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Training and Trenches
A First World War centenary community archaeology project in the
Yorkshire Dales National Park
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
June 2015
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Training and Trenches was carried out between January and July 2014 by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. The project was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund through their ‘Understanding the First World War’ programme. Copyright © Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Contact: Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, Yoredale, Bainbridge North Yorkshire DL8 3EL [email protected] http://www.outofoblivion.org.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/dalesarch Cover illustration: Training and Trenches excavation open day at Giggleswick School © YDNPA Contributors – James Spry: Principal Author and Editor Miles Johnson: Rifle Range, Drill Hall, Training Trenches Survey, Editor Robert White: Editor David Johnson: Training Trenches Excavation Hannah Brown: Geophysical Survey Jenny Vaughan: Pottery Michael Miles: Documentary Research
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Table of Contents
Table of Figures .............................................................................................................................. iv
List of Tables................................................................................................................................... vi
Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................. vii
1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1
2 The Sites .................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 Castleberg Drill Hall ............................................................................................................. 2
2.2 Attermire Rifle Range .......................................................................................................... 3
2.3 Training Trench Earthworks ................................................................................................. 3
3 Project Aims and Objectives....................................................................................................... 4
4 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 5
4.1 Documentary Research ....................................................................................................... 5
4.2 Surveys ............................................................................................................................... 5
4.2.1 Drill Hall......................................................................................................................... 5
4.2.2 Rifle Range ................................................................................................................... 6
4.2.3 Training Trench Earthworks – plane table ..................................................................... 6
4.2.4 Training Trench Earthworks – geophysical .................................................................... 7
4.3 Excavation ........................................................................................................................... 7
5 Results & Interpretation .............................................................................................................. 8
5.1 Documentary research......................................................................................................... 8
5.1.1 Preliminary Research .................................................................................................... 8
5.1.2 Giggleswick School Archive ........................................................................................ 15
5.1.3 Imperial War Museum, London ................................................................................... 18
5.1.4 North Yorkshire County Record Office, Northallerton .................................................. 22
5.2 Surveys ............................................................................................................................. 23
5.2.1 Drill Hall....................................................................................................................... 23
5.2.2 Rifle Range ................................................................................................................. 28
5.2.3 Training Trenches ....................................................................................................... 31
5.3 Geophysical Survey ........................................................................................................... 33
5.4 Excavation ......................................................................................................................... 34
5.4.1 Excavation Trench 1.................................................................................................... 35
5.4.2 Excavation Trench 2.................................................................................................... 38
5.4.3 Excavation Trench 3.................................................................................................... 40
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5.4.4 Pottery Report ............................................................................................................. 42
6 Discussion ................................................................................................................................ 43
6.1 Drill Hall ............................................................................................................................. 43
6.2 Rifle Range ........................................................................................................................ 45
6.3 Training Trenches .............................................................................................................. 47
6.3.1 Trench Warfare ........................................................................................................... 47
6.3.2 Surveys ....................................................................................................................... 51
6.3.3 Excavation .................................................................................................................. 52
7 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................. 56
7.1 Drill Hall ............................................................................................................................. 56
7.2 Rifle Range ........................................................................................................................ 57
7.3 Training Trenches .............................................................................................................. 57
8 Outreach .................................................................................................................................. 59
8.1 Documentary Research ..................................................................................................... 59
8.2 Surveys ............................................................................................................................. 60
8.3 Excavation ......................................................................................................................... 61
8.4 Dissemination .................................................................................................................... 62
9 Legacy ..................................................................................................................................... 64
Bibliography .................................................................................................................................. 66
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Table of Figures
Figure 1. The location of the sites investigated as part of this project. ............................................. 1
Figure 2. The road side exterior of the Castleberg Drill Hall. ........................................................... 2
Figure 3. The rifle range butts at and markers shelter at Attermire. ................................................. 3
Figure 4. Lidar image of two suspected First World War training trenches within the grounds of
Giggleswick School. ........................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 5. Walter Morrison as depicted in the 1920 publication ‘Cravens Part in the Great War’. ...... 8
Figure 6. Walter Morrison in his NCRC uniform. .............................................................................. 9
Figure 7. The 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment as depicted in ‘Craven’s Part in the
Great War’..................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 8. ‘Craven’s Part in the Great War frontispiece. .................................................................. 11
Figure 9. The Giggleswick School OTC, 1910. .............................................................................. 12
Figure 10. The Giggleswick detachment at the OTC camp at Tidworth Pennings, Salisbury Plain in
1911. ............................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 11. Members of the Giggleswick OTC during a Field Day, c.1917. ..................................... 14
Figure 12. The First World War memorial inside the Giggleswic School Chapel. ........................... 15
Figure 13. Cover of the 1914 Almanac. ......................................................................................... 16
Figue 14. A copy of the Musketry Regulation handbook (not IWM copy). ...................................... 21
Figure 15. The south gable. .......................................................................................................... 23
Figure 16. The roadside elevation. ................................................................................................ 23
Figure 17. The north gable. ........................................................................................................... 24
Figure 18. The soot line indicating the roofline of the (since removed) additional covered entrance
at the north gable. ......................................................................................................................... 24
Figure 20. The cast iron sweeping hatch into the flue. ................................................................... 25
Figure 19. The outline of the footing of the covered entrance. ....................................................... 25
Figure 21. An internal view of the Drill Hall looking towards the elevated viewing balcony. ........... 26
Figure 22. The original stairwell leading up to the balcony. ........................................................... 27
Figure 23. The fireplace and engraved mantelpiece. ..................................................................... 27
Figure 24. The brass plaque war memorial ................................................................................... 28
Figure 25. Survey reduced from 1:100 field drawing. .................................................................... 29
Figure 27. The rear (left) and front (right) of two separate iron targets at the Attermire Rifle Range.
...................................................................................................................................................... 30
Figure 26. Fired lead bullets (left and center) recovered from the scree slope and a contemporary
empty lead case (right). ................................................................................................................. 30
Figure 28. The plane table survey drawing. ................................................................................... 32
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Figure 29. Greyscale data plot of the magnetometer data. ............................................................ 33
Figure 30. Archaeological interpretation of the magnetometer data. .............................................. 34
Figure 32. A finished shot of Trench 1 showing the undisturbed lychet subsoil. ............................ 37
Figure 33. The finished north-eastern profile of Trench 1 .............................................................. 37
Figure 34. The east facing profile of Trench 2. .............................................................................. 38
Figure 35. A close-up of the east facing profile of Trench 2, showing the upper and lower trench
fills. ............................................................................................................................................... 39
Figure 36. An east facing shot of the finished Trench 2. ................................................................ 40
Figure 37. The east facing profile of Trench 3. .............................................................................. 41
Figure 38. The finished east facing profile of Trench 3 showing the minimal depth of the earthwork
and the undisturbed lychet subsoil. ............................................................................................... 42
Figure 39. Nelsons reconstruction drawing of the Attermire Rifle Range structure. ....................... 45
Figure 40. The external face of the stop butt at East Weares rifle range. ...................................... 46
Fig. 41. Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban’s fortress attack design. ................................................ 48
Fig. 42. Sketch plan of Boer trenches from the Second Boer War. ................................................ 48
Figure 43. Aerial photograph showing the opposing trench systems between Loos and Hulluch in
July 1917. ..................................................................................................................................... 49
Fig. 44. Instructional diagram of font line trenches from the British War Office manual “British
Trench Warfare 1917-1918: a reference manual”. ......................................................................... 50
Figure 45. The Quarry Hil South West survey at Redmires. .......................................................... 51
Figure 46. Cross section of a communication trench from the British War Office manual “British
Trench Warfare 1917-1918: a reference manual”. ......................................................................... 53
Fig. 47. Cross section of a fire trench from the British War Office manual “British Trench Warfare
1917-1918: a reference manual”. .................................................................................................. 54
Fig. 48. Cross section of a fire trench in west soil from the British War Office manual “British Trench
Warfare 1917-1918: a reference manual”. ..................................................................................... 55
Figure 49. Research Assistant Michael Miles outside the Imperial War Museum in London. ......... 59
Figure 50. Talking to members of the public during the rifle range survey. .................................... 60
Figure 51. The survey team at the training trench earthworks. ...................................................... 61
Figure 52. Students from Giggleswick School being shown how to record a trench by a member of
the Ingleborough Archaeology Group. ........................................................................................... 61
Figure 53. First World War re-enactors giving a lesson on trench warfare during the site open day.
...................................................................................................................................................... 62
Figure 54. The Training and Trenches talk at the Craven Museum & Art Gallery. ......................... 63
Figure 55. A screen shot of the ‘Yorkshire Dales Archaeology’ Facebook page and the Attermire
Rifle Range post. .......................................................................................................................... 63
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List of Tables
Table 1. Context register for excavation. ....................................................................................... 35
Table 2. Small finds register for excavation. .................................................................................. 35
Table 3. Pottery catalogue. ........................................................................................................... 43
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Acknowledgements The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority wouldn’t have been able to carry out the Training and
Trenches project to the standard that it did without the help of many different external groups and
individuals. Therefore the authority’s Historic Environment Team would like to thank the following
for their input into the project:
The Heritage Lottery Fund, the Council for British Archaeology, Gigggleswick School staff and
students, the Richard Whiteley Theatre, Ingleborough Archaeology Group, Ingleborough District
Scout Group, The Museum of North Craven Life, The Craven Museum and Gallery, Giggleswick
Primary School staff and students, the Yorkshire Dales Young Archaeologists Club, the Yorkshire
Dales Young Rangers, the National Parks Mosaic project, Leeds Royal Armouries, Anthony
Crawshaw and Bill Flentje, Archaeological Services WYAS, Finlay King and Emma Wilson, the
Cravens Part in the Great War website, the North Craven Historical Research Group, the Dales
Volunteers, the North Yorkshire County Record Office, the Imperial War Museum in London, the
Kirby Malham Local History Group, and all of the individuals who attended the project open day
and talks.
All of those involved have demonstrated how rich the community spirit is within and around the
Yorkshire Dales and the level of interest there is in the Dales’ historic environment.
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1 Introduction
The First World War centenary runs from 2014 to 2018. Across Great Britain and the globe
individuals, communities and various organisations will be undertaking a range of projects and
activities to commemorate the sixteen million plus people who died during the Great War. This
included around 10 million military personnel and 7 million civilians. 888,246 British military
personnel were killed, with a further 1.2 million from around the British Empire, and around 1.6
million British soldiers were wounded. In addition, there were approximately a further 107,000 war-
related deaths among British civilians, resulting from factors such as malnutrition and disease.
As powerful as these statistics are, they do not tell us about the impact of the Great War on a local
scale in Great Britain, with communities from every corner of the country greatly affected by the
event that changed the world forever. It is important to understand the people, events and
communities behind these statistics and bring the stories of our ancestors alive. Archaeological
research provides an effective and engaging means of doing this. The Training and Trenches
project focuses on the physical legacy of the First World War, asking what archaeology and
standing structures can tell us about the impact of the war in the Settle area of the Yorkshire Dales
National Park. It focuses on three sites – the Castleberg Drill Hall in Settle; a rifle range at the foot
of Attermire Scar; and a pair of suspected training trench earthworks within the Giggleswick School
Estate (Fig. 1). It used documentary research, archaeological survey, and a targeted
archaeological excavation.
Previous research into the physical legacy of the First World War on the Home Front has been
limited, particularly among small rural communities. Nevertheless, the archaeology and architecture
of the Great War is being increasingly recognised and appreciated, with buildings such as Drill
Halls and other training facilities coming to the attention of archaeologists and historians alike.
1
2
3
Figure 1. The location of the sites investigated as part of this project – 1. Castleberg Drill Hall; 2.
Attermire Rifle Range; 3. Training Trench Earthworks.
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Training and Trenches is a community project, supported by a £7,000 award from the Heritage
Lottery Fund as part of their ‘Understanding the First World War’ programme. The project began in
January 2014 with an application to the HLF by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
(YDNPA). The award was made in April, and the project culminates with the production of this
report, which will present to you the story of the project, the events that it included, the people
involved, and the results of the archaeological research.
2 The Sites
2.1 Castleberg Drill Hall
The Castleberg Drill Hall (YDNPA Historic Environment Record (HER) reference MYD59710) (Fig.
2), is a large stone building located at grid reference SD8211563547, on Castleberg Lane on the
eastern side of Settle. It is overlooked by the natural limestone outcrop Castleberg Crag to the
east. The Drill Hall has been used by the Settle Scout Group as their Scout hut since the 1930’s. It
has a kitchen and toilets and is available for private hire by the community. Although the original
form and structure of the hall remains, its internal makeup has been altered in order to provide
facilities for its current
usage.
Constructed in 1864 for
the North Craven Rifle
Corps (NCRC), the
Castleberg Drill Hall
provides an early
example of military
training in the Dales.
Drill Halls sprang up
throughout the country
from the 1860’s until the
beginning of the 20th
century and were
primarily used to aid the
training of the newly
formed local Volunteer
Forces, in addition to
offering a function
space for other local
organisations. Their
emergence resulted
from an increased investment in local military training in the aftermath of the Crimean War (1853-
1856) and the expansion of the British Empire throughout Africa and the subsequent Boer Wars
(1880-1881/1889-1902). A fresh surge in Drill Hall development came following the formation of the
Territorial Force in 1908. Two other drill stations are recorded in what is now the National Park at
Sedbergh and Reeth. Drill halls have been identified as representing an architecturally and
commemoratively significant part of our heritage which would benefit from further attention and
Figure 2. The road side exterior of the Castleberg Drill Hall.
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monitoring (Carmichael 2013).
2.2 Attermire Rifle Range
The rifle range at Attermire (YDNPA HER MYD36669) (Fig. 3) is located at grid reference
SD83856412, approximately 1.1 miles east of Settle. It lies at a height of approximately 330 metres
above sea level at the southern foot of Attermire Scar; a limestone cliff formed by the Craven Fault.
