Hopwas Woods always draws me back, it’s the wild mysterious part of the Tamworth area. As Henry David Thoreau said in Walden ” Our village life would stagnate were it not for the unexplored forests and meadows which surround it.”
People in industrial estates produce objects whereas people in Hopwas produces myths and news stories. Hopwas legend estate! A couple of months back Hopwas was back in the local Tamworth Herald news. The front page stories ran for a couple of weeks on evidence unearthed for occult activities found in the form of engraved copper tablets and Egyptian style statues.
The first reaction from the scientific, rational community is usually one of dismissing it out of hand, sometimes angrily,calling them wild stories, children’s pranks to sell newspapers. Another reaction is to ridicule and belittle the stories and people with the resulting bitchiness on both sides. Take a look at the heated exchange on the Tamworth Herald article comments page for example. I think though it´s more interesting than that.
Hopwas Hayes as one of the most ancient woodlands in the area together with being on a prominent hill is a prime area for goings on. It´s literally an island of wildness surrounded by thousands if not hundreds of thousands people in largely urban space and productive agricultural land. Woodlands did once play an important economic role in the landscape, they provided fuel, building material, charcoal, hunting areas. Now it´s an anomaly, what the hell is it? where does it fit in the modern world, even the army don´t use it anymore?? A place for walking the dog or is more than that
? It´s a non productive space, there´s no museums, woodland trust initiatives, it´s truly a wild place. Maybe even an affront, insult or even frightening unproductive space to some people, but to others could be the ideal place to act out different non-conventional part of their lives from new age beliefs to tree hugging!
Myth becomes reality becomes Myth
My effort to describe the full circle story of the occult and Hopwas below:
prominent point, ancient woods, thought of as source of energy = pagan practitioners attracted and start performing in woods = witches are caught by local police = local media frenzy = gets lodged in local conciousness= mysterious wood becomes more mysterious = attracts, pagan practitioners, kids messing about, stories, ravers, writers = some people as result may avoid scary wood = current day news story, occult objects are found, firm solid ´archaeological type´evidence is found, Staffordshire hoard style.
The process has produced the situation today, a highly charged place full of rumours, attracting and likely to attract certain people from far and wide.
This is all good
This is not a bad thing though this means the wood has become a fascinating place full of meaning for an increasing number of people. Stories of the occult are extremely attractive they help sell a lot of books, films and as the Tamworth Herald has found out, newspapers. They also help though enquiring minds, people want to find out more. People want to know more about this mysterious place, they´ll add stories to the place. Also there will be people who want to debunk these mysteries by trying to proving them wrong and providing the evidence for the history of Hopwas, thus getting to know the history of Hopwas better. People like me will try to use the interest in the strange happenings in Hopwas as a launchpad for my discoveries and encourage exploration of the area. Others like the West Midlands Ghost club have their own research agenda and will keep adding mystery to the place. Witches and non-witches alike will keep dancing.
This is all good, this means Hopwas woods becomes alive with enquiry, exploration for all sorts of people with different approaches and views. This is not something to be scared of there´s enough for everyone, what we should be scared of is the places being ignored. By being ignored it could be condemned, the Woodhouse was a victim of being ignored and looked what happened to it.By being ignored, by not being talked about, and leaving it in the hands of a few, the council, English Heritage, Tarmac, whoever, a lot has been lost over the years and a singular view of history encouraged; all country houses, castles and churches!
Adding more to the witches brew
i) Egyptian occult objects in the Hopwas area, whatever, Tamworth´s used to them. 19th and early 20th century philanthropist Tamworth resident Reverend William Macgregor(nice link and research here) was also a highly respected Egyptologist, he also had one of the most important collections of Egyptian collections in the United Kingdom. He had the collection quartered in his residence at Bolehall Manor, Tamworth with solid rumours that there are Egyptian mummies buried beneath the Palace cinema, now Mcdonalds(this together with Rev William Macgregor warrants a post or blog of it´s own) ! Tutmania right there in Tamworth! Here´s a video of some strange Egyptian goings on from the great Sun Ra in a place in a forest space somewhere
ii. Mysterious ephermeral cottage in Hopwas woods.
