Journal of Geomancy vol. 2 no. 1, October 1977

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FURTHER NOTES ON THE LAMANCHE ZODIAC.

Subject of a talk given at the first IGR Cambridge Geomancy Symposium, July 9th 1977.

by Kathryn J. Preston

What is a Zodiac?  According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, the definition of a Zodiac is as follows:– ‘Belt of the heavens limited by the lines about 8 degrees from from the ecliptic on each side, including all apparent positions of the sun, moon, and planets as known to the ancients, and divided into 12 equal parts called signs of the Zodiac, each formerly containing the similarly named constellation but now by precession of the equinoxes coinciding with the constellation that bears the name of the preceding sign, diagram of these signs’.  When the signs are marked out on the ground by roads, trackways, streams, etc, it is known as a terrestrial Zodiac (terrestrial – of the earth). 

The Lamanche Zodiac is marked out along a long ley-line and stretches from just north of Preston, Lancashire to near Congleton, Cheshire, passing through Greater Manchester on the way.  The name is derived from the three counties through which it passes, its breakdown is thus:– LA – Lancashire: MAN – Greater Manchester; CHE – Cheshire.  The 12th sign just touches Staffordshire but not enough to warrant its inclusion in the name. 

The shapes of the representative figures as well as the relative positions of the stars which form the signs of the Zodiac are depicted in the correct sequence, beginning with Aries.  As the whole Zodiac is over 60 miles long, the outlines of the figures cannot be easily shown in the available space in this publication without doing them an injustice.  I will be producing a publication devoted entirely to the Lamanche Zodiac in the future when it has been fully researched,

ARIES is represented by a trotting ram, its back following the main A6 road from Broughton to Bilsborrow.  The underside of the ram’s chin also follows the A6 for ½ mile.  The nose follows a footpath passing Broughton church which represents the brightest star of Aries.  Broughton Old Hall represents the ram’s eye while the horn is marked out by a track and footpath leading from the B5269 road.  A track leading from Broughton to Woodlumpton forms the front of the ram and then continues towards Catforth to form one leg.  The underbelly, the other three legs and tail are formed by tracks and minor roads while the back of the head follows a stream passing through the grounds of Barton Hall.  Barton church and Newsham church represent the 2nd and 3rd brightest stars. 

TAURUS, the 2nd sign, is rather distorted due to it being sited over Preston and Fulwood.  It is shown as a charging bull.  Aldebaran, the brightest star of Taurus, is marked by a church in {PR3} Wellington road, Preston.  The head is marked by the A582 road, and a path following the rivers Ribble and Darwen.  One horn is made up of the A5083 and a footpath through Cuerden while the other follows the Preston–Brindle road, a footpath through Bamber Bridge and a part of the A6.  There are several public houses in the area called either the ‘Black Bull’ or the ‘White Bull’, (both of which are said to be the classical representation of Taurus), as well as ‘Black Bull Lane’ which marks the front right leg of the bull.  A town 5 miles from Preston called Leyland (note the reference to leys) has an area called ‘Seven Stars’ and the churches in Leyland are in the same relative positions as the brighter stars of the Pleiades or Seven Sisters.  This star group is one of the most beautiful sights in the sky and falls within the sign of Taurus. 

GEMINI, the twins, falls within the area between Preston, Blackburn and Chorley.  This sign is represented as a young boy and girl who appear to be almost kissing.  This shows that they must be lovers rather than twins.  The outlines are mainly marked by roads and footpaths and the stars are represented by churches. 

The representation of CANCER makes this Zodiac unique.  It is the only known terrestrial Zodiac to have the classical representation of a crab.  It is centered on the Anglesarke Moor area of South West Lancashire.  Winter Hill, the site of several radio and TV transmitters, is within the crab’s claws.  This is particularly significant as the sign of Cancer culminates in late January (ie. the middle of Winter).  This area also contains the largest tumulus in the North West of England, the Round Loaf, which has no less than 22 ley-lines radiating from it.  This mound obviously has some importance to the Lamanche Zodiac, but its history is clouded in mystery. 