The rifle range was constructed in 1860 for shooting practice for the NCRC, who continued to use
the range up until the First World War. During the Second World War it was used by the local
Home Guard (Mussett 1980: 11). Following the abandonment of the range in the early 1950’s
(Mussett 1980: 11), it has been left relatively undisturbed by human activity. The cast iron targets
are located beside a well used public footpath, promoted as a circular walk from Settle and are
clearly visible. The site sits in an area of land that has not undergone any modern agricultural
cultivation and is used
entirely for pasture. Any
damage to the range
following its
abandonment is largely
the result of natural
degradation and animal
disturbance.
A previous small study
of the range was carried
out by Nelson (1998).
The rifle range is one of
two identified in the
Yorkshire Dales as
being used during the
First World War, the
other being just outside
the National Park near
Fell Lane, Ingleton in a
similar position against a
hillside (YDNPA HER MYD52805, SD71257360). Other nineteenth or early twentieth century rifle
ranges are known at Ellerlands, Castle Bolton (MYD43241) and Slei Gill, Arkengarthdale (MYD
43939). The date of the rifle range at Underbanks, Sedbergh (MYD33425), possibly associated
with Sedbergh School, is not recorded on the HER.
2.3 Training Trench Earthworks
The suspected training trench system (YDNPA HER MYD50937), located at grid reference SD
8112964469, is now within the grounds of the Giggleswick School Estate, having been purchased
by them in 1933. Unfortunately the previous owner(s) of the land has not been established. The
earthwork sits on the slope of Giggleswick Scar at a height of approximately 188 metres above sea
level. It is flanked to the northeast and northwest by Kelco Wood and to the southeast and
southwest by ‘The Mains’ road and the B6480 respectively. The field was until recently under
Figure 3. The rifle range butts at and markers shelter at Attermire.
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pasture and has likely been so since the early post-Medieval period. It was planted with
approximately 5,000 saplings in 2008 but the area of the earthworks was respected by this planting
and left unplanted. The underlying solid geology of the site is Carboniferous Limestone.
Giggleswick Scar, a major geological feature, was formed by the South Craven Fault. The
earthworks truncate a series of lynchets (presumed to be of medieval date) engineered into the
land. Little is known about these lynchets which represent a period of well established arable
agricultural activity in the Dales.
Very little is known about the history of the earthworks. An initial review of documentary sources by
the Giggleswick School Archivist revealed no mention of the trenches, which were first recorded by
the North Craven Historical Research Group in July 2006 and can be seen on recent vertical aerial
photographs and Lidar imaging (Fig. 4). They were provisionally identified as First World War
training trenches due to their characteristic ‘zigzag’ design. Training trenches represent a
significant yet until recently largely undocumented archaeological legacy of the Great War on home
soil (Cocroft 2013); with other examples at Redmires in Sheffield (Ullathorne 2006), Otterburn in
Northumberland (Brown 2009) and several on Salisbury Plain and Wiltshire (Brown & Field 2007).
Figure 4. Lidar image of two suspected First World War training trenches, the two parallel zigzag lines in the
centre of the image, within the grounds of Giggleswick School.
3 Project Aims and Objectives
The project had the following aims –
To increase the public awareness and understanding of the three chosen sites and the
legacy of the First World War in the Settle area.
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To demonstrate the important role that archaeological research can play in investigating the
impact of the First World War on British soil.
To engage various local community groups and individuals with their local heritage and
provide them with original learning and training opportunities.
The project sought to achieve these aims by –
Carrying out documentary research into the history of the three sites, as well as the wider
context of the First World War in the Settle area.
Carrying out measured surveys of the three sites and geophysical survey and excavation of
the possible training trench earthworks.
Comparing the results of the research to similar case studies throughout Britain.
Presenting the results of the study to the local community and the wider archaeological
community, using a diverse range of dissemination channels.
Directly involving members of the public in the excavation and survey stages of the project
and ensuring that adequate training is given.
Organising a range of interactive learning activities for children that were relevant to the
project and demonstrating the importance of archaeological investigation and historical
research.
4 Methodology
4.1 Documentary Research
This involved the analysis of a variety of documentary sources that shed light on the history of the
sites in question and to place them within the wider context of the First World War in the Settle
region. These sources included guide books, diaries, and online databases.
The research was primarily carried out at three locations – the Giggleswick School Archive, the
North Yorkshire County Record Office in Northallerton, and the Imperial War Museum in London.
As the main objectives of the project were concerned with fieldwork and community outreach the
documentary research was not intended to be an exhaustive review and only specific and directly
relevant information was recorded over the three days of research, as well as information from
several online sources, including the Kirby Malham Local History Group website. In addition
various members of the public also contributed to the research throughout the course of the
project. A volunteer Research Assistant, Michael Miles, recruited from the Yorkshire Dales National
Park Mosaic programme, helped assist with the documentary research as well as with the
fieldwork.
4.2 Surveys
4.2.1 Drill Hall
A buildings survey, consisting of photographic survey and plan drawing was carried out by YDNPA
Historic Environment Team staff over one day, following the guidance set out in Understanding
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Historic Buildings: A guide to good recording practice (King 2006). A photographic record was
made (exterior and interior) of all accessible and visibly significant parts of the building, including
both detailed shots and general photos. The cellar was not accessible at the time of the survey
and is not described in this report. Photographs were made with a Canon G7 camera, taking digital
still images in jpeg format. Wherever possible, images made use of a scale. Upon completion of
the survey, images were backed up to the YDNPA server.
A measured plan of the Drill Hall was made at 1m above main floor level at a scale of 1:100 using
traditional tape measurement. While the survey was in progress, the plan was annotated with
details and architectural/archaeological observations arising from the investigation. Additional
descriptive notes were made both at the time of the survey and from the photographic archive.
4.2.2 Rifle Range
A rapid earthwork survey was completed of the remains of targets, an earthwork target stand and a
mantlet at the base of Warrendale Knotts near Attermire Scar. The full area of the rifle range,
which included several shooting platforms, stretched over an area of several hundred meters to the
south of the butts at Warrendale Knotts. The survey was restricted to only the target zone, and the
full area of the range was not surveyed as it would have proved prohibitive in time costs. However,
it is hoped that future visits can improve the survey by examining some or all of the firing locations.
The drawn survey was produced in the field using a targeted tape and offset method from a single
baseline by YDNPA Historic Environment Team staff with assistance from Anthony Crawshaw and
Bill Flentje, following the guidance set out in With Alidade and Tape: Graphical and Plane Table
Survey of Archaeological Earthworks (Jones 2002). Additional data was also captured onsite and
added to the plan. The field drawing was captured at a scale of 1:100, and is reproduced here at a
reduced scale. A digital photographic record of the site was also made.
4.2.3 Training Trench Earthworks – plane table
A plane table survey of the earthworks was undertaken. The plane table survey was undertaken by
YDNPA Historic Environment Team staff and three volunteers, over one day, following the
guidance set out in With Alidade and Tape: Graphical and Plane Table Survey of Archaeological
Earthworks (Jones 2002). Prior to the survey the area of the earthworks had been recently
strimmed by Dales Volunteers and therefore the contours of the land were clearly visible. The
survey stayed within this strimmed area. The weather conditions were very favourable for survey
work, with no ground moisture and clear skies throughout.
Survey flags were used to delineate the following features – upper zigzag, lower zigzag, upper
lynchet, lower lynchet. This enabled the survey to be carried out in stages and ensured that ground
contours were followed accurately. The survey employed the use of a traditional plane table
instrument which was positioned and levelled over a site grid point, two 50m tapes and a survey
staff, as well as using ranging poles to improve the accuracy of the survey.
Prior to the survey a grid of 10 x 10m grid squares was laid out over the survey area. This covered
the extant of the two zigzags revealed by the strimming and the corresponding lengths of the upper
and lower lynchets. This covered an area of 0.39ha. The drawing was produced at a scale of 1:200
and then reduced for the final digital image. Some additional smaller features (e.g. wooden
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sleeper) were drawn in by eye.
4.2.4 Training Trench Earthworks – geophysical
A magnetometer survey was undertaken by YDNPA Historic Environment Team staff and PhD
research student Hannah Brown from the University of Bradford, over one day, following the
guidance set out in Geophysical Survey in Archaeological Field Evaluation (Jones 2008).
Magnetometer survey has been shown to be very successful in detecting cut features as well as
being sensitive to ferrous responses (Aspinall et al. 2008). Due to poor weather conditions and the
nature of the earthworks, an earth resistance survey was not deemed appropriate. At the time of
survey, the site was under mixed vegetation, including thistles, nettles and grasses; this was less
dense in the centre of the survey area, which had previously been strimmed but was beginning to
grow back. The extent of the survey area was therefore determined by the density and height of
vegetation, and the presence of small trees in the surrounding area.
The survey was conducted over an area of 0.32ha, using 20 x 20m grid squares previously laid out
for the plane table survey as 10 x 10m grids, with a Bartington Grad601 dual sensor fluxgate
gradiometer. This instrument has a vertical separation of 1m between sensors and is sensitive to
0.03nT over a range of 100nT. A sampling interval of 0.25m was employed, along traverses
spaced 0.5m apart and orientated approx. northwest-southeast i.e. roughly parallel with the long
edge of the lynchets. Data was collected in a zig-zag manner.
The data was subject to minimal correction processes using Geoplot 3.0. A zero mean traverse
function was used to correct variation in sensor alignment, and a de-stagger function was applied
to reduce variations in sample position caused by adverse ground conditions and topography.
4.3 Excavation
A targeted excavation of the suspected training trench earthworks was undertaken, based on the
results of the plane table and magnetometer survey, following the guidelines of practice set out in
the IFA Standard and Guidance for Archaeological Excavation (2013) document. This was primarily
carried out by members of the Ingleborough Archaeology Group, directed by Dr David Johnson,
and supervised by YDNPA staff. Volunteers from other organisations and members of the general
public also took part. The strategy adopted for excavation had in mind the aims of the project as a
whole as well as the allotted time frame and manpower available and was carried out according to
a Written Scheme of Investigation prepared by the YDNPA (Spry 2014).
Topsoil was removed using hand tools and all spoil was stored on Visqueen sheeting with separate
piles for each trench. As work proceeded, excavation was undertaken mainly by trowel in softer
and more sensitive material but by controlled mattocking in consolidated training-trench backfill.
Each trench was photographed prior to excavation, after the first photo-clean and on final
completion of work. Where it was deemed necessary, intermediate photographs were also taken
and logged.
Single-context recording was used throughout; and each trench was either planned at a scale of
1:20, if any surface features were visible within the trenches (Trench 2), or had long-section profiles
drawn, at a scale of 1:10, where the main interpretive detail rested within the profiles (all three
trenches). All artefacts were allocated a small finds number, bagged, and logged by context.
Trenches were duly backfilled and re-turfed on completion of work in each trench.
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5 Results & Interpretation
5.1 Documentary research
5.1.1 Preliminary Research
Prior to and in between the three main research days, the Project Manager and Research Assistant
carried out a programme of research using several other available online sources, in addition to
generic web searches. The purpose of this research was to provide some background information
relating to the war effort in the Settle area and our three sites. In reality many sources could have
been deemed relevant to this search, however several key topics and sources did stand out and
warranted being included here. The research focused on three key themes – Walter Morrison, the
Craven Territorials, and the Giggleswick School Officer Training Corps (OTC).
Walter Morrison
Throughout the project and during several conversations with members of the public, the name of
one man came up time and time again. This man was Walter Morrison (Fig. 5). Morrison was an
English Liberal and Liberal Unionist politician who inherited the Malham Tarn Estate from his
farther in 1857 and went on to become one of Craven’s most prominent and best-loved figures. His
legacy is evident through the district and this is none more so when looking at the physical and
socio-historic legacy of the First World War – indeed a look at his contribution to the local area
covers a great deal of the background information for this project. A series of essays on Morrison’s
life written by the
Kirby Malham
History Group,
available online at
http://www.kirkbym
alham.info provides
a good
understanding of
his legacy.
Presented here,
using the
information
provided by these
essays, is a brief
outline of
Morrison’s life
which shows how
important he is to
this story.
The Dalesman
Walter Morrison
was born in
London on May
Figure 5. Walter Morrison as depicted in the 1920 publication ‘Cravens Part in the
Great War’ (http://www.cpgw.org.uk/).
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21st 1836, the son of James Morrison, a Liberal MP for Ipswich who made his fortune in
haberdashery, before moving into banking. James bought the Malham Tarn estates when they
were sold in 1852 by Lord Ribblesdale, and bequeathed it to his son Walter when he died in 1857.
It soon became Walter Morrison’s favourite home. He graduated from Oxford University with a BA
in 1857 and an MA in 1862, became an MP, first for Plymouth in 1861-74 and then the Liberal
Unionist MP for Skipton 1886-92 and 1895-1900. Clearly a well educated and highly intelligent
man, Morrison had many interests and pursuits, and appropriately for us this included archaeology.
Following its formation in 1865 he became the Honorary Chairman of the Palestinian Exploration
Fund and was a member of its governing body right through until 1919. He was actively involved in
the planning of all expeditions by the Fund and was a generous benefactor all his life culminating in
giving the Fund their current premises in central London in 1911. In addition, Morrison was a
member and financer of the Settle Cave exploration committee. The committee ran excavations at
Victoria Cave in Settle for several months each year between 1969 and 1978; excavations have
revealed a site with a rich natural and cultural history spanning from the Upper Pleistocene to the
Roman period.
Morrison became a remarkable contributor to the local area surrounding his Malham Tarn Estate,
in addition to pursuing his various business interests. A patron of Kirby Malham church, he restored
the Church End House in 1866 for use as the vicarage, provided the premises and set up the
Malham Moor Subscription School in 1872 and was a governor of Kirkby Malham School. In 1874
he built the Kirkby-in-Malhamdale United School and master's house, and donated £10,000 for a
Readership in Egyptology to his old Oxford College. He was a Governor at Giggleswick School for
60 years and Chairman of the Governors twice during that period. A notable material contribution to
the school was funding the construction of the school’s magnificent chapel to commemorate the
Queens Diamond Jubilee in 1897, at a cost of £70,000. The chapel subsequently contains a
memorial (also funded by Morrison) commemorating those students who were killed during the
Great War.
