• The Stonehenge and Avebury Carvings: Mentions Mollie Carey's discovery of carvings on Stonehenge and Avebury stones, which she claims depict ancient people and animals, and were dismissed by the archaeological establishment.

Publications

Several publications are advertised:

• MEYN MAMVRO: A publication on ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall.
• Surrey Earth Mysteries Group: Information on their meetings and website.
• The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: Books by J. Goddard exploring subconscious siting of ley points, earth energy, and cognitive dissonance.
• Earth People, Space People: A booklet detailing extraterrestrial contact claims, by Tony Wedd.
• The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the interconnectedness of ancient sites, landscape features, and historical events through the lens of ley lines and earth mysteries. There is a strong emphasis on dowsing, archaeological interpretation, and the potential for ancient knowledge and technology. The inclusion of UFO reports, particularly the Broadlands incident, suggests an open-minded approach to unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigation and open inquiry into these subjects, often challenging conventional archaeological viewpoints. The recurring theme is the search for hidden patterns and energies within the landscape and human history.