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.

A view of the strange Egg well where the Padffot has been seen. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

During my investigation I have found many sightings of the Padfoot which seems to follow the route that Bonnie Prince Charlie followed with his troops while on his way to Derby, whether skirmishes took place along this route which led to deaths and burials along the way is not known for sure, however one place that I know of where the Padfoot has been seen is in the vicinity of Oxhaye Farm on the side of the Leek to Ashbourne road. This was formerly a pub called the Red Lion, and it is thought that two Jacobite soldiers fought with each other and as a result were killed, their bodies were buried at the rear of the farm, and it is said that the Padfoot has been seen guarding their graves.

Oxhayes farm on the Leek to Ashbourne road. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

The burial site of two Jacobite soldiers which are believed to be guarded by the Padfoot behind Oxhayes farm. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

Another place that Bonnie Prince Charlie passed through can be found about another six miles further down the Leek to Ashbourne at a place called Swinscoe, at this place it is believed that another three graves belonging to Jacobite soldiers can be found, the Padfoot has been seen in close proximity to these graves.

Three Jacobite soldiers are buried at this village, is this why the Padfoot has been seen here? Photo by Gary Tacagni.

In the Pennine region of the U.K. the Phantom black dog is known as “the Black Fairie dog”, some of these phantom black dogs are benevolent and seem to have a guardian function especially when they are attached to certain hills, lanes and footpaths between villages. The fear which usually accompanies the sighting of a phantom black dog is their connection to death and the underworld, in many old traditions dogs had the ability to sense death and acted as guardians between this world and the next.

If you travel through the village of Ipstones in the Staffordshire Moorlands on the A5053 after about half a mile you will see Hermitage Farm on the right hand side of the road, this house is over three hundred years old, ghostly screams have been heard coming from below one of the windows, also organ music has been heard on occasions. Yet once more the Padfoot has been seen around this area, mainly at the end of the lane leading to the farmhouse, one person is said to have tried to kick out at the Phantom dog but his foot passed right through it! Another time a light was seen to travel up the driveway before disappearing before it reached the house.

The end of the drive to Hermitage farm where the Padfoot has been seen. Photo by Gary Tacagni.

Hermitage farm where ghostly screams and organ music have been heard. Photo by Gary Tacagni.