The North Craven Rifle Corps
In 1859, shortly after taking residence at Malham Tarn
Estate, Morrison helped form the North Craven Rifle Corps
(Fig. 6); one of many local Volunteer Rifle Corps formed
throughout the country in response to a Secretary of State
for Wars initiative due to the threat of war with France. On
12th May 1859, a letter was sent to the Lieutenants of the
counties of Britain authorising the formation of Volunteer
Rifle Battalions. These volunteer battalions, of which locally
formed Corps were part, stood as a safeguard for home
defence in the event of a French invasion (Mussett 1980:
11). An inaugural meeting held on July 6th 1859 at the
Settle Court House resulted in the formation of the NCRC,
with Walter Morrison and John Birkbeck as Secretaries.
Volunteers were expected to pay for all or at least part of
their equipment, £3 8s 0d for a rifle and £2 1s 0d for the
uniform. By the end of the year there were around 40 Figure 6. Morrison in his NCRC uniform
(http://www.kirkbymalham.info/).
10 | P a g e
active members, with Morrison appointed the Corps’ Lieutenant. By 1860 he had funded the
construction of the Attermire Rifle Range for shooting practice and competitions, and the
Castleberg Drill Hall in 1864 as a place to practice drill and meet socially. He became the Major
Commandant and Lieutenant Colonel in 1865, going to the School of Musketry at Hythe for
training. The NCRC was championed throughout the local community, holding regular shooting
matches such as that in 1860 held on Morrison’s Malham Tarn Estate; when over 100 men from
Settle, Skipton and Ingleton competed for a silver bugle donated by him.
The Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment
Following the Territorial and Reserve Forces Act 1907 the NCRC were reformed as the Craven
Territorials. With Britain and France now allies, these new Territorial Forces acted as a reserve of
trained units for the regular Field Force in the event of war, and became the foundation for today’s
Territorial Army (Mussett 1980: 11). At 6pm on Tuesday 4th August 1914 they were mobilised and
absorbed into the 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment (Fig. 7), traveling to
France between 12th and 15th April 1915. They first saw action during the battle of Aubers Ridge in
May 1915, and fought in the Battle of the Somme (July-November 1916) among many others.
Demobilisation began in early 1919. Morrison gave £1000 to equip the regiment with shirts, socks
and boots and he worked tirelessly throughout the war attending war charity sales, recruitment
meetings, and fund raising for hospitals and relief funds.
Figure 7. The 1/6th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment as depicted in ‘Craven’s Part in the Great
War’ (http://www.cpgw.org.uk/).
Following the 1/6th Battalion, the 2/6th Territorial Battalion formed at Skipton in September 1914,
11 | P a g e
were mobilised for war and travelled to France in January 1917, serving throughout France. They
were disbanded in France on 30th January 1918.
During September 1914, 100 men were also recruited from Settle to form Tunstill’s ‘Craven
Legion’. They eventually became ‘A’ Company of the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s
(West Riding) Regiment; travelling to France in August 1915, and serving in France and Italy.
‘Cravens Part in the Great War’
To thank those men
from the Skipton
Parliamentary Division
who served in the war,
Morrison funded the
publication and free
distribution of a book
‘Craven’s Part in the
Great War’ (Fig. 8). The
book lists details, mostly
with photographs, of
over 1,500 men who
died, and contains an
article entitled ‘Craven in
Flanders’, the war record
of the 1/6th Battalion of
the Duke of Wellington’s
Regiment. It also
contains an article on
Tunstill’s Craven Legion.
A full digital version of
this book is now
available at the Cravens Part in the Great War website (http://www.cpgw.org.uk), along with a
database listing the names of those from Craven who served in the First World War. Making such
material available on line for all to see is a vital part of ensuring the legacy of these men and all
who contributed to the war effort. It is hoped that the site and its extensive database continues to
grow and receive the support it deserves.
One presentation of the book took place in Malhamdale on Saturday 24 th September 1921 and
aged 85 Morrison unexpectedly turned up to make the presentation. Too frail to get out of his car, it
turned out to be his last public appearance as he died in December of that year.
The Giggleswick School Officer Training Corps
Another key source was the 1980 publication ‘Cadets at Giggleswick’ by N. J. Musset (1980). This
book documents the history and growth of the Giggleswick School Officer Cadet Force (Fig. 9) –
later Combined Cadet Force – from its inception at the beginning of the 20th century up to the time
of the book’s publication in 1980. The following information is taken from this book, with a full
Figure 8. ‘Craven’s Part in the Great War frontispiece
(http://www.cpgw.org.uk/).
12 | P a g e
reading of the entire text strongly recommended in order to understand the history of this
successful organisation.
Pre-war years
Walter Morrison began as a Governor at Giggleswick School in 1864. This was five years after he
formed the NCRC and the same year that the Castleberg Drill Hall was built. Morrison’s affiliation
with both the school and the NCRC likely helped facilitate the relationship between these bodies
following the formation of the school’s Rifle Club. School cadet units were first formed in 1860,
although at Giggleswick not until 1906 when Giggleswick School teacher Mr A. V. Holliday formed
a Rifle Club at the school, a year after taking commission in the Settle Volunteers. At first shooting
practice took place in the covered playground and in 1907 a sub-target machine was presented by
Mr J. G. Robinson. Competitions against other schools began in 1908. Also in 1908 a miniature
range was constructed in the partially covered cloister behind the old school. The first recorded use
of the Attermire Rifle Range by the school is on Friday 23rd June 1911.
Figure 9. The Giggleswick School OTC, 1910 (Mussett 1980: 15).
In 1907, the Secretary of State Lord Haldane implemented a major reorganisation of the army,
which included the establishment of an Officer Training Corps, designed to provide Officers for the
new Territorial Force. There was a Junior Division for schools and a Senior Division for universities,
with annual training camps, coordinated training and Proficiency Certificates. The Giggleswick
Officer Training Corps was formed in 1910 with school chaplain, the Rev. C. F. Pierce undertaking
command and forty nine boys joining. Within a year this number had reached sixty four and it rose
rapidly at the outbreak of war. They paid 7/6d subscription per term and rifle club members paid an
additional 2/6d. Uniform fees were thirty shillings and cadets bought their own boots. Bayonets
were issued and were either carried in scabbards or were fixed to the rifles. Initially each cadet had
a long Lee Enfield type rifle and a few .22 inch rifles for use on the miniature range; more of these
were issued in 1913. The cap badge depicted the school seal and bore the school title on the scroll
beneath, with officially approved badges of rank worn by Officers and N.C.O’s. The standard of
training delivered by these N.C.O’s throughout the country was such that several helped drill village
volunteer units following the formation of Pals Battalions in 1914.
The OTC training was assisted early on by a Sargeant Naden of the NCRC and by the end of the
first year the N.C.O’s were able to take drill sessions themselves; with a Section Shield awarded
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each term for the most efficient section, based on theoretical knowledge and musketry skills. The
Giggleswick OTC attended annual camps throughout the country (Fig. 10) where they would take
part in drill training, musketry practice and field days, and they formed part of the 20th Battalion who
travelled to Windsor Great Park prior to the Royal Review by King George V – the OTC’s Colonel in
Chief – on Monday 3rd July 1911. At the end of camps, cadets would be given a train ticket and had
to find their own way home, still adorned in full military gear and carrying their weapons. Annual
inspections of OTC battalions were undertaken. Captain Windsor Clive of the War Office General
Staff commented on how much had been achieved by the Giggleswick OTC since its inception
during their first inspection on Saturday 15th July 1911. Subsequent inspections nearly always
received positive reviews.
Figure 10. The Giggleswick detachment at the OTC camp at Tidworth Pennings, Salisbury Plain in 1911
(Mussett 1980: 17).
The First World War
During the First World War the Giggleswick OTC had many changes in personnel as Officers and
N.C.O’s were called up for service, and there was a succession of Cadet Officers during this
period. This meant that different members of school staff came in to help run the OTC and with
several staff away on active service temporary appointments were made. However this resulted in
the employment of older staff who were less able at instructing more physical activities. Eventually
however, Sgt-Major J. W. Perrett of the Wiltshire Regiment took charge of the OTC training for a
three year period and help came from Officers from several other regular units. This included the
return of ex-pupil and Northumberland Fusilier Captain Alan Angus who had been at the school
from 1908 to 1913, being head boy in his final year. Whilst recovering from injuries sustained in
France, he spent a full term with the OTC before returning to France at the beginning of 1918, and
became “indispensable to the OTC” (see below).
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Figure 11. Members of the Giggleswick OTC during a Field Day, c.1917 (Mussett 1980: 38).
As well as a sharp rise in OTC membership during the war, members of staff were also
encouraged to take part in some form of military training, including drill and shooting, with the staff
troop becoming known as ‘The Gorgeous Wrecks’ – a pun on the ‘GR’ royal monogram displayed
on their red arm-bands. Following an £80 donation from Walter Morrison a new uniform and kit was
adopted during the spring term of 1917 and greater time was given to military training as the war
progressed. With the War Office declaring that all cadets aged over 18 should carry out a minimum
of ten hours training a week, the Attermire Rifle Range and the indoor range were used more and
more. Regular competitions were arranged, with silver shooting spoons awarded. There were no
national annual camps during the war; however a camp was arranged for northern schools, which
the Giggleswick OTC attended. The emphasis on this increased level of training was on drill and
musketry along with the introduction of signalling. This was supplemented by route marches and
field training sessions in the local countryside (Fig. 11), during which the OTC concocted their own
marching songs, with the following sung to the tune ‘The Church’s One Foundation’ –
We are the rag-time army,
The G.S.O.T.C
We cannot fight, we cannot march,
So beastly bored are we!
But when we get to Berlin
The Kaiser he will say:
“Mein Gott! Mein Gott!
What a jolly fine lot
Are the G.S.O.T.C!”
15 | P a g e
During the winter poor weather meant that
training was often interrupted, however the
time was filled productively. Poignantly this
included listening to accounts of the war given
by old boys or members of staff returning on
leave. In addition to ‘Letters from the Front’
published in The Chronicle these accounts
helped the cadets stay in touch with the
realities of war and what they were training for.
The Chronicle noted that over 300 OTC
members were eligible for service during the
First World War. Giggleswick lost one school
master – 2nd Lt. H. F. Dyer, D. W. R – and 122
old boys during the war; or 17 per cent of ex-
pupils who fought (Fig. 12). This compares to
251 or nearly 20 per cent from Sedbergh
School. Those from Giggleswick fought with
the West Riding Regiment, as well as others
including the Durham Light Infantry and the
Canadian Infantry.
5.1.2 Giggleswick School Archive
Settle Pamphlets Vol. XXXVII
This volume includes several small articles
relevant to the project and local military
training. There is a Settle roll of honour
including men from Settle, Giggleswick and surrounding villages and towns who served in the
Great War, and an essay entitled ‘Early Days of the Settle Volunteer Corps’. As the title suggests,
this details the beginnings of the Settle Volunteers Corps, or North Craven Rifle Crops. The essay
details a shooting event in October 1860 where a silver cup valued at £20 was competed for at the
Attermire Rifle Range. Local tradesmen and innkeepers raised a fund to enable the men to procure
their cartridges at a reduced cost and local residents offered competition prizes. It details how the
Corps eventually became part of the 2nd West Yorkshire administrative Battalion with the Skipton,
Burnley, Guiseley and Ingleton Corps. From 1861 onwards there was a requirement for each man
to take part in 24 drills a year.
The information taken from this pamphlet demonstrates how much the Rifle Corps was a locally
driven organisation, as no doubt they were throughout the country. The donation of competition
prizes and fund raising for cartridges shows how people throughout the local community wanted to
contribute to this training. With such strong support for local military training it is therefore no
surprise that these volunteer regiments produced well drilled and efficient soldiers. It is important to
view the Attermire rifle range within this socio-historic context as it helps us appreciate the
significance of its preservation and interpretation to the local community today.
Figure 12. The First World War memorial inside the
Giggleswic School Chapel.
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Lambert’s Settle Almanacs 1913-1916
These volumes contain great snippets of
information related to local military
training and the Great War (Fig. 13). The
1913 and 1914 volumes list the
Commanding Officers and overall
numbers of the Duke of Wellington’s 1/6th
Battalion West Riding Regiment (F
Company) for the years ending 31st
October 1912 and 1913 respectively. In
1912 the company consisted of 112 men,
and in 1913 it had grown to 124 men. The
1913 volume also includes –
“New Morrison Challenge Cup won by
Pte. R. M. Tomlinson.
The following Officer and N.C.O. are in
possession of School of Musketry
Certificates, Hythe, being attached to the
Regular Forces for a period of 3 to 5
weeks:-
Lieut.-Colonel Birbeck, J. P
Sergt. J. W. Lambert”.
Similarly, the 1914 volume includes –
“New Morrison Challenge Cup won again
by Pte. R. M. Tomlinson, by 3 points.
The following Officer and N.C.O. are in
possession of School of Musketry Certificates, Hythe, being attached to the Regular Forces for a
period of 3 to 5 weeks:-
Lieut.-Colonel Birbeck, J. P
Sergt. J. W. Lambert.”
The New Morrison Challenge Cup was a continuation of Walter Morrison’s legacy at the rifle range
and demonstrates how committed the local community remained to rifle range training and
competitions over time. There is also an evident pride in mentioning those men in possession of
School of Musketry Certificates. A School of Musketry was established at Hythe, Kent in 1853 and
qualified reserve Officers – including Walter Morrison – to be able to instruct the practice and
theory of musketry, and thus return to their regiments and train their soldiers.
