Touchstone - No 101 - 2013 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 101
Date: April 2013
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth mysteries, ley lines, ancient sites, folklore, and archaeology.

Wide Leys at Hereford

The lead article details the discovery of two wide leys, each 23 paces wide, near the Grafton Inn Travelodge in Hereford. These leys were found to originate from Wormelow Tump, a village south of the city. The author, attending a Society of Leyhunters Moot, noticed the adjacent road's multijunction with tracks, a stream, and the city boundary. The two leys, originating from the site of the Wormelow Tump mound, had a slight angle between them, causing them to overlap by the time they reached the Travelodge. One ley crossed the forecourt of the Travelodge, while the other ran along the road. A pond near the road, possibly older, was situated within the overlap of these two lines.

Wormelow Tump Legends

Wormelow Tump was named after an ancient mound at the village multijunction, levelled in 1896 for road widening. Local legend stated that "whatever measure you measure it in, the second would never be the same measurement." It was also suggested that King Arthur's son Amyr, murdered by his uncle at Gamber Head, was buried there alongside King Arthur's nephew Modred, though no remains were found. The inn is also said to be haunted, and the mound served as a moot site.

Ley Paths and Alignments

The leys, originating from the mound site, were found to be so close that they were still overlapping when they reached the Travelodge. The western ley was coincident with the Red Hill road and passed through St. Martin's Church. The eastern ley crossed the forecourt of the Travelodge. The article notes that the width of the eastern ley at Hereford Cathedral began before the altar and extended outside the building, while the western one was mostly within it. Alfred Watkins is mentioned for illustrating two other leys passing through the Cathedral, including one through All Saints' Church.

The Offa Street ley is also discussed, aligning with the towers of Hereford Cathedral and St. Peter's Church. This alignment, when viewed from high ground overlooking the city, forms a straight line. The eastern ley from Wormelow Tump crosses a ley that passes through the western edge of Sutton Walls fort, north of Sutton St. Michael. Another ley touches a moat at Lower Lyde Court.

Sutton Walls Hillfort

Sutton Walls Hillfort, a four-mile-long Iron Age fort north of Hereford, is described as having been attacked by Romans in 48 AD. It is also considered a possible location for the palace of Offa of Mercia, and the site where Æthelberht II of East Anglia was allegedly murdered in 794. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and John Brompton's Chronicon are cited for these accounts.

Alfred Watkins' observations at Sutton Walls are detailed, noting alignments with Marden and Wellington church towers. His son Allen also had a similar experience in Cambridgeshire. The eastern ley from Wormelow Tump crosses a ley at the west end of Sutton Walls. The western line continues through Bodenham Church, Bach Camp (a hillfort), and Laysters Pole.

Other Ley Investigations

Alfred Watkins' early work on leys is referenced, including his book 'Early British Trackways' and his identification of a straight line from Croft Ambury to Stretton Grandison Church. The Society of Leyhunters plans to erect a standing stone at Blackwardine cross-roads to commemorate his discoveries.

Network of Ley Hunters Moot at Wells, 6th and 7th April 2013

A large ley hunters moot was held in Wells, with an attendance of 100, the largest since 1997. The event featured talks on various aspects of earth energies, ancient sites, and ley systems. Carolin Comberti spoke on 'Sounding the Earth', comparing creation myths and earth energies. Serena Roney-Dougal discussed third eye points in the Glastonbury Zodiac. Sue Pine presented on the energetics of the solar transition effect on leys. Christine Rhone introduced the work of John Michell, author of books on leys and unexplained phenomena. Adrian Incledon-Webber spoke on house healing and geopathic stress. Nigel Twinn discussed why earth energy dowsing works, referencing Billy Gawn. Meghan Rice presented on Sheela-na-gigs.

Other Articles and Features

Gary Biltcliffe's Trip to Whiteleaved Oak: This section describes a trip to Whiteleaved Oak, visiting a holy well on Raggedstone Hill and a venerated oak tree. The area is noted for its energy and connection to Druidic practices.

Celia Gunn on Native American Mother Tribe: Celia Gunn shared her experiences with the Sinixt or Lakes People of British Columbia, advocating for the preservation of earth-based traditions.

Cadbury Castle and Glastonbury: The article mentions Cadbury Castle as a contender for King Arthur's Camelot and discusses sun and moon myths associated with the site. It also touches on Glastonbury Tor and its connection to ley lines.

Stanton Drew Circles: Gordon Strong discussed investigations at Stanton Drew, a large stone circle site, noting its potential alignments and legends.

Society of Leyhunters Moot, Hereford: This section highlights the moot held in Hereford, focusing on the archive of Alfred Watkins' work and David Stevens' presentation on Hereford's social history. Alfred Watkins' contributions to photography and beekeeping are also mentioned.

Standing Stone for Alfred Watkins: A project to erect a standing stone in memory of Alfred Watkins at Blackwardine is announced.

Cerne Giant: Peter Knight spoke on the Cerne Giant chalk figure in Dorset, discussing its landscape features and fertility traditions.

Pat Toms' Investigations: Pat Toms presented on his investigations of sites associating topography and geology with etheric alignments.

Inner Hebrides Islands: The article mentions alignments between the islands of Tiree and Coll, and a holed stone at Rothbury.

Jeremy Disley on Walton Basin Archaeology: Jeremy Disley discussed the archaeology of the Walton Basin, covering its prehistoric and Roman periods.

David Furlong on Footsteps of the Dodman: David Furlong presented on his approach to sites, including the Hatshepsut temple in Egypt.

John Michell's St. Michael Line: The alignment of John Michell's St. Michael Line is discussed, with reference to astronomical settings and geometric triangles.

Avebury Research: Research into the geometry of Avebury, including its ley alignments and astronomical patterns, is presented.

Rainbow Serpent Project: Tor Webster discussed the Rainbow Serpent Project, linking sacred sites to chakra points and world serpents.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings: These are book reviews, discussing phenomena of subconscious siting of ley points and potentially useful discoveries. 'The Hidden Unity' investigates ley centres like the Shah Jehan Mosque and Guru Nanak Sikh Temple. 'Beginnings' covers earth energy detection, antigravity, and cognitive dissonance.

Earth People, Space People: This is a booklet by Tony Wedd detailing claims of extraterrestrial contact and the history of the STAR Fellowship.

The Legacy of Tony Wedd: A CD-ROM is mentioned, containing Tony Wedd's research on flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Letters: A letter from Norman Darwen congratulates Touchstone on reaching 100 issues and describes a traditional Good Friday walk up Rivington Pike.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the interconnectedness of landscape, ancient sites, and human belief systems, with a strong emphasis on ley lines and earth energies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, drawing on historical accounts, folklore, archaeological findings, and personal investigations. There is a clear respect for the work of Alfred Watkins and a commitment to preserving and disseminating knowledge about earth mysteries. The publication serves as a platform for researchers and enthusiasts to share their findings and engage in discussions about the hidden aspects of the landscape and its history.