Medway Crop Circle 1999 Page

Crop Circles in Kent of 1999.................

THE ISTEAD WREATH

Istead Rise - 12th April 1999 - Canola

For reasons which should become a little clearer as you read on, this spectacular formation in rape was christened "The Istead Wreath" almost as soon as it arrived.

Researchers visiting it a couple of days later, disapprovingly found the floor quite messy, with many broken stems. In jumping to conclusions, as is so often the case, this unfortunately led to yet another negative rape report appearing on the net.

Canola, as I've stressed before, is a very brittle plant and quite often, even in very fresh formations, you'll usually find broken stems. Given that this candidate was at least a couple of days old, and knowing that dozens of welly-stomping rail-link workers, from their nearby camp, had given it the once-over, it didn't surprise me at all to learn that its floor was found in such a terrible mess! Many saw its arrival so close to the Tunnel rail workings, as being some sort of acknowledgement by "The Circlemakers", to this horrendous earth-energy upheaval. Viewed from the air, Kent has been literally sliced in two by a chalk carve-up that'll obviously take decades to renew - if at all!

Occupying the same field that pre-empted the now famed "Star of Istead" a year or so later, it was placed close to the old London Road at an ancient crossroads that's known locally nowadays as The Tollgate. This Roman built road provides us with yet another tie-in to pilgrim routes, as this was the road they would travel upon from Southwark and Lambeth etc, (via Rochester), on their way to Canterbury, as mentioned in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales".

Although it may look quite a simple design, it isn't that easy to geometrically produce. The design laid out in the field was quite accurate, with each of the oval shapes maintaining similar measurements throughout. The "Istead Star" of season 2000 was a six pointed affair, and similarly, its predecessor here was also embracing the six-fold, as you can see in the diagram opposite.

Whilst the six-fold acknowledges "as above so below" ... "as within so without", the alternate black and white circles forming the circle represent "active / passive", with the individual pieces characteristically fitting together to form an integrated whole. The symbolism was further strengthened here by the outer circle of circles representing " the spirit that binds".

Photo © Graham Tucker

Diagram © Graham Tucker

THE TROSLEY TRIQUETRA

Trottiscliffe (Trosley)

20th June 1999 - Wheat

We believe this quite elegant formation was discovered on June 20th '99, although it was rumoured at the time that it could have been down a day earlier. What is certain though, is that we found it at the same time as its sensational companion "The Trosley Triskele". Lying adjacent to each other in separate fields, both formations could clearly be seen from Trosley Country Park, which occupies part of the North Downs near Wrotham. Once again the "Pilgrims Way" bordered both fields and once again it goes without saying that if you're on the lookout for circles in Kent - just follow this track!

Spread over an area of around 200 feet, this was a very neatly laid formation. All three interlocking crescents wistfully tapered off to within just one stalk (...you simply couldn't help but admire its creator for something so subtle!)

What I think we could have here though is a pure slice of Celtic symbolism that still lives today within Christian iconography. The three large crescents form a centrepiece that's known as a triquetra, which interprets from the Latin as "three cornered" (fig. 1 - B). In Christian symbology this reads as the sign for "The Holy Trinity", which is further embellished here by the inclusion of a triangle within the formations centre.

The Piscean fish symbol that represents Christ or Christianity, is easily recognised within the geometric form of the triquetra and we may further interpret this as Christ within the Holy Trinity (fig. 1 - C).

Whilst many look upon "The Guy from Galilee" as being a peacemaker, most of us think of a dove as symbolising peace. Amazingly our triquetra reveals a dove ... yes folks, the legendary "Dove from Above"!!! (fig. 2)

Looking back over the years, tri-circular patterns have occasionally appeared in the UK, including one or two that similarly bisect each other. The Bristol area in particular received a few during the '99 season, but in my opinion none seemed to match the grace and elegance that we find is so beautifully expressed here.

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Photo © Andrew King

Fig 1

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Fig 2

Diagram © Graham Tucker

THE TROSLEY TRISKELE

Trottiscliffe (Trosley) -

20th June 1999 - Wheat

Etched in winter wheat, this quite amazing formation was best seen from Trosley Country Park, which just so happens to overlook this particular field that lies in the valley below.

The tri-circular circle of circles is basically a very ancient Celtic symbol known as a triskelion or triskele, which was commonly employed in border patterns by Celtic illuminators. The way the circles intertwine perfectly illustrates the cyclic aspect of the "ever-flowing outward returning to source". And as if to further acknowledge this, the formation was found just a half a mile or so away from the Coldrum Stones, which for thousands of years have gazed upon this ancient land that was once worked by the Celts.

Andrew King's overhead reveals in one corner a well-defined letter "M". Clearly a satellite signature, it was only a couple of stalks wide. It can also be seen in Peter Sorensen's "Circles of '99" video which contains some excellent footage of the formation. Peter doesn't usually cover Kent, but he was so impressed with this one that he felt he had to make a flyover.

