Alfred Watkins

The Visionary Photographer who Uncovered Ancient Connections

A talented photographer, entrepreneur, theorist, and public servant, Alfred Watkins became fascinated by the idea that these ancient sites were not random but were linked by invisible paths he called ley lines. In his 1925 book, The Old Straight Track, he proposed that these lines connected sacred places across the land, revealing a hidden wisdom that people had long forgotten.

Watkins didn’t just theorize; he captured the beauty of these ancient structures through his photography. His stunning images brought the rich history of Britain to life, helping others see the magic in the landscapes that surrounded them. He was also an inventor, creating the bee meter a pocket calculator for determining exposure. Its success was demonstrated when H.G. Ponting, the photographer on Scott's Antarctic Expedition in 1910, used a Watkins' meter to produce his amazing landscapes of this unknown continent. He told Watkins that without the meter, the photographs would have been impossible.

Early Life

Alfred Watkins was born on January 27, 1855, at the Imperial Hotel in Widemarsh Street, Hereford, England. He was the third of ten children born to Charles and Ann Watkins. His father, Charles, was a driven entrepreneur, expanding his business ventures from the Imperial Hotel to include the Bewell Street Hereford Brewery and the Friar Street Flour Mill.

Alfred received his education at a private school located in what is now the Farmers’ Club. However, he later recalled to his son that he felt he had learned “absolutely nothing” during his time there. Later on, Alfred developed his passion for photography during his teenage years and continued doing so for the rest of his life.

Photography and Business

During his teenage years, Alfred Watkins began working at the Imperial Brewery in Hereford, which his father owned. He immersed himself in various brewing processes, from crafting wooden barrels to brewing and bottling beer. As an "out-rider," he traveled around Herefordshire using a horse, and gig to take orders for the brewery. During this time, he always makes sure to take a camera with him and later on developed a fascination for capturing the county's sights and landscapes during his journeys.

All the more that his passion for photography blossomed in his late teens when he experimented with a pinhole camera, often developing wet glass-plate negatives in a small tent before they had a chance to dry. He quickly recognized that mastering exposure and development times were fundamental challenges in photography. To address the exposure issue, he designed a pocket calculator and established a manufacturing business near the flour mill. His efforts paid off, as he sold 1,400 meters in his first year alone, priced at a guinea each. He later created a more affordable version called the Bee Meter, which gained international popularity, particularly after it was used by Ponting during Scott's Antarctic expedition in 1910 to capture iconic photographs.

In 1910, Watkins became a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and received the society's 11th Progress Medal for his research contributions. The following year, he published Photography: Its Principles and Applications, which became a foundational reference for amateur photographers for generations. 

He was perhaps more of an antiquarian than an archaeologist, yet he ensured that fine photographic records exist of many archaeological sites that have since been lost, including sections of Hereford’s City Walls, Craswall Priory, St Giles Chapel, and others. In his later years, he explored color photography and utilized a hand-turned cine camera​.

The Woolhope Club

In 1919, Alfred Watkins served as the President of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. It is a society based in Herefordshire, England, that focuses on the study of natural history, geology, archaeology, and local history.

One of Watkins' key goals during his presidency was to advocate for the inclusion of women in the club. Despite his efforts, this attempt was unsuccessful, and it wasn’t until 1954, long after his passing, that women were finally admitted as members of the club. This change marked a significant shift in the club’s policies, reflecting broader societal changes during the mid-20th century.

On Thursday, September 29th, 1921, Alfred Watkins delivered a paper about Early British Trackways, Moats, Mounds, Camps, and Sites. In his talk he introduced members to a new concept — the old straight track; the ley line — prehistoric trading routes based on straight lines between a variety of sighting points. The meeting was well-documented, with members inspecting ancient sites near Holmer before Watkins gave his illustrated presentation. His lecture was based on his observations of straight lines (or "leys") connecting these ancient features, and he demonstrated this with maps and photographs during the session.

How Alfred Watkins Discovered Ley Lines

On June 30, 1921, while mapping ancient sites in the Blackwardine area, Alfred Watkins observed a series of alignments between historic landmarks, which he later described as straight tracks or paths connecting ancient and sacred sites across the terrain.

He claimed to have seen “in a flash” a pattern of lines that stretched across the landscape, although he initially had no theory regarding their function​. This insight led him to propose the concept of ley lines, which he envisioned as remnants of Neolithic trading routes. Watkins's idea gained further development and expression in his 1925 book, "The Old Straight Track," where he detailed his findings and speculated about the historical significance of these lines​.

Alfred Watkins quickly released several important works, including The Ley Hunters Manual, Early British Trackways, Archaic Tracks around Cambridge, and The Old Straight Track, which has remained in print for nearly 78 years. In 1926, he played a key role in establishing The Old Straight Track Club, which operated until the mid-1940s. The club's records, along with Watkins's glass-plate negatives, are preserved at the Hereford City Library. Many still regard his theories seriously today, and the Ley Hunter magazine continues to be published regularly​.