Touchstone - No 113 - 2016 04

Magazine Overview

Title: Touchstone
Issue: No. 113
Date: April 2016
Publisher: Surrey Earth Mysteries Group

A Roman Camp at Blackwardine?

The lead article by Bob Shave investigates the possibility of a Roman camp at Blackwardine, Herefordshire, the site of Alfred Watkins' discovery of leys. The article references a 1:50,000 scale Ordnance Survey map showing the site of a memorial stone beside a Roman road and a 1:25,000 scale map indicating a nearby "Settlement (site of)". It cites "The Place Names of Herefordshire" by Bannister, which mentions a legend of Blackwardine formerly being known as Black Caer-dun, a supposed Roman or British fortified town with coin and pottery finds, though the author dismisses a Roman connection, suggesting the name means "Blaeca's weorth or farm".

Wikipedia is quoted as stating it is the site of a Romano-British settlement known as Black Caer Dun, where a golden bracelet, ring, and human remains have been found. An 1885 account notes scattered pottery and a thick layer of charred material (18 inches thick) observed in a railway cutting. The article also notes that Alfred Watkins developed his theory of Ley lines on June 30, 1921, at this location, and the place was excavated the same year.

The website of the Humber Woodland of Remembrance (where the memorial stone stands) is mentioned, noting that Humber was known to the Romans and a Roman road passes along its western boundary. A significant Roman site is noted to be just north at Blackwardine, where Victorians found pottery while building the railway.

Alfred Watkins' words in "Early British Trackways" are quoted, describing his ley discovery and a "straight line" noted on the map. The article questions the current state of Blackwardine, noting it has no village, church, or pub, and the place name seems to refer to something that has disappeared. Wikipedia states the place was excavated in 1921.

Transactions of the Woolhope Club in Hereford reveal activity in 1921 related to these excavations, suggesting Watkins would have known about them. The article poses questions for further research: the ages of the place names Black Caer Dun and Blakwrthin; whether the local belief in a Roman settlement predates Victorian railway construction; and the connection between the 1921 excavations and Watkins' visit.

The Buckingham Palace Ley, and Runnymede and Ankerwycke

This section discusses two YouTube films: "The Buckingham Palace Ley Line" and "Runnymede and Ankerwycke". The Buckingham Palace Ley Line is described as an alignment passing through Buckingham Palace, pointing to Charing Cross, and extending through other sites with royal connections. This ley was found by dowsing to be about twenty-three paces wide. It runs south-westerly, passing through churches like St. Peter's, Eaton Square and St. Luke's, Chelsea, then Fulham Palace, Richmond Park, Bushy Park, and the ancient church of St. Mary, Walton-on-Thames.

Another site mentioned is All Saints' Church, Woodham, built in the nineteenth century within a circular bank, leading to speculation about it being a prehistoric site. The ley also passes through Oatlands Palace, Weybridge, and then All Saints' Church, Woodham. It crosses the Six Crossroads at Horsell Common and the hilltop parish church of St. Mary's, Horsell, where research by Eileen Roche and Rick Gibson is noted. The ley then proceeds to the Orthodox church of St. Edward the Martyr at Brookwood Cemetery.

The ley centre below the Air Forces' Memorial overlooking Runnymede Meadow is described, featuring a semicircle of oaks and a meeting point of tracks. The film "Runnymede and Ankerwycke" includes a TEMS field trip on Coopers Hill near Egham, Surrey, near the Air Forces Memorial. This site is a meeting point of leys from Edward III's Round Table building at Windsor Castle, the ancient Wraysbury church, and the Egham Causeway, possibly part of the London-Silchester Roman road. It also includes prehistoric stones and Ankerwyke Priory ruins, with the river being a contender for the Magna Carta sealing site. These lines cross Runnymede Meadow, the traditional site of Magna Carta's sealing by King John.

Even American Cities Are Aligned

This section discusses a YouTube video by Jim Alison, who reveals that major cities in the eastern United States (Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston) are aligned in a great circle. This circle, when extended, passes through Stonehenge and London, and crosses the Cornish coast near Padstow. The article speculates whether this alignment was intentional or subconscious, suggesting it might be related to Masonic practices and embedded codes in colonial designs. Washington DC is noted to be on the 77th meridian west, considered a sacred location. The book "Marking Time" by Duncan Steel is mentioned, discussing Sir Walter Raleigh's potential interest in locating the 77th Meridian. William Schnoebelen is quoted on the goal of occultists to have things exist within sacred harmonies, and Meridian Hill in Washington DC is mentioned as marking the 77th parallel.