In the 1913-1914 volume there is an essay entitled “To Arms…To Arms”. This poetic piece
demonstrates the feeling throughout the Settle community towards the men who volunteered for
war service. Particularly touching extracts include –
Figure 13. Cover of the 1914 Almanac
(http://www.plongprestonheritage.org.uk).
17 | P a g e
Page 3. “Craven can hold its head up in Pride, for the sons of the Yorkshire Highlands have now,
as their fathers did of old, nobly responded to the trumpet’s blast.”
“But the parents’ hearts, though anxious, are filled with laudable pride.”
Page 4. “And we are all proud of these Young Heroes.”
This is referring to those men from the 1/6th and 2/6th Battalions, as well as those in Tunstill’s
Craven Legion and it is evident how proud the community was of the businessmen, skilled
workmen, and agriculturalists who were so willing to serve their country and their protect their
community.
However, there is also mention of the ‘exceptions’ to this movement. These, the essay remarks,
were the able bodied young men who prefer the ease and comfort of home, and should be
decorated with the “Order of the White Feather.” During the First World War there emerged a
significant pacifist movement in Britain which objected to the war. This included approximately
16,500 men who were recorded as conscientious objectors following the introduction of
conscription in January 1916, many of whom were Quakers. Their opposition to involvement in the
war was based on several issues, including religious faith, non-religious belief in the sanctity of life,
and a practical belief that war is wasteful and ineffective. The promotion of justice and human rights
was at the core of their motivation. As the story of sixteen men held at Richmond prison – the
‘Richmond Sixteen’ – in 1916 demonstrates, this stance would result in harsh penalties, including
ten years hard labour, and in some cases execution (Brown 2014). Choosing to be a conscientious
objector was not a decision taken lightly and those men who refused to sway from their beliefs
demonstrated significant courage. As a result of the stance made by these men and the hardships
they endured, public opinion changed and during the Second World War conscientious objectors
were less harshly treated.
However, for the course of the Great War much of British Society was not sympathetic to the
pacifist cause. One of the most significant demonstrations of this was the introduction of the Order
of the White Feather in August 1914, where women were encouraged to present those men who
had not volunteered for service with a white feather as a mark of their perceived cowardice. As the
following extract from the Almanac demonstrates, such men were treated with contempt among
parts of the local community –
Page 4. “Whether they stay at home from greed or cowardice or laziness is immaterial.”
“…they put Self before Country…there are still specimens of humanity to be seen at whom the
finger of scorn will be pointed to their dying day…”
The sense of community spirit is further emphasised by an update on the War Relief Fund in the
1914-1915 volume (p.253), where a committee was nominated to deal with this fund. Not
surprisingly, Walter Morrison was voted in as President and Mrs John Birbeck was nominated as
Vice-President. The meeting – in the Victoria Hall on the 19th August – also discussed the
rendering assistance to the families and dependants of local service men, in particular with clothing
and general assistance. Also mentioned is a £500 donation from Walter Morrison and the intention
to send Christmas parcels to every local serviceman. There is also mention of the Belgian Relief
Fund (p.3), with concerts held at Hellifield and Long Preston to raise money. The Commission for
Relief in Belgium - or Belgian Relief Fund - was an international organization that arranged for the
supply of food to German occupied Belgium and northern France during the First World War.
18 | P a g e
This volume also displays evidence of how local people were thinking about the morality of the war.
There is mention of an open conference at the Adult School in Settle, with one talk titled “What
should be the attitude of Christians towards War” and another “Christianity and War” (p.27). It is
interesting to come across such evidence despite the government’s overbearing attempts to
maintain support for the war effort – and the potential consequences of pacifism outlined above –
and demonstrates how omnipresent the war was in the lives and minds of people on the home
front, and how its consequences were clearly playing on their consciences.
The 1914-1915 volume contains a small article about the Settle and Giggleswick Volunteer
Training Corps (VTC’s), or “Village Guards”. Significantly there is mention of drills taking place at
Giggleswick School –
Page 231. “…the Governors of Giggleswick School placed their large Covered Playground at the
disposal of the Volunteers. They have also had the use of the School Playing Field and the
privilege of practicing shooting at the Miniature Range. The members of the Corps have obtained
an advanced stage of drill and military experience.”
After Great Britain declared war on the German Empire in August 1914, there was a wave of
concern regarding a possible German invasion of the British Isles. This resulted in un-sanctioned
‘town guards’ being formed throughout the country. Eventually, by July 1915 the VTC’s were given
the legal status of Volunteer Regiments and in August 1916 they were included in the County
Infantry Regiment system. The unauthorised formation of these guard units is a testament to the
initiative of local people and their eagerness to make a direct contribution to the war effort and how
those men left at home were still willing to train in preparation for defence of their country if need
be.
In this specific case the contribution made by the school in terms of donating its facilities is further
evidence of the sense of the communal war effort among the Settle community, adding to the
history of the school, its buildings and its grounds. The VTC was also permitted use of the school’s
Miniature Range, a facility otherwise reserved for the school’s Officer Training Corps. Being given
access to these facilities helps explains why these volunteers “obtained an advanced stage of drill
and military experience.”
5.1.3 Imperial War Museum, London
Private Papers of Captain A Angus (Imperial War Museum Private Paper)
This collection of papers from Captain Alan Angus comprises accounts of his services with the
Northumberland Fusiliers including the Battles of Messines (June 1917) and Langemarck (August
1917) during which he was wounded, hospitals in Etaples and London, followed by a period as
OTC instructor at Giggleswick School during the autumn term, where he used to be a member of
the school’s OTC as well as being the school’s head boy.
Two specific extracts from these papers were noted –
Page 3. “Daily routine consisted of a march up to the Fenham end of the Town Moor where we did
physical training and infantry drill. The latter was left in the hands of those of us with OTC
experience.”
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Here Captain Angus is describing part of his Officer training at East Boldon (Tyne and Wear) with
the 2nd Reserve Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers. The second sentence provides insight into the
importance assigned to OTC training during the period. Those men with OTC experience were
singled out during training to lead exercises. As well as providing a ‘head start’ for those men who
went on to serve in the Great War, being a member of an OTC was seen as a commitment to a
high standard of training and the development of important leadership skills. It shows the
contribution of OTC students from Giggleswick School to the war effort before they had even left
British soil.
Page 20-21. In 1917 spent two “delightful” months as an officer instructing OTC’s, as ordered by
the War Officer for injured service men. “…in the country they had no notion of what rationing
meant”.
He does not go into any great detail about his time at the school, and only mentions that he
instructed parade drills. Nonetheless, it shows that the society was aware of the need to train
schoolboys for their increasingly likely role in the conflict. A solider straight from the front line would
have also been able to teach the schoolboys about trench warfare itself.
That he mentions he had such a “delightful” time he wanted to return the following term
(unfortunately he was ordered back to serve in France) allows us to speculate on how many similar
scenarios were welcomed at other schools throughout the war. Furthermore, his reference to
rationing in the countryside – or lack of! – gives us a delightful insight into how the war possibly
affected people from different parts of Britain in different ways.
The Officers' Training Corps year book and diary, 1913 (Douglas 1913)
This booklet provides a fascinating and comprehensive insight into the training undertaken by
23,000 (as of 1913) OTC students in the years preceding the outbreak of war. The book delivers a
detailed instruction covering all areas of military service, including use of compass and maps,
musketry, morse signalling, field kitchens, knots, camp tent roll, cleaning a rifle, using flags, judging
distances, camp life. A detailed term-by-term programme presents a strict timetable of activities,
giving a sense of military organisation and efficiency that would have helped prepare the
schoolboys for life in the army. Such a thorough and disciplined programme is further evidence of
the importance placed in the role of OTC’s and how well prepared these young Officers would have
been for war.
In particular musketry training is covered in some detail, with details on how to aim, the effect of
wind, light and rain on bullets, and scoring. This emphasis placed on musketry training coincides
with the evidence of the Giggleswick OTC practicing at the Attermire Rifle Range and helps build a
picture of the activities taking place at the rifle range; activities that proved crucial in preparing
young men for life on the front. This advanced training needed supervision, perhaps a
dissemination of knowledge and skills taking place between experienced local riflemen - e.g. the
NCRC and the Village Guard – and the OTC schoolboys.
Instructions for the training of cadets in R.A. officer cadet schools (War Office 1917)
This 1917 War Office manual details the training to be undertaken by Royal Artillery Officer Cadets.
It includes physical training, dismounted drill, gun drill, driving drill, gun sights and testing, knotting
20 | P a g e
and lashing, director and plotter, equipment, signalling and telephony, map reading, model range,
horse management, harness fitting, riding, military law and organisation, anti-gas measures.
Minimum training was 38 hours per week (p.1).
Although the Officer Cadets were training full time in comparison to the part time OTC, the depth of
skills and drills covered was very similar. This helps explain Captain Angus’ claim that those with
OTC training were chosen to lead Officer training exercises and this level of preparation should be
credited to the local schools and facilities at which many received their initial training.
The training manual also included anti-gas measures. By 1917 gas attacks on the Allied Power’s
trenches were commonplace, and although not the most deadly, mustard gas was very effective at
disabling soldiers, causing blisters, soreness in the eyes, internal and external bleeding, and
vomiting (Sidell et al. 1997). Gas attacks would often accompany artillery fire to support trench
attacks and became a prominent and effective part of the enemies’ arsenal. The inclusion of anti-
gas measures in the training manual shows how the increasing use of chemical warfare was
dictating the training undertaken by soldiers at home.
Musketry regulations. Part II: rifle ranges and musketry appliances, 1910 (War Office 1914)
This book, first produced in 1910 and re-printed with amendments in 1914, was the General Small
Arms Training Manual for British Forces just prior to WWI. It includes chapters on Range Site
Selection & Construction, Target & Appliance Construction & Use (Fig. 14). This is a very detailed
record of how to select and construct different types of rifle range sites and how to conduct training
at them. For example, the selection and construction of four different range types is included –
Page 2.“Classification range: general type of range constructed for the execution of classification
practices.
30-yards range: A range with the service cartridge at 30 yards, and provided with such protection,
either natural or artificial, as to dispense with the need of a danger area.
Field Practice Range – specifically constructed and provided with suitable apparatus for the
execution of field practices under conditions approaching those of service.
Miniature range – for use with .220 ammunition only.”
Further information extracted from the source includes –
Page 7-19. “Classification range: firing right must be obtained over an area having a depth of not
less than 2,500 yards behind the targets, with a width of 250 yards beyond the flank lines of fire at
the targets; this width is to be increased to 500 yards a from 1,000 to 2,500 yards behind the
targets.
Value of a hill background is usually overestimated because: it is regarded solely as a natural stop
butt for bullets fired accidently with undue elevation, and not in relation to the trajectory of
ricochets. Its height is measured from the level of the targets, whereas its effective height is the
perpendicular from its summit to the line of the sight produced. Ricochets from ground rising
slightly usually range further than from level ground. If the line of sight is uphill, they will travel still
greater distances.
21 | P a g e
A hill background having an elevation of 200 feet will only be effective if: its face is nearly vertical,
and the targets are close to its foot, or, the targets are about 1,600 yards from the foot of the
slope.”
These extracts demonstrate the complex criteria that
needed to be considered when selecting a rifle range site,
with health and safety clearly a matter of concern. Also,
albeit 50 years before, it also gives an insight as to why the
Attermire location may have been chosen (discussed in
detail in survey results below), with the location of the rifle
range both within the immediate vicinity of Warrendale
Knotts and the wider remote landscape, providing minimal
chance of harm coming to an un-expectant member of the
public.
Officers Training Corps (Junior Division) public school
officers, and other members of the staffs record of war
service, 1914-1918 (Montague Jones & Steers 1919)
Compiled in 1919, this book was written by Major B
Montague Jones, who was the then Honorary Secretary of
the OTC, and his assistant Major D. H. Steers. It provides a record of every Schoolmaster who as
well as providing the OTC with Officers and Instructors, had also served in the Great War
themselves. The record accounts for every OTC and public school in the country, including six for
Giggleswick School –
“Quick, L-Corpl, E. K. Oct. 1915-July 1918. Temp. C. F. (4th Class) Home Service, July 1918-Dec.
1918, Rifleman, L.R.B., Home Service.
Claughton, 2nd Lieut. W. T A. Cadet School, Gailes, April-July1916. 2nd Lieut 29th Bn, Roy. Fus.,
Aug—Nov 1916. France 21/11/16 – Feb 1917 with 20th Bn. Roy. Fus. Feb 1917-28/5/17 Home
Service. 28/5/17 – July 1918 France with 20th Bn. Roy. Fus. Invalided home.
Teversham, Corpl, T. F. Dec 1915 – Apr 1916, 26th Bn. Roy. Fus. Home Service. France 4/5/16 –
9/9/16 (invalided home). Transferred 11th Ban. Bedford Reg. Mar 1917. Discharged as medically
unfit for further service 11/4/18.
Haswell, 2nd Lieut. P. Cadet School July 1918 – Oct 1918. 2nd Lieut. R.G.A. France 31/1/18 with
331st Siege Battery. St. Quentin and Amiens (March, April 1918). Computing Officer, 4 th Army
Calibration Section, July – Nov 1918.
Parkinson, Rev. C T. Oct. 191 – July 1918. Temp. C.F (4th Class). France June 1916. Attd. 18th
Divisional R.F.A. Somme July-Nov 1916. Arras May 1917. Third Battle of Ypres July-Nov 1917. St.
Quentin, Amiens Villers-Brettoneux 1918. Cadet School July – Nov 1918. St. Johns Wood (R>F>A)
with a view to a combatant commission.
Watkins, Air-Mech. L. R.A.F. Sept 1918. Home Service.”
This book is an important reminder of the sacrifice made throughout different sectors of society and
Figue 14. A copy of the Musketry
Regulation handbook (not IWM copy).
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how school boys and their old school masters became part of the same collective. We add more to
our understanding of the impact that of the war had on different people in the Settle area, with the
Giggleswick School Masters undoubtedly respected members of the community.