This bit of historic map detective work on my part could add to that whole Blair witch theme going on in the woods, I´m justing putting out the material evidence, do with it what you will. Use it in novels, campfire stories,……
1924 Ordnance survey map showing the cottage and grounds next to the canal
Between around 1920 and 1940, the Woodman´s cottage appears on ordnance maps. It´s close to the canal and bridge and adjacent to a well trodden raised path parallel to the canal. After WWII it disappears, from maps and from any record, woooooooooooooooooo. (cue me wandering off in white blanket)
The cottage appears to have some type of enclosed land, haven´t inspected it in person, but on this Lidar image of Hopwas you can clearly make out the cleft out piece of land on the hillside where the cottage probably once stood, is there any more evidence on the ground? what´s the story behind this place?
Lidar image of Hopwas and canal, with cleft out piece of between path and canal
Oooh spooky
Will have to pay more attention when out with the dog
[…] the mystery but still beautiful, and a recommendation that you read the TamworthTimeHikes’ Which Witch’s Woods for a fascinating and thoughtful look at another enigmatic woodland at Hopwas. This entry was […]
HI there – stumbled across your Hopwas related blog & thought I’d drop you a press release about a music video that my group has shot in the woods there back in March 2011 which has only just gone online…..
It seems that centuries-old prejudices and ignorance continue to run amok in these so-called enlightened times and my group has received loads of stick from some members of the public (misguided Christians who seem to be wildly making ill-construed conclusions!) because of our video which was meant as a piece of art & a tribute to those old folk-horror movies from Tigon & Hammer way back in thre late 60s & early 70s….
Anyway. here is the press release for your information:
Tamworth’s dark links to witchcraft and the occult have been thrust back into the limelight thanks to a controversial new pop music video filmed in Hopwas Woods.
The ancient woodland has long-standing links to alleged witchcraft, occult rituals and so-called spooky goings-on and the new film by town group DC Fontana has reawakened memories of Tamworth’s dark past.
The video for DC Fontana’s new single ‘Meshkalina’ has been viewed by thousands of people on the internet and features the group inside the woods taking part in a mock ritual wearing animal masks and stars an eight year-old local schoolgirl.
Musicians from the band admit they sought advice from real-life witches but deny being involved in any witchcraft or occult rituals themselves.
Youngster Ella Benham of Two Gates stars in the film, alongside the group’s lead singer Karla Milton.
She plays the part of a missing schoolgirl held captive inside a magic pentacle by a cloaked character in a horned mask during a ceremony but is eventually rescued by the DC singer.
Worshipping pagan characters are seen kneeling before the ‘Horned God’ character in the candlelight gloom in the woods close to an altar containing magical paraphernalia including a cauldron, black candles and other altar tools.
The video has led to some criticism of the group from outraged Christians who have sent messages to the Tamworth band decrying the video.
The film’s mock ceremony is a throwback to 1984 when a police raid at Hopwas Woods led to the arrest of 16 men and women after a naked occult ritual there.
Later members of those arrested denied they were ‘witches’, claiming to be members of The Order Of The Silver Star, an international occult group founded in 1907 by the notorious black magician Aleister Crowley.
More recently the discovery of a copper plate featuring magical symbols and an Egyptian statuette re-ignited talk of spooky affairs in the woodland which has long held a reputation of being a location for occultists and practitioners of pagan and witchcraft rituals.
But the Tamworth pop group behind the new movie were quick to point out they were not involved in any sinister night-time frolics and insisted that “nothing untoward” took place during the filming.
Bass player Mark Mortimer, who lives in Tamworth, said: “The film was actually a tribute to classic Hammer and Tigon folk-horror movies and we didn’t take part in anything satanic or dodgy!