Being overlooked by Trosley Country Park, it attracted many visitors. The farmer was none too pleased, especially when whole families complete with screaming kids and yelping dogs trampled through his crop! Surprisingly though, the formation managed to survive much of this quite well, despite its many visitors. Let's hope they all gained something from the experience!

Incidentally, there was also another formation in the adjacent field that was believed to have arrived at the same time, but it was quite apparent that "The Circlemakers" had set this one up as the main attraction. This interlocking tri-circular formation of 43 circles, which we have to consider as one of Kent's finest, was beautifully executed, with all circles crisply swept clockwise.

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Photo © Andrew King

Photo © Graham Tucker

THE BORSTAL RINGS

Borstal Nr. Rochester

JULY 27th 1999 - Wheat

One of Kent's finest ever formations appeared in late July of '99, high above the Nashenden Valley at Borstal. Placed within a field that's become a popular choice for "The Circlemakers" over the years, it was arguably up until that time, the most impressive Kent had ever seen.

Apparently all the circles were immaculately swept clockwise with centrepieces consisting of "three" individual stems left standing. Three just happens to be, one of the most common numbers found in Kent circles...And this particular formation appears to reflect the importance of three throughout. For apart from its overall design, that's based upon divisions of three, notice that we also have 30 laid circles and 12 (1+2=3) rings. Along with three, the numbers six and eleven are also found in our circles, and here once again it seems, they're appearing to grace us with their presence!

And as for its overall meaning....Michael Green analysed it in depth in an article entitled "The case of the Nested Buddha's", that was published in the summer 2000 edition of The Cereologist.

Situated fairly close to a tumulus that lays hidden amongst trees, the field the formation sat in borders on The North Downs Way and The Pilgrims Way. A few yards away from the main formation an isolated satellite circle was discovered. Consisting of a circle with a smaller circle inside it, there was no way into it unless you were prepared to wade through crop in order to reach it.

Diagram © Graham Tucker

Stretched image

THE NODDING DUCK

South Street, near Whitstable

August 6th 1999 - Wheat

The nodding duck? Well surely most of you must remember that old 60's desk-top classic? ... Place a glass of water in front of him, give his head a nudge, and without fail Donald would continually nod up and down for a drink.

However strange this formation's shape may have seemed it definitely had a retro feel. Coincidentally many of the '99 formations followed a retrospective theme, and this dumbbell type was no exception. It was very similar to the dumbbells encountered during the '94 season.

This little gem was discovered by Ann Pedersen and David Taylor as they returned from the coast along the A229 (The Thanet Way). It was situated upon the incline at Golden Hill close to one of the road bridges that spans this road, near to the village of South Street, that's just outside Whitstable.

Measuring around 60 feet overall, this relatively small formation didn't appear to have had many visitors. We were treated to a nicely raised floorlay, with seedheads noticeably aligning to stems that were gently laid over. Both circles that were joined by a wide avenue, were swirled clockwise. Whilst the larger circle presented us with a nice central swirl. The smaller one held quite a surprise for us in the form of a beautifully executed, "S" shaped, double central swirl!

Some research later revealed that there's a tumulus lying in a south-easterly direction less than a mile or so away from where the formation appeared...somewhere between Clowes and Woodside woods.

THE LENHAM CIRCLES

Lenham, near Maidstone

- 19th August 1999 - Wheat

This rather odd looking formation was placed in a field that's only 25 yards away from the Lenham chalk cross, that's carved in the nearby hillside to commemorate those that fell in the 1st & 2nd World Wars. This 230-foot formation, lying alongside The Pilgrims/North Downs Way, could easily be seen from the A20 and appeared to sit remarkably comfortable beside the memorial.

Although the centres of the circles weren't that exciting, their general flow and lay were reasonably impressive. Far from appearing flat to the ground, the entire circle floorlays displayed tubular ribbing (aka wind-tubes) that were quite a common feature during the '99 season. Standing in the largest circle which measured 95 feet in diameter, we couldn't help but notice that the clock-wise spiral had swept many stems intentionally into the perimeter walls. As for the pathways we found them lying much flatter to the ground. Now whilst some of that might have been due to its many visitors, it was generally felt that the circles looked as if they'd been more gently laid.

What amazed us about this formation was that although the formation was almost four days old before we managed to visit it, we were able to detect such a lot of residual energy! As a result, the formation dowsed spectacularly, responding very well at the perimeters and wherever the lay altered direction. This energy was even detected a few yards up the tramlines, before we even entered the formation! This was also noted by others, including some Kent CCCS members who also experienced some high pitched whistles that seemed to emanate from within the circle! Also according to another report, children's voices were heard coming from the formation, which clearly wasn't the case ...or was it?

We left the formation via the chalk cross and couldn't help but notice that on a wooden bench nearby was an inscription engraved on a brass plaque featuring the following quotation by Hemingway: -

"The world is a fine place and worth fighting for"

...Maybe that also echoes the sentiments of "The Circlemakers" too!