History of the Service Battalions of the Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment) in the
Great War 1914-1918 (Isles 2007)
Getting to know the Craven Territorials (NCRC/ 1/6th DoW) was a key part of this project.
Therefore, reading about the history of the regiment that they became a part of helps us
understand arguably the most important part of their Great War story: their time serving on the front
line. A section entitled “Wonderful Territorials” refers directly to the 147 Brigade in the 49th division,
including the 1/6th Battalion. Talking about the West Riding territorial force, the section states –
Page 33. “The patriotic action of the force in those early days of the war helped largely to relieve
the military situation not only in France but throughout the Empire.”
“…the men quickly won for themselves the recognition of army commanders, and also general
officers more closely identified with their work.”
Page 44. “…people wondered in April 1915, how the Territorials of the West Ridings would acquit
themselves in this epic war, all doubts were quickly set aside……Shortly after their arrival in
France, they proved beyond all doubt that wherever a Dukes’ unit is represented, whether it be new
or old, they are a body to be reckoned with…..The long training of these men…stood to their
advantage in the hard days that were to follow.”
The section also mentions the sense of duty felt by ordinary business and professional men to train
themselves during peace time, and how they were apt at holding very difficult sections of trenches.
It is evident from these passages how much respect the Duke of Wellington’s territorial forces
earned from their peers and how efficient and dedicated they were at their soldiering duties. This
respect was received from both Commanders and general Officers alike, helping to relieve the
military situation “throughout the Empire”. This ringing endorsement helps set aside any
reservations as to the fighting ability of territorial soldiers.
Crucially, the “long training” and how it “stood to their advantage” is an implicit reference to the
activities that would have taken place at the Castleberg Drill Hall, Attermire Rifle Range, and –
potentially – practice trenches at Giggleswick School. We know that those men who joined the 1/6th
Battalion were training at the Drill Hall and rifle range when part of the Craven Territorials and
NCRC and here we have direct documentary evidence of how well this training paid off when it
came to serving in theatre. It is a further example of how seriously preparations for military service
were taken during this period, as well as the enormous deep-rooted contribution of local rural
communities on the war effort.
5.1.4 North Yorkshire County Record Office, Northallerton
The visit to the Record Office was less productive than the other two outings; however it did reveal
some information relating to the memorial chapel in the Church of St Alkelda in Giggleswick; the
memorial being dedicated to those men who died in the two world wars. Among the Gigglesiwck
Parish Records (1919-1923), this included correspondence in 1919 between Austin & Paley
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Architects and the Rev J. P. Brocklehurst regarding the construction of the memorial chapel, in
addition to a bill of alterations to the building in June 1920, from Brassington Sons & Co. Ltd.
Letters were also found detailing donations made towards the construction and upkeep of the
memorial chapel. This included a one letter from a Mr C. Robinson in 1920 to the church, where he
is promising a donation of £100, or approximately £2,100 in today’s money.
As with other war memorials throughout the country, the Giggleswick memorial chapel stands as a
reminder of those men who lost their lives during both world wars. Its demonstrates how insistent
we are as a society to commemorate and remember the sacrifices made by our fellow countrymen
and at the time of its construction, the brothers, sons and husbands of local village people.
Substantial financial contributions made by local people such as Mr C. Robinson made this
possible. Similar to the generosity of men such as Walter Morrison during the war, it is evident that
the communal war effort at home did not just cease on November 11th 1918.
5.2 Surveys
5.2.1 Drill Hall
Exterior
In structural terms, the Castleberg Drill Hall appears to be a relatively uncomplicated building.
Castleberg is located on steeply sloping ground to the east side of Settle, and the building has
evidently been sited on a substantial platform excavated into the hill-slope. The gable ends of the
Figure 15. The south gable. Figure 16. The roadside elevation.
24 | P a g e
building face north/south, with the (visually)
principal elevation containing five large
windows and facing west. The main
entrance to the Drill Hall is in the north gable
and accessed by ascending steps from the
roadside. The ground floor level of the Drill
Hall is at eye-level from the roadside, with
access to the cellar from a door at the
roadside.
The design of the Hall, the materials chosen
and the finish of the work shows that the
Drill Hall comprised a significant investment
and was clearly constructed to give a formal
appearance.
The construction of the walls is of sandstone
in roughly coursed rubble for the south
gable and east elevation (which is largely
masked by the hill-slope) (Fig.15), and in
roughly-shaped coursed blocks for the
roadside elevation (Fig. 16) and north gable
(Fig. 17). The dressed rock faced quoins are
substantial and neatly cut. A pronounced
string course (evident as chamfered slabs)
runs around the building at 2m above road
level. Above this line, the walling is set back slightly, and is probably indicative of a slightly
narrower wall thickness above the cellar, although the cellar interior could not be accessed to
confirm this.
A decorative mount for a
square gas lamp is sited on
the corner between the west
elevation and the north gable
and was clearly intended to
light the access to the
building.
A modern reinforced door is
sited in the west gable,
presumably giving access to
the cellar. The door appears
to be inserted; presumably the
original access to the cellar
was internal only.
The window openings are
sandstone segmental arches
cut in ashlar with rock-faced
exterior facing. The arches Figure 18. The soot line indicating the roofline of the (since removed)
additional covered entrance at the north gable.
Figure 17. The north gable.
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rise to slight points. The
windows have six large
lights, with the upper
(arched) areas providing
the opening parts of the
window. All of the windows
have internal horizontal
protective iron bars.
The roof burden is in
diminishing stone slates
and is of a visually dark
grey, coarse slate material
with roughly dressed edges.
The material is likely to be
local Helwith Bridge slate
(greywacke). A substantial
chimney is visible at the
south end of the building,
apparently built in the same
style as the quoins, with cut
joints and rock-facing.
The main entrance is set
centrally in the northern
gable. It is a broad doorway
that houses a double
painted timber door, which
is set into a sandstone
ashlar surround with
segmented ashlar arch over.
Both the edges of the door
surround and the facing
edge of the arch are
chamfered. The highest
(arched) section of the main
entrance is taken up by a
two light window.
The lower parts of the
exterior north gable wall
have been rendered and
painted, indicating that at one stage a covered entrance to the Drill Hall had been constructed over
the stairs from the roadside. A slight soot mark indicates the location of the roofline for the covered
entrance (Fig. 18). This was evidently not an original feature of the Drill Hall, because the (probable
shed) roofing had partially covered the formal ashlar arching to the main entrance. The outline of
the footing of this construction is visible as the impression of a single-skin (probably brick) wall in a
concrete pad which forms the standing immediately adjacent to the main entrance (Fig. 19).
Figure 19. The outline of the footing of the covered entrance.
Figure 20. The cast iron sweeping hatch into the flue.
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Cut into the rendering and evident as a darkened area in the higher stonework, is a channel for a
subsequent modification, a flue – presumably relating to a (non-original) coal-fired boiler or stove
within the cellar. There is a cast iron sweeping hatch into the flue, which has a decorated cover
bearing the name of the foundry ‘Manby & Bro, Skipton’ (Fig. 20).
The majority of the steps are large cut millstone grit blocks, with concrete modifications/
replacements in the area around the main door. The lowest of the steps show small drilled holes
indicating that a gate was affixed at the roadside entrance to the Drill Hall. There are
corresponding holes drilled into the quoins, two of which show iron stubs, where the gate housing
was removed. A reasonable assumption might be that the gates were removed during World War
II, although it is also possible that the removal related to the construction of the covered entrance.
No documentary evidence to confirm or disprove either possibility this has been seen. The gate is
likely to have measured circa 2m in height, judging from the height of the upper hinge fixing.
To the east of the main entrance on the north gable end is evidence of an inserted and
subsequently blocked smaller doorway. It is presumed that the door was inserted to provide
access to the back of the Drill Hall once the covered entrance had been created. The blocking
appears relatively recent, presumably following removal of the cover over the entrance stairs.
Interior
Internally, the Drill
Hall appears to
retain (with
relatively minor
modifications) the
original layout of
1864. The hall is
open to the roof,
with an elevated
viewing balcony
overlooking the hall
from the south end
(Fig. 21). This is
clearly part of the
original design –
with the intention of
facilitating
inspection and
oversight of drill
performed in the
open space of the
‘drill floor’ by the
NCRC. A narrow enclosed stairway in the south east corner of the building provides access to the
balcony (Fig. 22).
The space underneath the balcony has subsequently been infilled to provide storage rooms and
w/c’s. These appear to be relatively modern (later 20th century) additions to the Drill Hall. The
Figure 21. An internal view of the Drill Hall looking towards the elevated viewing
balcony.
27 | P a g e
principal feature masked by the infill is a
substantial fireplace located on the south gable
(Fig. 23). The fireplace is built in substantial ashlar
blocks, with a chimney opening of circa 1m, and a
substantial projecting hearthstone. The fireplace
was evidently intended to provide heat for the
whole of the internal space of the Drill Hall.
The fireplace was modified with a hand cut timber
mantelpiece, inscribed (also by hand) with
“OPENED IN SCOUT JUBILEE YEAR BY MRS
BEAVER”.
Scout Jubilee year (1957) celebrated 50 years of
the scouting movement and the centenary of
Robert Baden-Powell’s birth. The summer of 1957
saw many major commemorative scouting events.
In terms of understanding the sequence of
modifications at the Drill hall, the mantelpiece also
indicates that the infill modifications almost
certainly post-date 1957, probably by a number of
years.
Figure 23. The fireplace and engraved mantelpiece.
The balcony overlooking the drill floor has also been modified, with a small kitchen inserted at its
Figure 22. The original stairwell leading up to the
balcony.
28 | P a g e
west side. This has had the effect of blocking the western part of the viewing area, with the void
moved. The original dimensions of the open balcony are probably indicated by the limit of a
‘picture rail’ sited at first floor level, which now terminates in blank wall space, rather than at the
edge of the viewing platform.
The roof trusses are of a slightly unusual kingpost form with a wooden truss and raised wooden tie-
beam, and iron kingpost, with supporting iron struts. Raised tie beams are not entirely unusual in
buildings that provided communal open space in this period. The additional space afforded by the
raised tie beams may have been seen as beneficial for the practise of drill.
There are a number of probable original ironwork fittings within the building, both on the roof truss,
and the main door, as well as protective internal bars to the windows. These are likely to be
original.
A small war memorial in the form of a hand engraved brass plaque is sited on the supporting joist
to the balcony. It bears the names of six individuals killed in the war of 1939-45 (Fig. 24).
The inserted and subsequently blocked doorway is visible internally, as a slightly proud area of
walling.
Figure 24. The brass plaque war memorial.
5.2.2 Rifle Range
The targets were clearly sited at the remote location at the base of Warrendale Knotts for reasons
of safety, with any shot carrying over Warrendale Knotts having to travel an extra 2,550 meters
before the possibility of encountering a settlement. The large area of flat and agriculturally marginal
land between Stockdale Lane and the targets allowed for shooting stands at a wide range of
distances and the longevity of the firing range does suggest that Warrendale Knotts did prove to be
a safe location for the targets.
This substantial feature comprises an earthwork and stonework mound, which as depicted in
Nelson’s 1998 illustrations represents the remains of a shooting butt (Fig. 25). The mound is
29 | P a g e
partially composed of a collapsed building (mantlet) at its southern end, but largely made up of a
solid, rubble-filled structure. The remains of this feature are now ruinous and tumbled, potentially
the result of limited stone removal, perhaps natural degradation of the remains, although perhaps
also because of the use of more destructive ordnance, including armour piercing shells during the
second world war.
Figure 25. Survey reduced from 1:100 field drawing.
Brown = C19 metal targets, Grey = Helwith Bridge slate roof to mantlet. Pale grey = rubble. Scarp for C19
target stand at western edge of plan (1).
Examination of the mound confirms Nelson’s reconstruction as a built, stone-faced structure. While
most of the wall facing no longer exists, there is evidence of the outer wall line visible on both the
northern and southern sides of the structure. The western side of the mound is characterised by
more tumbled walling and the remains of two very large Helwith Bridge slate flagstones, which
evidently formed the roof of the mantlet. There is a substantial void beneath and adjacent to one of
the flagstones, indicative of the collapse of the mantlet.
Affixed to and scattered around the main earthwork are the remains of seven iron targets, which
are not in their original positions, and probably of earlier origin than the mantlet.
30 | P a g e
The scree slope
behind both
platforms is
heavily
fragmented,
providing an
unusually fine
scree, almost
certainly caused
by decades of
bullet impact.
The fine scree
clearly contains
many traces of
lead bullets,
most noticeably
of Martini-Henry
type, which was Figure 26. Fired lead bullets (left and center) recovered from the scree slope and a
contemporary empty lead case (right).
Figure 27. The rear (left) and front (right) of two separate iron targets at the Attermire Rifle Range.
31 | P a g e
in common use in the later C19 (Fig. 26). A limited number of examples of .22 bullets which
Nelson attributes to practice during WW2 were also seen. Many of the remains of bullets were
altered beyond recognition in the process of hitting the scree.
The iron targets are of similar design to other mid - late C19 iron shooting targets, some of the
faces of the targets show a typical concentric circle target pattern, overlying (Fig. 27). They are
clearly pock-marked from use, although generally in surprisingly good condition. One of the targets
contains three large holes, presumably made through use of armour piercing munitions.
5.2.3 Training Trenches
The plane table survey of the training trenches clearly identified the extant and form of the upper
and lower zigzags and their relationship to the two lynchet platforms (Fig. 28). The two lynchets run
parallel to one another in a southeast-northwest direction, at right angle to the natural slope of the
land, and extend beyond the survey area. The break of slope and slope between the positive and
negative part of both lynchets is clearly visible.
