More information : [SE 1304 3908] Stone Circle [OE) (Remains of) (1)
A partially destroyed stone circle, which appears to have
consisted of a bank with inner and outer rows of standing stones,
measuring 50 by 39 yds, and known as 'The Soldiers Ring' or
'The Soldiers Trench'. (2-3)
Resurveyed at 1:1250. The "circle", known locally as "The
Soldier's Trench,(a)" is the remains of an enclosure formed by a
denuded, and much mutilated rubble bank approximately 0.5m high,
surmounted, in places, by large boulders. The majority of these,
however, are not in situ, and have been erected, in recent
years, by members of "The Bradford Archaeology Group", who in
addition have built a false outer ring of boulders as an aid to
location by the public(a).
The purpose of the enclosure is enigmatical; but an I.A.
origin seems likely in view of the discovery of a number of
querns in the vicinity. [See SE 13 NW 27 and 28] (4)
SE 1304 3908. The soldiers trench, Baildon. Additional reference. (5)
Barnes incorrectly assigns this site to SE 13 NW 27 instead of SE 13 NW 22. (6)
SE 1304 3908. Enclosed settlement known as 'Soldier's Trench'
including a cup-marked rock. Scheduled RSM No 25257. Outside the
enclosure but attached to it and extending from it to the S and N
are further stony banks of the form used as internal sub-dividers
within the enclosure. The bank on the N side is 3m long and 2m wide
and that on the S is 15m long and 3m wide. There are other stretches
of linear banks in this area of moor, which perhaps defined field
systems associated with the enclosure. A stretch of bank in the SW
side of the main enclosure bears a carving of 4 or 5 shallow cups and
one deeper cup, clustered on the E, higher, end of its upper surface.
(7)
The enlcosure described above was transcribed as an extent of area as part of the Lower Wharfedale NMP project and is visible as a ring of stones on air photographs. However, the banks and field system described above by authority 7 were not apparent on the air photographs available to the project.
(8)
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