“Some people are too eager to criticise without actually knowing the facts and we are well known for creating interesting movies that reflect iconic symbolism of art in pop culture.
“Of course we aren’t naive and were fully aware of what happened in the woods back in the mid-80s and we took the precaution of ensuring all the authorities were aware of what we were getting up to in the woods so there would be no hoo-ha and no accusations.
“The fact that some people have decided to slate us for making this video shows how ludicrous some more extreme members of the public can be and actually also emphasises what a bad press pagans and so-called ‘witches’ still receive today.
“People pursuing pagan beliefs have been hunted and murdered for thinking differently to those who believe in Christian doctrine in centuries gone by and it seems that even in these so-called enlightened times in the 21st century some people are still prone to out-dated prejudices and ignorance.
“In fact witches do not worship Satan and it would be fair to say that many elements of Christian worship and rituals were cleverly borrowed or nicked from pagans over the centuries.
“We did a lot of research into pagan rituals and yes it’s true to say I met up with several witches and interesting people to take advice before we made what we think is a very light-hearted and fun film.
“It’s not meant to be taken too seriously, it’s a music video and a piece of art, that’s all!
“We don’t go round sacrificing anything or drinking blood! We make music,” added Mortimer, the founder of DC Fontana and the group’s bass guitarist.
He continued: “we mixed advice from pagans with some good old fashioned British horror cinema to develop what we think is a modern-day fairytale in which our singer Karla triumphs over the ‘baddies’, rescues young Ella and everything ends all happily.”
The ‘Meshkalina’ movie was made by London based boutique film company Anotherschmuck Productions who sent a film crew to the woods on the outskirts of the town back in March to shoot the scenes on the pagan sabbath of Ostara which is the pagan origins of Easter.
Most of the scenes were shot at night inside the woods with a few extra scenes shot at Bolehall Fish Bar, at Alvecote pools and in country lanes surrounding Baxterley and Baddesley Ensor in nearby north Warwickshire.
Police, Severn Trent Water and Ministry of Defence officials were pre-warned by the group that the film was being made inside the woods.
Mortimer said the group had spoken at length with Ella’s mother before the film was shot and members of the youngster’s family were present throughout the filming of scenes.
He added: “Ella is the real star of the film and for a youngster with no acting experience she really shines in the video and she seemed to enjoy being in the limelight.
“Making the film at night in March was a very uncomfortable experience – we had to transport a lot of heavy equipment by hand along the canal from the village of Hopwas to the heart of the woods which was exhausting and painful and it was bitterly cold.
“One member of the film crew was taken to hospital in the middle of the night after falling badly in the darkness and tore her ankle ligaments and it really was a tough film shoot all round but we hope everyone’s efforts will be worthwhile.
“Certainly the video has attracted a lot of interest!”
DC Fontana release ‘Meshkalina’ as a 7″ vinyl record, a multi-media CD-EP and as digital downloads on their own DCTone Records label and also filmed a second video to promote the ‘B side’, called ‘It Don’t Worry Me’ among the ruins of the 11th century Benedictine priory at Alvecote, near Tamworth.
The disc is produced by Donald Skinner, a well known record producer originally from Wigginton who now lives in London and is well known for being fellow Tamworth pop star Julian Cope’s long-term guitarist.
[…] think that to find a nearby semi natural ancient woodland, you need to visit Hopwas Woods on the way to Tamworth. Which I should probably do at some point! It’s worth pointing out […]
Quote: “People like me will try to use the interest in the strange happenings in Hopwas as a launchpad for my discoveries and encourage exploration of the area. Others like the West Midlands Ghost club have their own research agenda and will keep adding mystery to the place”.
On the contrary – we pride ourselves in our ‘objectivity’ when it comes to research projects…… We have no interest in colouring the views and / or perspectives of others re. the paranormal and do not work to any form of biased agenda.
I wonder if the scout hut is still there I was there with Skipper Smith (whatever happened to him) from 1955 for about 4 years