Tumps, cairns, large stones, barrows and mounds now provide the country rambler with a new interest. These relics of by-gone days are particularly numerous in our countryside—Shropshire, Radnorshire and Herefordshire abound with them. It is curious how inspirations suddenly come to one and it was thus that Mr. Alfred Watkins of Hereford found a new meaning for ancient landmarks. By happy chance, this member of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club has solved an age-long riddle. In the early days, before roads were known, he finds, large stones, tumuli, cairns, and moats showed the wayfarer the shortest route (the ley) to any given point. The word “ley”, he says, is still used in the phrase “the lie of the land.” He finds also that in a number of instances, churches now stand exactly on these routes and frequently denote where two such routes crossed. It is an extremely interesting discovery, and those who are interested in archæology and the like will welcome his findings which he has published in book form, under the title “Early British Trackways” (Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co. Ltd., price 4s. 6d.). The book is splendidly illustrated by actual photographs taken in the above three counties by Mr. Watkins, and these alone should command a ready sale for the book.
Source info: MS note by AW “Wellington Journal”.