“DOWSING” FOR OLD GLASS

Greymouth Evening Star, 10 March 1933, Page 4

“DOWSING” FOR OLD GLASS

SEARCH FOR TREASURES

SALISBURY, January 26

The Chapter of Salisbury Cathedral, in their search for the lost thir-

teenth and fourteenth century window glass from the cathedral, have called in the help of diviners. These diviners (or “dowsers,” as they are called in some parts of England) claim to be able to locate metals or glass as well as water. The glass for which search is being made was taken out of the Cathedral windows in the eighteenth century, and, after remaining in a glazier’s workship, was, about sixty years ago, dumped in the “town ditch.” Some fragments have been recovered and are being releaded.

The Rev. Dr Stanley Baker, one of Ihe Vicars Choral (a. Cathedral corporation), yesterday described the re(•cni -progress of the search for the glass. He had been informed, he said, by om' of ihe bell-ringers, of a diviner in Devon with powers to locate metals. This man carried in his hands a, steel spring which bent down when he was over water and up when over glass or metal.

In two places where the reactions occurred some glass was found, but in a meadow at Harnham, adjoining the city, whore he was positive that glass would be discovered at a depth ol 9ft, there was only greensand. Another man, who said he was a diviner of fifty years’ experience, also offered his services. He used’ a

thin wand of alder which gave different. movements for different objects. For glass it. moved diagonally.

In the Friary ho located two spots, in one of which, he said, there was a very largo quantity of lead, and in the other an amount of glass. Two more diviners experienced reactions in certain other places.