Touchstone - No 069 - 2005 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 69
Date: April 2005
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

Spring Convention at Royston

The issue prominently features the Spring Convention of the Society of Ley Hunters held near Royston, Hertfordshire, on April 26th. The event was described as enjoyable and thought-provoking. The convention included a visit to the enigmatic man-made Royston Cave, located under the main street. The cave, discovered in 1742, is bottle-shaped and features numerous religious carvings on its walls, with some saints identified bearing the means of their death. The guide mentioned that the serpentine Michael and Mary ley lines, found by Hamish Miller, cross at the cave, with the Michael line emerging from the rock near the St. Catherine figure.

Following the cave visit, attendees went to the twelfth-century church, originally the chancel of the Augustinian Priory. This part of the church survived the Dissolution of the Monasteries and was later purchased by townspeople. The church underwent restoration in the nineteenth century, with fragments of the original building still visible.

Barley Town House, a 500-year-old building in the village of Barley, served as the venue for the main meeting. This historic hall was once visited by Daniel Defoe and is noted as one of the oldest village halls in the country.

Several speakers presented at the convention. Bob Brown discussed a symmetrical pattern around Sele Abbey in Sussex. Jonathan Harwood spoke on the relationship of church sites in Dorset with squares and rectangles, linking them to the Golden Section. Gordon Harris presented on straight tracks and watercourses, suggesting straight tracks predated alignments. Paul Dunbavin discussed evidence for a major polar shift during the Ice Age and proposed Atlantis was near the Isle of Man. The author of the article spoke on the Negen Stones at Staines. Adrian Hyde gave a presentation on Tibet, and Eileen Roche concluded with a talk on the E-line, a ley crossing the Surrey countryside.

Ley Lines and Alignments

The issue delves deeply into the concept of ley lines and landscape alignments, with multiple articles and mentions throughout. The Royston area is highlighted as being rich in these phenomena. The Roman road Ermine Street and the Icknield Way intersect at Royston, a significant point. The Royse Stone, originally the base of a cross erected by Lady Roysia after 1066, is mentioned as being moved from its original position.

• Several specific ley alignments are detailed:
• An alignment through Barley and Royston Churches passes through the Ermine Street/Icknield Way cross-roads at Royston, originating from cross-roads on the A505.
• Another ley, identified in 1987, passes through Royston's cross-roads and stone, the church, a milestone at Barley, Little Chishill church, and Duddenhoe Grange.
• The alignment of Ermine Street leads to a moat in a wood at Reed, suggesting pre-Roman use of the ley system.
• A ley joining Royston and Bartlow churches is described as an Icknield Way alignment, passing through tumuli on Therfield Heath, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
• The Bartlow area is noted for its large Romano-British tumuli. The church there has early wall paintings, including a depiction of St. George and the dragon.
• Several leys are described passing through Copped Hall in Epping, Essex, connecting to various churches, cross-roads, and historical sites.
• A ley from Barley to Bartlow passes through a mound with steps, a moat at Reed End, Barley Church, and the Bartlow tumulus.
• A north-south alignment through Bartlow Church goes through the western Bartlow Hill, Wicken, and a tumulus by the A1303.
• A north-easterly ley at Bartlow Church connects to Littlebury Church and other sites.
• A north-westerly ley through Bartlow Church passes through Hempstead Church and skirts Giants Hill, Rampton.

A Spectre at Epping

An article titled "A Spectre at Epping" recounts a personal experience from the mid-sixties. The author, while clearing a loft, found an old article referring to Copped Hall in Essex. A report from Richard Barton of the Dagenham Aerial Phenomena Research Organisation details a seance held at the ruined Copped Hall on July 21st. During the seance, an entity named "Jinni Haschi" warned the participants of approaching "spectres." Subsequently, witnesses reported seeing several white lights and a floating entity described as a "spectre." This entity was shaped like a cigarette vending machine with two magnifying glasses for eyes, about three feet high and two feet wide, misty grey, and moved in jerks. The article notes a similarity to other strange beings reported, such as the Flatwoods monster and the Whitmoor Common sighting, and suggests a connection between haunted houses and leys.

Letters and Notes

• Letters:
• Norman Darwen from Bolton, Lancashire, expresses interest in the Shap area and its ancient sites, including a stone circle near the M3 motorway, and wonders about incidents during its construction.
• Adrian Hyde from Havering, Essex, shares his experience walking an alignment from The Old Straight Track and emphasizes the importance of communicating with farmers to preserve ancient sites.

• Notes and News:
• A note on a possible Roman settlement at Chertsey discusses archaeological findings, including small fragments of Roman brick and pottery, suggesting a Roman-era site despite a lack of direct evidence between the 4th and 10th centuries.
• Mentions of Roman artifacts, including a fibula and cloak pin, found at St. Ann's Hill and Mixnams Lane are included.

Other Content

• Former TLH editor on ley misuse: An excerpt from Kate Muir's column in The Times Magazine criticizes lazy journalism's misuse of the term "ley lines."
• London Earth Mysteries Circle meetings: A schedule of upcoming meetings and events in London is provided.
• TEMS meetings: Information on past and future events of TEMS (The Earth Mysteries Society) is listed, including field trips and speakers.
• Meyn Mamvro: An advertisement for a publication focusing on ancient stones and sacred sites in Cornwall.
• Book and CD-ROM Reviews/Announcements: Several publications are advertised, including "The Hidden Unity and Beginnings," "Earth People, Space People," and "The Legacy of Tony Wedd" (a CD-ROM).

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are ley lines, ancient sites, landscape alignments, and earth mysteries. The magazine consistently explores the connections between these elements, often linking them to historical events, folklore, and unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting research, personal accounts, and archaeological findings without definitive conclusions, encouraging readers to explore and understand the 'order in the landscape'. The inclusion of a letter about the misuse of 'ley lines' suggests an awareness of and a desire for accurate reporting within the field.