Society of Ley Hunters Moot, The Dissenters Chapel, Kensal Green Cemetery, 30th April 2016

This section details a meeting of the Society of Ley Hunters at Kensal Green Cemetery. The Dissenters' Chapel, built in Classical style, is described as being on a ley from Boudicca's Mound on Hampstead Heath, which inspired Tony Wedd's interest in leys in 1949. This ley passes through seven churches, including the Dissenters' Chapel and St. John the Evangelist. The crossroads at Harrow Road and Ladbroke Grove is identified as a ley centre.

Rob Stephenson spoke on John Michell's "Enchanted Landscape". John Michell is described as a writer, polymath, and scholar who inspired engagement with the English landscape. His works include "The Flying Saucer Vision" and "The View over Atlantis", the latter inspired by Alfred Watkins. Michell published over thirty books.

Tony Wedd's interest in leys began in 1949 after reading "The Old Straight Track". He connected this with Aime Michel's "Flying Saucers and the Straight Line Mystery" and attended a BUFORA meeting. Wedd's visit to Boudicca's Mound inspired him to find a ley from the tumulus to Westminster Abbey. Tony inspired Philip Heselton to start the Ley Hunter's Club and its magazine "The Ley Hunter".

Rob then described the Stonehenge Cursus ley. John Michell's "City of Revelation" is mentioned, showing numerical correspondence with temples worldwide. His other works include "Defence of Sacred Measures", "The Old Stones of Land's End", and "Megalithomania", which explored how ancient stones affected people. "The New View over Atlantis" included findings on stone circles and the Nazca Lines.

Adrian Hyde spoke on the works of artist Roger Dean, known for his imaginative album covers for the progressive rock group Yes, and his work drawing from visual material like waterfalls and megalithic rocks.

Marion Briggs' research on Greenwich Park's relationship with time and space is mentioned. Flamsteed House is highlighted, where people stand on a line marking East meets West and time begins. The article questions the inherent force of the hill that attracted John Dee and the Royal Society.

The Monument's interior, designed as a giant telescope, is described, and Robert Hooke, its designer, is mentioned. Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, inherited the land in 1427 and built a tower on the site of the Greenwich Observatory. Flamsteed's Well Telescope and the Octagon Room are discussed.

John Dee and Christopher Marlowe are mentioned for casting a spell to found a British empire. Elizabeth I is depicted with her hand on a globe. Francis Bacon's book is mentioned, showing Elizabeth steering the ship Europa. The meridian is also marked at East Grinstead and Paris. The 77th West meridian is noted as important for calculating the spring equinox and Easter date.

Simon Pellis discussed Ley Lines and Psychic Questing, referencing Henry Lincoln's system and a year-long psychic quest. The London Psychic Questing Group, founded by Simon Pellis and Tom Goldsworthy, conducted quests. Psychic questing began in October 1979 with the discovery of a sword inscribed 'Meonia fore Marye'.

Psychic Questing and Ley Lines

This section explores the connection between psychic questing and ley lines. It mentions the patron goddess Elen, connected with a greyhound, and other quests involving alignments. The Celestine Project by Graham Philips is cited as an example of fiction from fact. Questions are raised about whether psychic phenomena can be discovered from sites on leys, and vice versa, and if there's a common source.

Graham Philips became psychic and was told to find a sword and a stone. Chris Street experienced psychic phenomena in his research into London Earthstars. Simon had to charge a stone on the St. Michael Line. A ritual in 1992 involving seven swords found at the Circle of Perpetual Choirs at Whiteleaved Oak is mentioned.

The Gavrinis passage tomb in Brittany is described, with its carved stones and connections to Saint Anne D'Auray and Yvon Nicolazic. The Venus of Quinipilly statue in Brittany is also mentioned.

Bram Stoker's "Dracula" is referenced in relation to a house in Piccadilly. A role play in September 1999 involving lightning and the reappearance of the Tyburn river is recounted.

The St. Paul's ley linking St. Clement Danes, the Temple church, and the cathedral is discussed. An unfinished carving and a Roman altar were found at St. Paul's.

Rob Stephenson led a tour of Kensal Green Cemetery, described as London's first garden cemetery, established in the nineteenth century. It was innovative in having parts consecrated by the Church of England and others for Dissenters. The cemetery covers 72 acres.

A competition for the architecture of the chapels was won by Henry Edward Kendal, but the contract went to John Griffith. Kensal Green was successful and led to six other cemeteries.