The survey shows that the apexes of both zigzags are very sharp rather than ‘wave-like’ or
crenelated. The basic zigzag shape of both earthworks is consistent with military training trenches
of either late 19th of early 20th century date. The upper zigzag runs approximately southeast to
northwest, following the direction of the upper negative lynchet. It is 39 meters in length and
averages 2.5m wide. The north-western end of the zigzag extends beyond the average width of
the earthwork and terminates into the break of slope of the upper lynchet. The south-eastern end of
the zigzag ends within the surface of the negative lynchet at around the centreline of the earthwork.
The upper zigzag earthwork is shallow with a gradual slope to its centre, which is less than one feet
deep on average. Running down most of the southwest face of the zigzag is a low lying mound of
earth that subtly mirrors the shape of the zigzag.
The lower zigzag runs approximately southeast to northwest, following the direction of the upper
negative lynchet. It is 61 meters in length and averages 2.5m wide. The north-western end of the
zigzag ends within the surface of the negative lynchet, on a line with the other southwest facing
apex points. The south-eastern end of the zigzag terminates within the surface of the negative
lynchet in a ‘Y’ shape. This shape has formed as the result of an extra length of negative earthwork
extending from the south-eastern most apex of the zigzag towards the break of slope of the
lynchet. The lower zigzag earthwork is shallow with a gradual slope to its centre, which is less than
one feet deep on average. Running down parts of the southwest face of the zigzag are low lying
mounds of earth that subtly mirror the shape of the zigzag in places.
A small rectangular segment of wooden sleeper is recorded two-thirds along the length (NW-SE) of
the zigzag, sitting on the edge of the earthwork. This sleeper appears to be at least embedded into
the topsoil, although its relationship to the zigzag earthwork is unknown. Modern chainsaw marks
are recorded on its surface.
32 | P a g e
Figure 28. The plane table survey drawing.
33 | P a g e
5.3 Geophysical Survey
Despite poor survey conditions affecting the quality of the data, the topography of the site is visible
and the two zigzig earthworks are clearly evident as negative anomalies (Fig. 29). The result
geophysics plot shows these earthworks as measuring approximately 2.5m wide x 8-10m in
segment length and 35m in total length, are parallel, reasonably regular, and are similar in form,
with 3.5 right-angular V-shaped segments each (Fig. 30). The zigzag anomalies are well defined
and roughly 5nT more negative than the background levels for this site, suggesting that the
trenches have been backfilled with material that is significantly less magnetic than the topsoil or
that they may contain wood or voids. G marks the position of a very strong positive anomaly (with
associated negative response) which stems from a discrete ferrous source. As identified in the
plane table survey, this is the exact location of a wooden sleeper segment. The positive component
may suggest that there is some ferrous metalwork associated with it. The plot does not clearly
show the extension of the lower zigzag beyond this point, although a ferrous response – alongside
a small negative anomaly – is visible at what would be the southern extremity of this earthwork, as
identifies during the plane table survey. In addition, the plot does show slightly more disturbance in
this section of the earth compared to the parallel area on the lynchet above, where the plane table
survey does not show any earthworks. Whereas the southern section of the lower zigzag is well
defined in the plane table survey, its lack of clarity in the geophysical survey may suggest that the
ground disturbance is not as substantial – or deep – as the rest of the earthwork.
Figure 29. Greyscale data plot of the magnetometer data.
In addition, a number of other strong, discrete anomalies, indicative of ferrous sources, are
distributed across the site. While these may be generated by modern debris, some may be of
archaeological interest given the context of the military training activities assumed to have taken
place on this site. Towards the eastern end of the site (e.g. around H) several anomalies are
34 | P a g e
interpreted as possible archaeology; these are areas of increased magnetic response, the
anomalies of which are more amorphous than those elsewhere on the site.
Whereas the magnetometer survey has been very successful in defining the shape of the
earthworks – excluding the southern section of the upper zigzag – it has also provided some more
ambiguous positive and negative anomalies; with the relationship of these to the main earthworks
unclear. The geophysics has also not clearly identified the parallel low lying mounds shown in the
plane table survey and it has also failed to provide any detail on the internal structure of any
possible training trenches. However, by confirming the zigzag shape and the less magnetic nature
of the earthworks, the survey does support the plane table survey interpretation of these being First
World War training trenches.
Figure 30. Archaeological interpretation of the magnetometer data.
A = Slope of the top lynchet; B = Lower zig-zag; C = Upper zig-zag; D & E = Northeastern tips of lower zig-
zag; F = Small positive anomaly; G = Strong positive anomaly (sleeper); H = Positive anomaly, possible
archaeology.
5.4 Excavation
Following a review of the plane table survey and geophysical survey results a decision was made
to start the excavation by opening two excavation trenches.
35 | P a g e
Context Register
Table 1. Context register for excavation.
Small Finds Register
Table 2. Small finds register for excavation.
5.4.1 Excavation Trench 1
This was laid out at the north-western end of the upper set of zigzag training trenches, where the
zigzags appeared to terminate on the lip of the upper cultivation terrace riser. It was aligned NNW-
SSE on the long axis, and extended 4m by 2m. The objectives for this trench were:
To determine the cross-sectional form of the training trench – its width at the top and the
base, its depth, and its profile.
To determine if any original structures within the training trench had survived, such as
shoring (timber or corrugated iron).
To seek dating evidence to tie use of the training trenches with World War I.
To investigate the possibility, given that the zigzags seemed to terminate on the lynchet lip,
that there may have been access down into the training trench at this point either by cut
steps or a ramp.
Trench 1
101 = Topsoil 103 = Subsoil (lynchet)
102 = Subsoil lens
Trench 2
201 = Topsoil 205 = Training trench, cut
202 = Subsoil (lynchet) 206 = Training trench, northern cut
203 = Training trench, upper fill 207 = Training trench, southern cut
204 = Training trench, lower fill 208 = Natural
Trench 3
301 = Topsoil 302 = Subsoil (lynchet)
Trench 1
No. 104 = Clinker No. 105 = Glazed pot, mid-13th – 14th century
Trench 2
No. 101 = Iron bolt (modern) No. 107 = Iron bolt (modern)
No. 102 = Iron fragment, very corroded No. 108 = Rabbit bone (intrusive)
No. 103 = Clinker No. 109 = Iron nail, corroded
No. 106 = Iron metal plate, very corroded No. 110 = Iron fragment, very corroded
Un-stratified find = Pot, Cistercian ware, 16th
century
Trench 3
No. 111 = Pot, Red earthenware No. 114 – 120 = Charcoal specs
No. 112 = Pot, Gritty ware No. 121 = Pot, Gritty ware
No. 113 = Pot, Buff No. 122 – 124 = Charcoal specs
36 | P a g e
To test the hypothesis that the upper lynchet riser may have been faced with stone rather
than merely earth.
The upper set of zigzag training trenches seemed, under the turf, to terminate at the lip of the
upper lynchet riser so Trench 1 was laid out to investigate both the nature of the riser and the end
of the zigzags, and it encompassed the full cross-section of the assumed training trench.
Three contexts were recognised in Trench 1 (Fig. 31).
Figure 31. The south west facing profile of Trench 1.
Context 101 was a uniform layer of reddish brown medium sand topsoil with an average thickness
of 140mm covering the entire trench. It was fine grained and friable, probably of loessic origin, and
contained less than 5 per cent content of angular sandstone pieces with average long axis less
than 100mm. The majority of this stone was seen on the lynchet tread rather than on the riser
which was completely stone-free, and outside the training trench. One small piece of clinker (sfn
104) was logged in this context.
The excavation trench was divided longitudinally with a smaller sondage cut 1m wide down the
centre, later increased to 1.5m to take it back to the north-east edge of the trench. Within the
sondage a subsoil layer (Context 103) was recognised, again uniform in characteristics and also
reddish brown medium sand though sufficiently different from (101) to give it a separate context
number. It, too, was friable and also very low in stone content (less than 10 per cent). Its thickness
varied from 150mm within the training trench zigzag to 450mm outside but no evidence of cuts for
the training trench was found (Fig. 32); indeed the subsoil had hardly been disturbed at all and its
nature is probably due to the effects of long-term medieval ploughing. To ascertain the full
thickness of (103) a series of bores were made using a fine steel pin – average depths of over
300mm were reached before bottoming onto stony material, probably the natural layer. One pot
sherd (sfn 105) was logged within this context.
A small lens of subsoil (102) was identified towards the north-eastern end of the sondage, at the
interface of (101) and (103), and it took the form of material transitional between topsoil and
subsoil. No finds were logged in (102).
It was abundantly clear at the end of work on Trench 1 that this set of zigzags had not been dug to
any significant depth at all, and the subsoil was basically untouched (Fig. 33).
37 | P a g e
Figure 32. A finished shot of Trench 1 showing the undisturbed lychet subsoil.
Figure 33. The finished north-eastern profile of Trench 1 showing the minimal depth of the earthwork.
38 | P a g e
5.4.2 Excavation Trench 2
This was laid out across the lower set of zigzag training trenches, at one of their changes in
direction, configured so as to take in both apexes of the turn. It was aligned more or less north-
south and extended 5m on that axis by 3m. Objectives here were:
To determine the full form of this part of the training trench – width at top and base, depth,
cross-sectional profile – and if the zigzag turn was cut as sharp V-corners or more rounded
corners;
To determine if the short timber sleeper-like length seen partly in the turf prior to excavation
was coeval with use of the zigzags;
To determine if any dating evidence had survived.
Trench 2 was managed by use of a series of sondages each designed to answer a particular
question about the form and construction of the original lower training trench zigzags. In total, eight
contexts were recognised (Fig. 34).
Figure 34. The east facing profile of Trench 2.
Context (201) was a layer of topsoil, across the entire trench, very different in characteristics from
that seen in the two excavation trenches on the upper lynchet. Topsoil (201) was dark brown silt,
firm, and with up to 50 per cent sandstone content, most of which was made up of small (average
long axis <50mm) angular fragments. Stone content was greatest outside the zigzag training
trench, at each end of the excavation trench. Thickness of the topsoil varied considerably but was
least thick within the zigzag; maximum thickness was 130mm. Five small finds were logged within
(201) – three of modern metal, one of clinker, and fragmented pieces of rabbit bone.
Once (201) had been trowelled off, a 1m-wide sondage was delimited down the centre of Trench
2’s long axis to focus attention on locating the training trench cut within the excavation trench. A
subsoil layer (Context 202) was recognised outside the training trench zigzag, made up of reddish
brown silty sand similar in a way to subsoil horizons seen in the other two excavation trenches. It
contained a high proportion of small and angular sandstone pieces. This material did not extend
across the zigzag training trench so had clearly been taken out when that trench was originally dug.
This subsoil had a general thickness of 180mm, but depth below the turf line dropped from 240mm
at the north end of the trench to 140mm at the opposite end. One find (sfn 106) was logged in the
subsoil layer – a highly corroded metal plate with a curving edge 85mm long by a maximum of
30mm wide
39 | P a g e
Within the zigzag trench, seen in the sondage, was an unsorted amalgam of unsorted angular and
sub-angular sandstone and limestone cobbles of very variable size (maximum long axis c. 150mm)
and shape set in a matrix of silt and silty clay of variable hues (Context 203): it was so variable that
any attempt to allocate separate context numbers would have been futile; however, the dominant
colour was light olive brown. This was interpreted as the upper backfill of the zigzag training trench.
All this material had clearly been thrown back into the zigzag whenever the decision had been
made to backfill it and level it off. Average thickness of (203) decreased (from 230-80mm) from
north to south, for no apparent reason. Stone content of (203) was estimated at 70 per cent.
No finds were logged in (203).
Figure 35. A close-up of the east facing profile of Trench 2, showing the upper and lower trench fills.
As no evidence of the cuts to the original training trench was found within the sondage, its width
was extended first on the west side and then on the east to try and pick up the cuts either side of
the zigzag apex. The nature of material removed was identical to that seen in the original sondage.
Controlled mattocking down the east side did reveal the line of cuts on both sides of the zigzag
trench, though neither was obvious without close inspection and even then the northern cut
(Context 206), angled at 80 degrees to the horizontal, was barely perceptible compared to its
opposite number (Context 207), angled at 50 degrees. On the west side of the extended sondage
the top of the north cut was identified more easily as the material outside the training trench zigzag
was distinctively grey in colour whereas that within the zigzag was a bleached light olive. Further
40 | P a g e
work within the extended west sondage revealed the upper section of the south cut to the zigzag
trench.
To determine the full depth and cross-sectional profile of the training trench it was necessary to cut
a further sondage within the original sondage (203), contained within the training trench zigzag. By
so doing, the lower training trench backfill (Context 204) was removed: this mainly consisted of
limestone cobbles, significantly larger than in (203) set in a dark greyish brown clayey sand matrix.
Context (204) reached a maximum thickness of 670mm, bottoming onto natural, leached and
bleached, olive grey silty sand (Context 208). One charcoal sample (sfn 115) was logged from
(204).
Removal of this unsorted and unconsolidated material revealed the full profile of the west side of
the zigzag training trench (Fig. 35). The training trench edge showed as a clear concave cut (205)
with the south limb angled at 15-40 degrees from the horizontal and the north limb 35-70 degrees,
thereby making the profile asymmetrical. Its full depth, below the topsoil (201) was 900mm; its
width at the base of (201) was 2.6m, and at the bottom of the training trench 850mm (Fix. 36).
As the original cuts were not so clearly visible, and the material within (203) and (204) so
unconsolidated, it proved impossible to determine the position of the two apexes of the training
trench zigzag turn, so it was not possible to determine if the apex was V-shaped or curved.
Figure 36. An east facing shot of the finished Trench 2.
5.4.3 Excavation Trench 3
Trench 3 was conceived as a result of the findings obtained from excavation of Trench 1 which
were, in a sense, inconclusive. It was aligned north-south on its longer axis, and extended 3.5m by
1.5m. The aims in this trench were:
to confirm or otherwise that the upper set of zigzags had not been cut to any significant
depth below ground level;
to determine the cross-sectional profile and level of disturbance in these zigzags;
to seek dating evidence either for use of the training tranches or the lynchet terrace.
