Touchstone

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 110
Date: July 2015
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group
Focus: Earth Mysteries, Ley Lines, Ancient Sites, Mythology

This issue of Touchstone, the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, is dedicated to "The First Ley" and the work of Alfred Watkins. It details the Society of Ley Hunters' moot held from June 12th-14th, 2015, in Herefordshire, which honoured Alfred Watkins and his groundbreaking discovery of ley lines.

The Discovery of Ley Lines by Alfred Watkins

The issue begins by recounting Alfred Watkins' talk to the Woolhope Club in Hereford in September 1921, discussing his discovery of leys made the previous June. His findings were published in the Hereford Times and are archived by Michael Behrend. The report highlights Watkins' lecture where he described how, after visiting Blackwardine, he noted a straight line on a map connecting various ancient sites and geographical features, which he found to be practical sighting points. He was amazed that these lines passed repeatedly through similar types of objects.

The Society of Ley Hunters recently erected a memorial stone to Watkins at the Blackwardine crossroads, the site of his original inspiration. The June moot was dedicated to honouring Watkins and his discovery.

The Society of Ley Hunters Moot

The moot commenced in the Woolhope Room at Hereford Library, where the archive of the Straight Track Club was displayed. Following discussions about the early years of ley hunting, a walk around Hereford explored some of Watkins' leys in the city, including the spectacular Offa Street ley.

The following day, the group met at the Hop Kiln near Risbury hillfort. Philip Heselton, the first editor of The Ley Hunter magazine, spoke about the early days of the revival of interest in leys. He shared his personal journey, starting with his library's collection of unusual subjects, including spiritualism and flying saucers, which led him to articles on diffusionist theory and the STAR Fellowship. This eventually led him to a rally in Chiddingstone, where he encountered a group discussing esoteric topics, including Alfred Watkins and The Old Straight Track.

Heselton described ordering Watkins' book and being fascinated by the photographs and the alignment of ancient sites. He began drawing lines on maps, discovering alignments like moated sites in Surrey with Gills Lap in Sussex. He also contacted Egerton Sykes, who was interested in leys and flying saucers but saw no connection between them.

Heselton decided to restart an organisation, forming the Ley Hunter's Club. He contacted members of the Straight Track Club, some of whom had been involved in postal circulation of articles and field meetings. The Straight Track Club, founded by Mrs. Carbonel, had folded by 1948 due to members aging.

Philip wrote to the Straight Track Club members, receiving encouraging replies, including from Alfred Watkins' son, Allen, who conveyed his father's wish for young people to become interested in his work. Mrs. Carbonel's daughter sent a copy of The Old Straight Track. The club organised ley hunts and joint trips, including one to Avebury with the Pendragon Society.

Philip and the author participated in a trip to Avebury, visiting Silbury Hill and West Kennet Long Barrow. The author entered a report of this trip into a competition, leading to an interview on a children's programme.

The inaugural meeting of the Ley Hunter's Club was held on November 17th, 1962. Allen Watkins spoke, suggesting his father's leys were laid out on a religious basis, representing physical, mental, and spiritual states, with points representing earth, air, fire, and water.

Philip Heselton produced bulletins, leading to the start of The Ley Hunter magazine in 1965. After a hiatus, it was restarted by Paul Screeton in 1969. A weekend was organised in Herefordshire for the 50th anniversary of Watkins' discovery, including a meeting and a picnic on Risbury Camp.

Heselton proposed a project: a play exploring the connection between Alfred Watkins and composer Edward Elgar, who were both members of the Woolhope Club and shared a love for the landscape. Watkins expressed this through photography, and Elgar through music.

Ley Lines and Ancient Sites

The author then spoke about leys Watkins found at the Roman city of Silchester. He described how Watkins' book, The Old Straight Track, details three leys through the city, meeting at a point thought to be an early Christian church. One ley runs east-west, coincident with streets and passing through a Roman temple and the early Christian church. This ley extended into Surrey and Middlesex.

Another ley follows a track across Bushy Park to Hampton URC Church, then along a road in Hampton, and continues to Sunbury Cross. This ley also passes through the site of Chertsey Abbey and several churches, and runs along the Egham Causeway, possibly part of the Roman road to Silchester.