The tallest mausoleum, belonging to the Molyneux family, had a spire. Andrew Ducrow's monument is described, featuring sphinxes, angels, a beehive, and Pegasus. The cemetery has 14 Victoria Cross holders buried there.

The cemetery was built with inner and outer circles. The Anglican chapel in the center is described, and a catacomb below with a mechanism for lowering coffins.

Notable monuments include those to Isambard Kingdom Brunel, William Makepeace Thackeray, Charles Babbage, Wilkie Collins, Anthony Trollope, Lord Byron's wife, Oscar Wilde's mother, Charles Dickens' in-laws, Winston Churchill's daughter, and the surgeon who attended Nelson at Trafalgar.

The tour continued to the crypt cafe under St. Paul's Cathedral, where Rob Stephenson discussed the legend of London's founding by Brutus. The Trojans' journey, their battles, and Brutus's marriage to Pandrasus's daughter Ignoge are recounted. The landing on a deserted island and the temple to Diana are described. Brutus's vision of a "wonderful land beyond the Gates of Hercules" is mentioned.

Britain was landed upon, and after battles, London was founded, with a temple to Diana where St. Paul's now stands. Wren found circular buildings during the new cathedral's construction. Bishop Mellitus dedicated it to St. Paul. Thomas Malory's "Morte d'Arthur" is mentioned regarding King Arthur's sword from the stone. A charnel house opposite produced many bones. A ritual involving a buck and a doe sacrificed to horns occurred twice a year.

Panyer Alley is mentioned as the highest point in London. Greyfriars, a Franciscan church, is discussed, where non-monastic people could be buried. Queens Eleanor of Provence, Margaret, Isabella, and Joan de la Tour are buried there, as is Malory. Lady Hungerford and Elizabeth Barton are also mentioned.

Films on YouTube

A list of YouTube films related to earth mysteries and leys is provided, including:

• The Leys of Berkhamsted Castle, and London's Camelot
• Mysterious Guildford
• A Ley through Kingston
• The Norfolk Network
• Where the Martians Landed
• Jimmy Goddard on Earth Mysteries
• Avalon and Ebony
• Northamptonshire Creations
• The Medway Megaliths and the E-line
• The Silchester Ley
• A Walk on St. Ann's Hill
• Tony Robinson's Messages
• The First Ley
• St. Catherine's Hill Field Trip
• Whirls of Energy
• Surrey Earth Mysteries
• Sacred Springs of Surrey
• Clump Alignments round Addlestone
• The Buckingham Palace Ley Line
• Runnymede and Ankerwycke

Meyn Mamvro

This section advertises "Meyn Mamvro: Ancient stones & sacred sites in Cornwall", offering a sample and annual subscription, and listing available EM Guides.

The Hidden Unity and Beginnings

This section describes two booklets:

• "The Hidden Unity" explores subconscious siting of ley points, places of worship on leys, and the environmental and philosophical implications. It investigates two ley centres: the Shah Jehan Mosque in Woking and the Guru Nanak Sikh Temple, Scunthorpe. It includes an appendix by Eileen Grimshaw on the significance of the Pagan religion.
• "Beginnings" details Jimmy Goddard's discoveries over twenty years, including earth energy detection, natural antigravity, subconscious siting, ley width, and the solar transition effect. It also discusses cognitive dissonance and concludes with an account of ley discovery by Alfred Watkins.

Earth People, Space People

This section describes Tony Wedd's unpublished manuscript "Earth Men, Space Men", detailing extraterrestrial contact claims. A booklet was prepared to compensate for the loss of the manuscript, including prominent contact claims, the history of the STAR Fellowship, and evidence for life in the Solar System.

The Legacy of Tony Wedd

This describes a CD-ROM which is an electronic form of Tony Wedd's travelling exhibition, covering flying saucers, landscape energies, and lost technology.

Touchstone Newsletter

Touchstone is the newsletter of the Surrey Earth Mysteries Group, with four quarterly issues available for £4.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on "earth mysteries," a broad category encompassing ley lines, ancient sites, earth energies, UFOs, and historical/archaeological investigations with a focus on esoteric or unconventional interpretations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these phenomena, presenting research, theories, and anecdotal evidence from various contributors. There is a strong emphasis on the work of pioneers like Alfred Watkins and John Michell, and a connection is often drawn between ancient sites, landscape features, and potential energetic or historical significance. The magazine also promotes related publications and media, encouraging readers to explore these topics further.