41 | P a g e
Given that excavation of Trench 1 had shown beyond doubt that the north end of the upper set of
training trenches had not been cut to any usable depth, it was deemed necessary to see if this set
of zigzags was the same throughout, or whether the lack of depth in Trench 1 was due to there
having been an access ramp down into the zigzag not picked up within the trench. Trench 3 was
thus laid out where surviving earthworks seemed to be more defined than elsewhere along this
zigzag set, and across the full cross-section of the earthwork so as to take in both sides of the
assumed training trench.
Two contexts were recognised within Trench 3 (Fig. 37).
Figure 37. The east facing profile of Trench 3.
Context (301) was a layer of topsoil with thickness ranging from 30mm within the zigzag earthwork
to 100mm on either side of the zigzag, covering the entire trench. It was uniform in soil
characteristics being medium brown silty sand (more silt than sand) with a friable composition, and
stone-free apart from one or two very small sandstone pieces. No small finds were logged within
(301).
To focus efforts, the trench was divided into two equal parts longitudinally with further excavation
undertaken in a 1.5m by 0.75m sondage in the western side of the trench. The subsoil layer within
the sondage, and clearly extending beyond it, was also uniform in characteristics and was identical
to the subsoil (102) in Trench 1. It was distinctly reddish brown, medium sand, very soft and pliable
in nature. It was completely stone-free. Excavation showed that, as with the topsoil, thickness
varied: 100mm to the base of the excavation within the zigzag but up to 270mm outside the zigzag
on its north side. Generally speaking, (302) appeared to have suffered minimal disturbance in the
recent past thereby confirming that this upper set of zigzags had not been dug to any usable depth
as a military training trench (Fig. 38).
Probing into the floor of the sondage with a fine metal pin reached average depths of 270mm for
the same soft sandy silt as seen in (302). Thus, it may be valid to assume that repeated ploughing
on the lynchet had turned the native soil into the fine tilth now seen on this terrace.
Nine discrete samples of charcoal were logged as small finds within the sondage, at depths below
the turf line varying from 120mm (sfn 116 and 118) through 140-160mm (sfn 114, 119, 160, 123
and 124), to sfn 122 at 260mm depth and sfn 117 at 280mm depth. Radiocarbon analysis of the
lower, and therefore more contextually sealed, samples could provide dating evidence for use of
the upper lynchet as a cultivation terrace.
Three ceramic sherds were logged from within (302): sfn 112 and 113 at depths between 140 and
160mm below the turf line, and sfn 121 at 330mm: it is probable that these represent plough scatter
and they should also provide dating evidence for cropping on this lynchet.
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Figure 38. The finished east facing profile of Trench 3 showing the minimal depth of the earthwork and the
undisturbed lychet subsoil.
5.4.4 Pottery Report
Summary
Six sherds of pottery were recovered during the excavations, four were medieval, one was 16th
century and the remaining (very small) sherd was probably 18 th century or later (Table 3).
Discussion
The sherds were small and, apart from the fragment of Cistercian ware, not clearly diagnostic of
specific types. The glazed sherd may be from a jug of Tees Valley ‘B’ ware. This is broadly dated
to mid-13th to 14th centuries (Didsbury 2010, 234-235). The coarser fragments, sfn112 and sfn121
in particular, could be earlier than this, but none are closely dateable. The Cistercian ware,
however, is a clear indication of 16th century activity. The condition of the medieval fragments is
consistent with material derived from field manuring. The Cistercian ware appeared to be fresher,
though is a harder fabric than the medieval sherds and therefore less liable to abrasion. The
absence of any identifiable late medieval (i.e. later 14 th/15th centuries) material may indicate a
hiatus in agricultural activity, which begins again in the 16 th century. However, with such a small
group of material even ‘presence and absence’ are of very little significance.
Strip lynchets are elongated cultivation terraces defined, on each long axis, by prominent scarps
themselves often augmented by cultivation; the typical field plot produced thus consists of a
relatively level arable area (tread) and a scarped leading edge or rear marker (riser) (McOmish
43 | P a g e
2011: 4). They are some of the most characteristic archaeological features of medieval field
systems in the Dales. The action of ploughing and collecting stones along the edge of the plot
builds up ‘steps’ on the hillside. Ridge and furrow was also created by ploughing, this time around
long narrow strips of land, throwing the soil up into a ridge in the middle (White 2014). The
chronology of strip lynchets in Britain is not yet fully resolved, with elongated fields of this form in
use throughout much of the later prehistoric and Romano-British periods (McOmish 2011: 4);
although they are more widely recognised as a medieval landscape feature.
The result of the pottery analysis is unfortunately limited due to the small size of the assemblage.
However the pottery shards recovered do suggest that the lynchets are medieval, potentially in use
from the mid-13th century to the 16th century.
Catalogue
context Find no. Type weight Comment
101 105 Orange (glazed) 2 gm Greenish-yellow glaze
Tr. 2 u/s 125 Cistercian ware 4 gm With blobs and rouletted strips of white
clay (yellow under glaze)
301 111 Red earthenware <1 gm Probably flower pot
302 112 Gritty ware 2 gm Pale brown with coarse quartz and
ferrous (red and dark grey) grits.
302 113 Buff 5 gm Pale brown with some greyish reduction
in core. Rather abraded. Some fine sand
with occasional larger inclusions.
302 121 Gritty ware 3 gm ‘Sandwich’ of orange (exterior), mid-grey
(reduction) and pale brown.
Table 3. Pottery catalogue.
6 Discussion
6.1 Drill Hall
The significance of the Drill Hall can be assessed following the identification of heritage values as
outlined in Conservation Principles (English Heritage 2008):
Evidential Value
The Drill Hall clearly reflects much of its original design and appearance in providing a designated
formal space for the training of uniformed volunteer militia. The drill floor and overlooking balcony
provide architectural evidence of the importance of military practice and the oversight of practice in
forming discipline.
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The design and construction of the Castleberg Drill Hall also tells us that Morrison was concerned
to provide a high quality environment for his local volunteers. Drill Halls appear to have varied
significantly across different areas in terms of build quality, with some halls more ephemeral than
others. While the size of the Settle Drill Hall is smaller than many, this perhaps reflects the size of
the town and eligible population, more than any restriction in funding to build the venue. The Drill
Hall also contains significant modifications and additions that are relevant to the history of scouting,
key of which is the carved mantelpiece (added to the original 1864 fireplace) celebrating the
scouting jubilee year of 1957.
Historical Value
The constraints of the Training and Trenches project have meant that there has been relatively little
resource available to research the history of the Castleberg Drill Hall in detail. Most Drill Halls were
used quite intensively for military practise, often rifle drill, but frequently also activities such as
semaphore or first aid practise. The majority of Drill Halls also provided other community functions,
particularly in terms of social events –although not confirmed by this investigation, this was almost
certainly the case at Castleberg.
Key elements of historical value lie in the connection to Walter Morrison, and the links that the
building provides between a relatively quiet rural town and military history from the 19th century
through the First World War. The building is also of some significance in relation to the history of
Scouting in the area, having been first acquired by the scouts in 1936, and remaining in use for the
Settle Scouts. The carved (1956) mantelpiece added to the original fireplace is a significant feature
in that history of scouting and should be seen a priority to retain, as should the small brass WWII
memorial.
Aesthetic value
The Drill Hall has some importance as a formal building on the edge of the historic core of Settle. It
stands out as a formal building in the mixed (and slightly cramped) range of 19th century and earlier
buildings that are built on the eastern higher side of Settle. The building falls within the area
identified as the historic core of Settle in a recent Conservation Area appraisal (Envision & Craven
DC 2008) and is clearly a contributor to the aesthetic of that core.
The Drill Hall shows quality both in its design and build; it is well proportioned, with high quality
detail in the window and door surrounds and quoins.
Communal Value
The continued use of the Drill Hall as a building with a semi-public function, and providing an open
space for the Settle Scouts is a strong expression of communal and social value. This is
particularly so because of the strong connection of Scouting and it’s ideals with the armed forces,
and British Nationalism. The history of the Drill Hall is not well understood, but there is clearly some
potential for linking the stories of individuals (probably some with descendants in Settle) through
national/global events such as WW1 to the Drill Hall.
The Drill Hall is significant as a location of commemorative importance through the WW1
centenary.
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6.2 Rifle Range
Part of the monument was depicted within recconstruction drawings (a plan and two elevations) in
a short article, published for the North Craven Heritage Journal by Jim Nelson (1998) (Fig. 39).
Nelson’s father used the shooting range in the years leading up to WW1. The reconstruction
drawings, made
from memory,
detail the main
earthwork that
was subject to
survey.
Much of the
mound – as
depicted in
Nelson’s
illustrations – is
hidden from the
range behind
the east/west
field wall that
forms the
southern limit of
the survey area.
The size of the
butt as
estimated from
the survey and
interpreted by
Nelson is
modest yet
comparable with
other contemporary examples in Britain.
However the scale of such ranges constructed in the late 19th/ early 20th century did vary
considerably, with the East Weares Rifle Range at the Royal Navy base on the Isle of Portland in
Dorset, constructed between 1889 and 1903, on the grander end of the scale (Fig. 40). Here
stands the remains of a large late 19th/ early 20th century stop butt built out of Portland stone,
measuring approximately 100 meters in length and 30 meters wide, with shooters firing towards the
butts at metal targets at 100 yard intervals from 200 yards to 600 yards, with an additional lane of
fire to the north-east, firing from 800 yards (The Encyclopedia of Portland History 2015).
Although constructed after the threat of war with France had passed, the prominence and longevity
of the butts at East Weares are an important architectural reminded of the other rifle ranges and
the training that took place at them during the period of Volunteer Rifle Corps and Territorial Units.
Figure 39. Nelsons reconstruction drawing of the Attermire Rifle Range structure
(Nelson 1998).
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Given the position of a
large area of heavily
fragmented scree directly
behind the main mound, it
is logical that the targets
were sited directly above
the building. In Nelson’s
reconstruction, the mantlet
was used to operate two
rotating targets during
shooting sessions, from the
safety of a protected
position. The rotating
targets are shown as being
sited on the north side of
the building. Although no
trace of the rotating targets
was evident onsite, this
would seem to be an
entirely practical
arrangement from the field evidence. An account from memory is given of the Cissbury Rifle Range
near the village of Findon in West Sussex, a range set up around the 1880’s for the local Volunteer
Rifle Corps (Botley and North Hinksey Community 2015). The writer describes the remains of butts
– in the 1970’s – perpendicular to the axis of the range and interprets rusty metal frameworks as
the remains of rotating target holders that were suspended above the butts (Martin 2010); therefore
in a similar fashion to Nelsons interpretation of the design of the Attermire range.
The iron targets recorded at Attermire were probably installed during the early years of the use of
the range, and likely to have been sited on two slight earthwork platforms cut into the break of
slope at the base of Warrendale Knotts. The westernmost of these two platforms (1) is depicted on
the survey plan, although the eastern platform lay just outside of the survey area.
Nelson (1998) records the shooting platforms or firing steps at Attermire at distances of 150, 300,
450, 600, 750 and 880 yards from the butts. At both East Weares and Cissbury the shooting
platforms are placed at regular 100 yard intervals, up to a distance of 600 yards, and at the Mains
Hill Rifle Range north of the town of Helensburgh in Scotland, the platforms extend for 1,000 yards
at 200 yard intervals (Secret Scotland 2013). Therefore the Attermire platforms seem to have been
placed at less regular intervals than the other examples, and at 880 yards give a significant
maximum distance for the shooters. It is possible that over time the location of the platforms
changed, and further field survey may help clarify this. However Nelson mentions that the 880 yard
platform was located by the lane wall and therefore it is clear that other elements of the landscape
influenced the location of these platforms.
As mentioned above, the location of the rifle range appears to have been well chosen. There would
have been no need to obtain a ‘firing right’ as the depth behind the targets – before reaching the
scar face – was far less than the 2,500 yard maximum suggested in the musketry regulations
manual (War Office 1914) ; approximately 17 yards in this case. In contrast, the height of the scar
face is approximately 35ft, with only half of this height consisting of a vertical face, and the other
Figure 40. The external face of the stop butt at East Weares rifle range.
47 | P a g e
half a gentler slope from the ground surface, with the slope and height of the scar making
dangerous bullet ricochets more likely. However, the relatively remote location of the range and its
setting within an unusually flat area shielded by the scar were seemingly enough to satisfy the
safety criteria. In addition, the low level of agricultural activity in the surrounding landscape and the
fact that countryside walking was not as popular as it is today, would reduce the danger presented
to members of the public by the shooting taking place at the range.
The history of ownership of the land immediately surrounding the range has not been established.
However, following the Military Lands Act of 1892 (Military Lands Act 1982) it is possible that at
least from this date the plot was under the ownership of either the Secretary of State, the NCRC or
the local council (to be loaned to the NCRC). This would have restricted access to the land and
thus making it even less of a danger to the public. A similar scenario is likely at the Ellerlands Rifle
Range, constructed for the 12th North Yorkshire Rifle Volunteers who were also formed in 1859.
In comparison to other examples it is evident that Walter Morrison and the NCRC committee had
taken particular care in choosing the location for the Attermire Rifle Range. For example, the newly
formed Stourport Rifle Corps set up a rifle range on Hartlebury Common soon after their
establishment in 1859, with butts found on the steep western slope of the hill. However, long range
firing points required shots to pass over the main Stourport turnpike. Flags and a bugler were
placed on the road to give warning to cease firing when travelers appeared and thus presenting
some danger to the general public; with one report telling of firing having to be suspended because
of cannon balls passing dangerously close to a labourer's cottage half a mile away. In 1872 a miller
complained that a cannon ball came over the hill and nearly killed him and his horse (Hartlebury
History Society 2013).
