It is thought that the Dodman would have used hills to make alignments and for sighting purposes when laying out straight lines ( Ley lines?), these would usually be the shortest route between two fixed points usually incorporating natural and man made features along the alignment, such as churches, burial mounds and standing stones etc. It is thought that the hilltops from which these alignments were made acquired the name “Tot” or “Toot”, and from these names we are able to find evidence of the Dodmans influence on the landscape.

In certain parts of the country snails acquired the name “Doddies” many generations ago, this would have been due to the two antenna which can be found on the snails head and which would resemble the two sighting rods that the Dodman would have used while making his alignments on the landscape. The word “Toot” or “Tot” is thought to denote a “hill of observation”, and it is said to have been derived from the Old English word “Totian” which means to “peep”, “Look out” or “Spy”.

While undertaking research into the Dodman I came across a hill with the name “Toot hill” in the Macclesfield forest in the county of Cheshire, U.K. This would have been a suitable hill for the Dodman to have used, hence its name. Upon investigating in more depth I was able to find an alignment line which can be traced from “Toot hill”

This photo was taken from the earthworks which can be found on the top of Toot Hill in the Macclesfield forest where the Dodman would have made his alignments from. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

The alignment starts from this point on “Toot Hill” and then passes through the nearby hill known as “Shutlingslow” which apart from being known as the Cheshire Matterhorn has been used in the past as a burial mound.

The alignment can be traced running through the nearby hill known as Shutlingslow which can be seen in the distance shrouded in cloud. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

From Shutlingslow the alignment can be traced to a natural chasm called Ludchurch on the far side of the rocky escarpment known as the “Roaches”, this chasm has many legends attached to it and can be found in the ancient Backforest

Ludchurch is a natural chasm where the alignment passes through. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

From this point the alignment runs through “Roche Grange” which can be found on the opposite side of the “Roaches” in the “Land of the Rush” a place where a Demonic wind is said to blow.

Roche Grange, another location on the landscape which the alignment runs through. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

From Roche Grange the alignment can be traced running through the small village of Bradnop on the other side of the town of Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Bradnop has an association with the mysterious “Phantom Black Dog” which has been seen guarding the grave site of a Jacobite soldier which can be found behind Oxhaye farm, the alignment runs close to the strange “Egg Well” another place where the phantom dog has been seen.

Behind Oxhaye farm can be found the burial site of a Jacobite soldier which has been seen on occasion being guarded by a Phantom Black Dog. The alignment can be traced running through this village. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

 I have traced the alignment a bit further, it seems to end close to the Coombes Valley which seems to have a great deal of strange things occurring here which I have written about and posted among my other work. Whether or not the alignment continues past this point I am not sure as my map does not cover a larger area. I have found the alignment running through a place known as Rough Stone Hole in the Coombes Valley which is very close to Spirit Hole Woods which I have written about, the alignment crosses the Coombes Brook and where it crosses I found a strange circle formed out of foam.

The strange foam circle I found in the Coombes Brook close to the end of the alignment. Photo by Gary Tacagni.