Unveiling the Mystic Ciphers: Thomas Anson and the Shepherd's Monument Inscription

by Dave Ramsden

For over 250 years Shugborough Hall’s Shepherd's Monument has fascinated visitors with its mysterious design and its enigmatic cipher. And though the secret of the Shepherd's Monument inscription may have died with its creator, Thomas Anson, it has been the subject of both rational conjecture and radical conspiracy theories for generations. In this book, Dave Ramsden explores a compelling new theory regarding the inscription by studying the ideas expressed in Thomas Anson's other artwork, his library collection, his social circles and the candid writings of his peers. In over ten years of research, Ramsden has unearthed persuasive material that points to a conclusion also borne out by the most detailed technical decryption of the cipher ever produced. The mystery is very real, the solution believable, and the conclusion is but another beginning.

128 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2014

About the author

Dave Ramsden has been captivated by history, mysteries and patterns ever since he was a child. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in History from Bridgewater State University and is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, an American honor society for Historians. Dave holds a Master of Arts in English from BSU and is also a member of American Mensa. He is currently the Chief Strategy Officer at Atrion Networking Corporation, and as such speaks and publishes regularly on business strategy, competitive intelligence and increasing the strategic value of IT within organizations. Proud to be an Aspergian, Dave is active in raising Autism awareness both within and outside of the technology community and has spoken publicly on living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). He lives with his wife and family just outside of Boston, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently the Shepherd's Monument is one of these things that is cryptic and therefore attractive to Holy Blood, Holy Grail/DaVinci Code fans. I'd never heard of it but I picked up this book and it was short so I read the whole thing. The grounds of Shugborough House seem to be sprinkled artfully with cryptic monuments per the interest of Thomas Anson, who traveled to Egypt before it was cool and returned to England with an interest in esoteric knowledge that he shared with his other rich friends who formed secret clubs to pursue their hobby. Ramsden makes a compelling argument that the monument says, "Magdalen." On the way he explains a lot about cryptography, which was quite interesting. Why the monument says "Magdalen" in cipher is a different question, but, "Because Thomas Anson liked cryptic ciphers," is a compelling answer.