LEO the lion is a Sphinx-like creature in a lying position with the ring road around Bolton outlining its mane.  The bulk of its body lies over Bolton and its rear end is at Farnworth.  This was the first sign I discovered of this Zodiac. 

VIRGO, which mainly covers the Pendlebury and Swinton areas of Greater Manchester, is represented by a woman wearing what appears to be traditional Welsh dress.  This, I think, may suggest a Druid influence in the Zodiac.  If Round Loaf in Cancer is a pointer to the dating of the Zodiac, it could mean that it was laid down during the Great Age of Cancer (8640 BC – 6480 BC).  Judging by the position of Round Loaf, I have calculated that 7743 BC may be the year of completion. 

LIBRA is a fairly obscure sign but appears to be shown as a dove (as in other Zodiacs).  It is situated around Urmston, Davyhulme and Flixton. 

SCORPIO is a particularly good representation of a Scorpion and falls within the Altrincham/Scale area of South Manchester.  Its tail, complete with sting, is very clearly depicted in the attack position, over its back. 

SAGITTARIUS is the classical representation of the Archer/Centaur (half man, half horse).  He appears ready to draw his bow, presumably to kill the Scorpion.  The rump of the horse part is distorted due to Manchester Airport being built there.  {PR4}

To the South of Manchester Airport lies CAPRICORN, which is shown as a fish-tailed goat.  The whole of this sign is very clearly marked as it is outside the Greater Manchester Conurbation.  Wilmslow, Cheshire is the only town in this sign. 

Moving further southwards into Cheshire, the sign of AQUARIUS falls in the Alderley Edge region between Wilmslow and Macclesfield.  This sign strays from the classical representation in that it is shown as a bird in flight and a hare.  Originally, I thought it to be a squirrel due to Aquarius being shown as a squirrel in the Nuthampstead Zodiac*.  After studying the map, I noticed several place names bearing references to a hare.  It is said that Merlin and King Arthur’s knights are at rest in the Alderley Edge area awaiting the dawn of the Golden age (the age of Aquarius).  This legend is shown in the name of the local public house, ‘The Wizard’.  The bird could be a representation of Merlin’s familiar, Mogador; or even Merlin himself , as he frequently changed himself into a bird. 

The twelfth, and last, sign of the Zodiac, PISCES, is shown as a fish and a dolphin, which is representative of the two main aquatic life forms, fish and mammal.  The fish looks like a pike (there is a village called Pikelow along its back), and it is connected to the dolphin by a long ‘cord’ going through North Rode and Bosley.  The whole sign lies in the area between Macclesfield and Congleton.  This is very close to the Cheshire salt mining area, which is symbolic of the sea (Pisces is a water sign).  Although the stars of Pisces are very faint, most of them are represented here. 

I have done some preliminary research into the connections between geometry and the UFO enigma.  There appears to be a great deal of correlation between areas of major UFO activity and areas containing Zodiacs.  Areas of note are S.W. Lancs (Pendle & Lamanche Zodiacs), S. Wales (Prescelly & Pumpsaint), E. Anglia (Nuthampstead) and Warminster/Winchester (near Banbury & Glastonbury). 

In addition to the figures of the Lamanche Zodiac, I have found two other figures in the area around the beginning of the Zodiac.  The shape of a DRAGON is marked out in minor roads and the River Brock in the Bleasdale region of Lancashire.  As the river Brock is almost entirely within the figure, I have named it the Brock Dragon.  Its tail is situated at St. Michaels on Wyre (there is a great association between St. Michael, Dragons and Leys) where the River Brock joins the river Wyre. 

Near the flame emanating from the dragon’s mouth , I have found several places with reference to ashes in their names.  Nearby, there is the shape of a bird, to the north of Longridge.  I have called this figure the LONGRIDGE PHOENIX.  Further research is in progress on these figures, the Zodiac and the Ley/UFO link, results of which will be published at a later date. 

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