| Description | This monument, lying just above the brow of Shipley Glen was first identified as a stone circle, but is in fact, the remains of an enclosure, probably of Iron Age date, formed by a denuded and much mutilated rubble bank, c.0.5m high and surmounted in places with large boulders. Most of these boulders are not in situ and were re erected by the Bradford Archaeology Group in the 1960s, who in addition, built a false outer ring of stones as an aid to location by the public (this seems to have confused the HBMC FMW during her visit to the site in 1985!; see AM107, 1986).
It is now difficult to determine which stones lie in their natural positions, so the form and size of the enclosure and the recognition of features such as entrances into it are problematical. The FMW noticed a possible cairn within the northern part of the enclosure and a linear embankment close to its eastern side; these features require validation as there is no other documented evidence for them. The value of a new survey of the entire enclosure remains in doubt in view of the uncertainty of the positions of the stones, though a survey of the 'new' features mentioned above may throw further light on the site's interpretation and such features may fall within the ambit of the SAM.
N.B. Flint flake was found under stone on eastern side of the enclosure in 1973 by Mr.M.Coxhead (Cliffe Castle Museum, Keighley C.Index); the flint was given to `Bradford Museum' (Cartwright Hall?). Mr. R.Pemberton also found a flint blade on Brackenhall Green and a flint core near the Soldier's Trench enclosure (Bradford Arch.Group Bull. 9, p.19). Present location of blade and core unknown, but Mr. Pemberton tended to retain his finds.
Description of the enclosure from the English Heritage Scheduled Monument notification for SAM no 25257 (24/02/1995);
The monument includes a subcircular enclosure known as 'Soldier's Trench' situated on Bracken Hall Green. At various times the site has been referred to as a 'stone circle', but this appears to be a misnomer, as on closer inspection, the site is an enclosed settlement, defined by a complex of rubble banks, orthostat walls, and combinations of these two. It does have an approximately circular form, artificially enhanced by placement of stones around the banks in 1953 and 1945. The interior is, however, subdivided by sandstone rubble banks. Possible entrances to the enclosure can be seen where large stones are upright next to a break in the associated rubble bank. There is a short stretch of facing stones visible on the internal side of the bank in the south east arc of the enclosure. Outside the enclosure, but attached to and extending from it on the south and north sides, are further stoney banks. The bank on the north side is 3m long and 2m wide, and the bank on the south side is 15m long and 3m wide. These stretches of bank are included in the monument, as they are directly associated with the main enclosure. The enclosure and attached external walls are part of a wider complex of remains in this area of the moor. |