The ley then goes through an earthwork enclosure on Laleham Burway, and the ancient church of St. Michael's, Thorpe, built on Roman foundations. It also passes through the site of a possible mithraeum and a Roman cinerary urn was found nearby.

The ley continues to Sunningdale Church and then to Silchester, vindicating Alfred Watkins' work.

Following the Society AGM, a walk along the ley from the Hop Kiln and over Risbury hillfort was undertaken, ending at the Blackwardine crossroads where Alfred Watkins had his inspiration. A standing stone and a memorial stone were placed there.

Bob Shave spoke about Alfred Watkins' experience at Blackwardine in June 1921, noting that while he initially saw no obvious alignment, Watkins' experience was instantaneous and intuitive, flooding his mind with images that formed his theory.

Shave also mentioned Watkins' other achievements as a skilled photographer and designer of the Bee exposure meter, which was used on Captain Scott's expedition. Watkins also pioneered electric light in his father's flour mill.

Watkins' lifelong exploration of the landscape, from tumuli and megaliths to recording towns and villages, culminated in his discovery. His book, The Old Standing Crosses of Herefordshire, was a photographic pilgrimage. The issue quotes W. H. Hudson, suggesting a kinship with the long dead who knew the land. Studying leys, according to Watkins, reconnects us with something lost.

Other Talks and Topics

Network of Ley Hunters Moot, Dinas Mawddwy, Saturday July 4th 2015:
Laurence Main spoke on King Arthur's Camlan, the site of his last battle. The village is on the strategic edge of the Kingdom of Gwynedd. The discussion touched upon Arthur's relations, the Pelagian doctrine, and the conflict between patriarchy and the Goddess.

Johanna van Fessem presented on "Walking in the Light," a pilgrimage from the Netherlands to Jerusalem, inspired by a ley connecting Britain to Jerusalem.

Ian Pegler spoke on the Nanteos Cup, a wooden bowl traditionally believed to be the Holy Grail, with two traditions associated with its origin.

Trish Mills spoke on the Circle of Perpetual Choirs, researching John Gibson-Forty's work on ancient chanting practices for enchantment.

Eileen Roche spoke about a visit to Adam's Calendar in South Africa and discussed planetary ley systems and geodetic earth energies, mentioning Roy Snelling's work on the Planetary Matrix.

Maria Wheatley discussed planetary ley systems and geodetic earth energies, referencing John Dee, Stukeley, Aubrey, and Rev. Edward Duke's "Duke's Ley Line."

Mara Freeman spoke on the Gates of Annwn, the mythology of the Welsh underworld.

Alan Watts discussed the Pyramids of Britain, focusing on Silbury Hill and a system of triangles based on lines from Avebury and Stonehenge.

Liza Llewellyn spoke about the Phoenicians, their connection to Druids, and the influence of Western culture on the East.

Bart O'Farrell spoke on dowsing and earth energies, noting the properties of a standing stone and providing instruction on dowsing.

Letters and Films

Letters from Norman Darwen discussed an exhibition on the statues of Easter Island, and from Bob Shave about walking and ley alignments near a church.

A section on "FILMS ON YOUTUBE" lists several earth mysteries field trips by Jim Goddard, including "The Leys of Berkhamsted Castle" and "The Silchester Ley."

Publications

• Advertisements are included for:
• MEYN MAMVRO: Ancient stones & sacred sites in Cornwall.
• THE HIDDEN UNITY and BEGINNINGS: Booklets by Jimmy Goddard on ley points, worship, and discoveries.
• EARTH PEOPLE, SPACE PEOPLE: Booklet by Tony Wedd on extraterrestrial contact claims.
• THE LEGACY OF TONY WEDD: CD-ROM of Tony Wedd's exhibition.
• TOUCHSTONE: The newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the legacy of Alfred Watkins and the ongoing exploration of ley lines and earth energies. The magazine promotes a holistic view of ancient sites, mythology, and spiritualism, suggesting a deep connection between the landscape and human history. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging readers to explore and research further, as exemplified by the various talks, field trips, and publications featured. There is a clear emphasis on the historical and spiritual significance of ancient sites and their alignments.