The Old Straight Track
1st Edition
Published on 11. September 2014
400 pages
978-1-78185-663-5 (ISBN)
Description
A beautiful new edition of a classic work of landscape history, in which Alfred Watkins introduced the idea of ancient 'ley lines' criss-crossing the English countryside.
First published in 1925, THE OLD STRAIGHT TRACK described the author's theory of 'ley lines', pre-Roman pathways consisting of aligned stone circles and prehistoric mounds, used by our Neolithic ancestors.
Watkins's ideas have intrigued and inspired generations of readers - from historians to hill walkers, and from amateur archaeologists to new-age occultists.
This edition of THE OLD STRAIGHT TRACK, with a substantial introduction by Robert Macfarlane, will appeal to all who treasure the history, contours and mystery of Britain's ancient landscapes.
First published in 1925, THE OLD STRAIGHT TRACK described the author's theory of 'ley lines', pre-Roman pathways consisting of aligned stone circles and prehistoric mounds, used by our Neolithic ancestors.
Watkins's ideas have intrigued and inspired generations of readers - from historians to hill walkers, and from amateur archaeologists to new-age occultists.
This edition of THE OLD STRAIGHT TRACK, with a substantial introduction by Robert Macfarlane, will appeal to all who treasure the history, contours and mystery of Britain's ancient landscapes.
More details
Edition
1. Auflage
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Illustrations
50 b&w illus
ISBN-13
978-1-78185-663-5 (9781781856635)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Alfred Watkins
The Old Straight Track
Book
10/2015
Head of Zeus
€31.13
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
Alfred Watkins was an amateur archaeologist, who was born in 1855 in Herefordshire, where he lived his entire life. In 1921, he developed his theory of ley-lines in the landscape. Watkins was a member of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, an authority on bee-keeping and a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society. He died in 1935.
Robert Macfarlane is the prize-winning author of The Wild Places (2007) and The Old Roads (2011), Landmarks (2015) and Underland (2019). His writing has been widely adapted for television and radio. He is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Robert Macfarlane is the prize-winning author of The Wild Places (2007) and The Old Roads (2011), Landmarks (2015) and Underland (2019). His writing has been widely adapted for television and radio. He is a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Content
- Intro
- Welcome Page
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Alfred Watkins
- Maps of Hereford and surrounds
- Introduction By Robert Macfarlane
- Preface to the Original Edition
- Introduction By Alfred Watkins
- The Old Straight Track
- I. Mounds
- II. Alignment of Mounds
- III. Leys In Radnor Vale
- IV. Mark Stones
- V. The Sighted Track
- VI. Water Sight Points
- VII. Sight Notches
- VIII. Initial Points
- IX. Mark Trees
- X. Camps
- XI. Ley-Men
- XII. Sighting Staff
- XIII. Traders' Tracks
- XIV. Sun Alignment
- XV. Beacons
- XVI. Churches on Mark-Points
- XVII. Orientation
- XVIII. Castles on Mark Sites
- XIX. Assemblies at Mark-Points
- XX. Roman Era
- XXI. Place-Names
- XXII. Folk-Lore
- XXIII. Hermes and Hermit
- XXIV. In Other Lands
- XXV. Bible Record
- XXVI. Confirmation
- XXVII. Obscurities and Objections
- XXVII. Chronology
- XXIX. Alpha and Omega
- XXX. An Outline
- Appendix A Ley Hunting
- Appendix B Buckinghamshire Leys
- Appendix C Oxford City Leys
- Appendix D Brecon Camps
- Acknowledgements and Select Bibliography for the Introduction By Robert Macfarlane
- Index
- About This Book
- Reviews
- About the Author
- An Invitation from the Publisher
- Copyright