6.3 Training Trenches
6.3.1 Trench Warfare
The use of tunnelling in warfare can be traced back to the Roman period (e.g. James 2011), and by
the 11th century tunnels were used on the battlefield to enable the placing of fires beneath masonry
walls in the hope that they would crack and give way, with zigzag patterns used to avoid
countermines (Brown & Field 2007: 174). This method of advancing on walled defences using a
zigzag shape was known as ‘sapping’ and was also used on the surface where, aided by wooden
shields on wheels, the design prevented enfilade from ahead and above (Encyclopaedia Britannica
2011). This use of sap trenches to attack fortresses is particularly well demonstrated in the tactics
of the 17th century French military engineer Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (Fig. 41), with
‘sappers’ working in well-coordinated teams carrying out a highly skilled and dangerous job
(Encyclopaedia Britannica 2011). Furthermore, military engineers sought to counter the widespread
adoption of firearms during the English Civil War (Brown & Field 2007: 174).The protection offered
by zigzag sap trenches resulted in the wider zigzag and crenelated trench designs seen in the
latter half of the 19th century, and from the Crimean War (1853-56) and the American Civil War
(1861-65) defensive trenches became a more recognised battlefield feature (Brown & Field 2007:
171). Examples of 19th century military earthworks in Britain are found at Hungry Hill in Aldershot
and on the Ash Ranges in Surrey (English 2004: 87-93; 2006: 245-53). As trenches became more
prominent during the latter half of the 19th century (e.g. Smith 1995: 422-40), their design evolved
to become more effective and afford greater protection. By 1903 the more complex Boer War
trench design (Fig. 42) was being practiced on Dartmoor and Salisbury Plain (Guy 1981: 1-2); with
48 | P a g e
these S-shaped trenches a precursor to the First World War trench designs (Brown & Field 2007:
172). Military manuals indicate that by 1908 more comprehensive trench systems were being
Fig. 41. Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban’s fortress attack design (Encyclopaedia Britannica 2011).
Fig. 42. Sketch plan of Boer trenches from the Second Boer War (Anon. 1900: 92).
49 | P a g e
developed, which eventually led to the complex seen on the western front (Anon. 1908: 4). Two of
the best examples of First World War practice trench systems in Britain can be found at Perham
Down on Salisbury Plain (Brown & Field 2007: 176) and within the interior of the Old Oswestry hill
fort in Shropshire
(Smith 2010). Aerial
photographs of the
earthworks at
Perham Down show
a substantial
training trench
system consisting
of two opposing
‘front line’ firing
trenches, up to
200m apart, which
are crenelated in
shape. Behind
these front lines lie
support, reserve
and communication
trenches, which are
either zigzag or
sinuous in shape.
This basic structure
of front line
trenches, followed
by support, reserve
and connecting
communication trenches is perhaps more simply demonstrated by the Old Oswestry earthworks.
Soldiers in the front firing trenches acted as the first line of defence should the enemy attack, as
well as being the first to attack when the troops went ‘over the top’. Once in the front line you would
be constantly on alert for an enemy attack as well as continually repairing and improving the
trenches. Those in the support line, usually 200 to 500 yards behind, were there to counter the
enemy should they advance over the front line of trenches, as well as being prepared to support a
friendly advance. The reserve line was established several hundred yards behind the support
trench and was a place where supplies were stored as well as providing a rest place for soldiers.
Communication trenches enabled soldiers to travel quickly between the front, support and reserve
lines. Due to the enduring nature of trench warfare soldiers would be continually rotated between
the trench lines, spending approximately 15 per cent of their time in the firing line, 10 per cent in
support trenches, and 30 per cent in reserve trenches. They would spend up to 45 per cent of their
time out of the trenches, either recovering from injuries or resting.
The aerial photograph showing the opposing trench systems between Loos and Hulluch in July
1917 depicts this general three tier trench system (Fig.43). What is clear in the image is that the
firing line trenches are crenelated. This is seen in training trenches throughout Britain, such as at
Redmires in Sheffield (Ullathorne 2006), Pernham Down and Old Oswestry hill fort, as well as
being depicted in military manuals (Fig 44). This shape ensured that the damage from exploding
Figure 43. Aerial photograph showing the opposing trench systems between
Loos and Hulluch in July 1917. Note the ‘sap’ trench encroaching into no man’s
land from the right hand front line at the top of the image (Imperial War Museum
2015).
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shells would be confined to ‘boxed’ areas, as well as allowing projecting ‘bastions’ to give covering
fire to other parts of the trench (Brown & Field 2007: 172). The training trench system at Otterburn
in Northumberland (Brown 2009) shows how the front lines could also consist of island traverses
interconnected by shorter trenches, with the support trench a classic ‘Greek Key’ pattern and the
reserve trench more irregular in form. In addition, the Redmires complex has platforms used as gun
emplacement as well as officer post and possible shelters. In the Loos and Hulluch image the
support and reserve trench also appear to be largely crenelated. In British training trench examples
the support and reserve trenches tend to vary between being crenelated and more sinuous in
nature, reflecting the lesser defensive nature of these lines. However in nearly every example
communication trenches take on a very sinuous or zigzag form, which allows for more rapid
movement down their length, whilst still proving protection from enfilade fire or shell bursts (Brown
& Field 2007: 172).
Zigzag sap trenches also continued into the First World War as a way of advancing out from the
firing line trench) into no-man’s land and towards the enemy line. This was done underground
where sub-surface mines would be exploded, or more riskily above ground during the cover of
darkness, where sappers would listen in on enemy soldiers, throw small bombs into the enemy
trench and launch a surprise attack. These saps were smaller than normal trenches and would
advance approximately 30 yards out from the firing line and terminate with a sap head or listening/
bomb post.
Sap trench construction was predominantly the responsibility of the Royal Engineer Privates or
Sappers, a term originating from the 1856 amalgamation of the Crops of Royal Sappers and Miners
and the Officer Corps of Royal Engineers, to from the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Fig. 44. Instructional diagram of font line trenches from the British War Office manual “British Trench
Warfare 1917-1918: a reference manual” (War Office 1997).
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6.3.2 Surveys
The wider archaeological literature presents a lack of alternative explanations to suggest that the
earthworks are not military training trenches. Based on the geophysical and landscape survey
results and the case studies outlined above, the basic zigzag shape of the earthworks would
suggest that the Giggleswick earthworks are early 20th century communication or sapping trenches.
Earthworks such as those at Beacon Hill and Bullford Rifle Range (Brown & Field 2007: 173-4) on
Salisbury Plain are examples of how smaller less complex training trench complexes were created,
unlike the larger reconstructions at Perham Down and Old Oswestry hill fort. However, at Beacon
Hill and Bullford the zigzag communication trenches are not in isolation; they are connected to front
line and support trenches in some way. Similarly at Redmires in Sheffield (Fig. 45) and Rothbury in
Northumberland (Cocroft 2013, Northumberland National Park 2008) we do find examples of
zigzag earthworks dug as a single entity; yet again they are part of a larger training trench
landscape consisting of multiple training areas. In contrast, at Giggleswick the pair of zigzags are
not part of a wider training trench landscape; with the Lidar imaging and aerial photography
revealing no other earthworks.
Similar to Beacon Hill, at
Redmires all of the earthworks
have been constructed on
areas of sloping ground and in
most cases it appears that the
trenches are at a right angle to
the direction of slope and facing
uphill. This provides a tactical
advantage as it makes it more
difficult for the enemy to shell
positions to the rear of the
slope (Brown & Field 2007:
172). The Giggleswick zigzags
have also been dug across the
slope of a hill (albeit dug into a
pair of lynchets), however if
they are communication
trenches then any future
connected front line and
support trenches would run
parallel to this steep direction of
slope and through the lynchets
– a scenario which would
present significant structural
challenges.
Therefore, the exercise may
have have been done just to
replicate the physical process
of digging a trench, rather than
learning how and where to Figure 45. The Quarry Hil South West survey at Redmires (Ullathorne
2006: 17). Notice several individual zigzag trenches.
52 | P a g e
establish a trench system in the landscape. It does however present the question of why you would
chose to just practice digging communication trenches as opposed to the more complex and
arguably more important front line trench construction.
Alternatively the earthworks may represent an exercise in above ground sapping, with Royal
Engineers Sappers specifically trained for this duty. The level of risk involved in sapping as they
encroach into no-man’s land increases the emphasis on efficient training and fitness, and therefore
we perhaps should not be surprised to see examples of individual sapping exercises. This would
also possibly explain why we have a pair of zigzag trenches in isolation. The flatness and
straightness of the lynchets provide an ideal platform to practice sapping and the ‘Y’ shaped
eastern end of the lower zigzag may even be the beginnings of a sap-head. Sap trenches can be
seen in the Loos and Hulluch aerial photographs and at Penham down zigzag sapping trenches
can be seen reaching into the no-man’s land area between the opposing trench lines.
In 1908 the 49th West Riding Division was created as the West Riding Divisions Territorial Force in
the British Army. The division contained the 1st (West Riding) Field Company and the 2nd (West
Riding) Field Company of Royal Engineers and along with the 1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s
(West Riding) Regiment, they were at their annual summer camp when war broke out in August
1914. In addition, on August 31st 1914 the War Office issued orders for all Territorial Forces to form
reserve units, which lead to the formation of the 62nd West Riding Division, including the 2/1st and
2/2nd (West Riding) Field Companies of Royal Engineers. As a result, even though no documentary
evidence has been uncovered, here we have four territorial engineer companies operating in the
West Riding of Yorkshire prior to and during the First World War that would most likely have been
engaged in practice trench construction, including the specialist skill of sapping.
Similar to the Giggleswick trenches, German front line trenches were often more wave like of
zigzag in shape. As a result it has been suggested that the Giggleswick earthworks may in fact be
mock German trenches used to stage practice offensive manoeuvres or artillery fire. A similar
scenario has been put forward as a possibility at the area of Trench 1 at Otterburn (Brown 2009:
12). This might explain why the trenches run at a right angle to the fall of slope, with the steepness
of the hill below Kelcow Wood providing an ideal training landscape to improve fitness. However,
no evidence of spent small arms ammunition was recovered from the site, as might be expected
from such a drill, depending on who was being trained; although not all drills would have used live
ammunition. The presence of large craters and artillery ammunition at Chaperton Down and Old
Oswestry on Salisbury Plain indicates that these trenches were used for artillery fire practice; no
such features were identified at Giggleswick.
6.3.3 Excavation
Lower zigzag
The excavation revealed the cut of the lower zigzag at the point of Trench 2 to be 0.9m deep, 2.6m
wide across the top and 0.85m wide across its base. The zigzag trenches at Rugeley Camp,
Cannock Chase measure 0.6m deep, 2m wide across the top and 0.5m wide across the base
(Welch 1997); the unfilled trench at Redmires was recorded at 1.3m deep with “a narrow trench
floor” (Ullathorne 2006: 18); the trenches at Beacon Hill are approximately 1.5m deep with cuts 2m
wide (Brown & Field 2007: 172). At Otterburn the two defensive ‘D-heads’ constructed off the
zigzag communications trenches were partially excavated, with Area 2 revealing a trench depth of
2m, an upper width of 5m and a base width of 1m, and Area 3 revealing a trench depth of 1.75m
53 | P a g e
Figure 46. Cross section of a communication trench from the British
War Office manual “British Trench Warfare 1917-1918: a reference
manual” (War Office 1997).
and a base width of 0.5m (Brown 2009). The British War Office manual “British Trench Warfare
1917-1918: a reference manual” provides illustrations showing communication trenches at 8ft 6
inches (2.6m) and 6ft (1.8m) deep (Fig. 46), and front line trenches 6ft (1.8m) deep (War Office
1997). Whereas the other training trench examples above exhibit variable depths, with ground
conditions and military tactics often influencing their design, the War Office Manual indicates that
the Giggleswick trenches may
have been significantly under-
dug for communication
trenches.
Only the Cannock Case
trenches exhibit smaller
dimensions; though this system
has been interpreted as only a
quarter scale model (Ullathorne
2006: 26) and other than being
generically described as ‘deep
and narrow’ in several sources,
no specific recordings of sap
trench dimensions have been
found. Therefore the
Giggleswick trenches are
certainly at the small end of the
trench construction scale.
The excavation also revealed
that the lower trench, at this
point at least, has a very basic
U shaped profile, with no
obvious additional
modifications; this may be
deliberate or due to a lack of
available construction
materials. The slight step in the
north-western face of the
trench cut may possibly
represent a firing step,
although this was less than
conclusive during the
excavation. The plane table
survey showed that the only
certain addition to the trench
cut appears to be the spoil
bank that runs down its south-
western length. This is likely
the remains of the original
earthwork fill which would have been used to increase the overall depth of the training trench,
acting as a parapet like feature; a similar feature is seen at the Quarry Hill East trench at Redmires
54 | P a g e
in Sheffield (Ullathorne 2006: 18) and at Rothbury (Northumberland National Park 2008).
The excavation of First World
War practice trenches in Britain
and the subsequent reporting
has been limited, and little
interpretation regarding trench
structure can be made from
unfilled trenches (e.g.
Ullathorne 2006: 18). Yet,
where excavation and
reporting has occurred (e.g.
Brown 2009, Northumberland
National Park 2008) the trench
profiles have revealed the
internal features that are
outlined in training manuals
(Fig. 47). This includes
evidence of trench boards,
firing steps, revetments and
parapets (Fig.48), with some of
these features identified during
the Otterburn trenches
excavation, where the exercise
possibly provided the men with
a more thorough trench
building experience (Brown
2009: 8-13).
In contrast the basic U shape
and lack of internal features at
Giggleswick does not suggest
such a scenario here. The
sleeper-like feature was found
to only be in the topsoil with no
indication of any relationship
with the original zigzag
structure. However, confirming
the negative magnetic
responses recorded in the geophysical survey, the excavation showed that the trench has been
deliberately backfilled with the mixed subsoil previously extracted from the lynchet.
Therefore, it must be considered that any features such as trench boards and revetments may
have been removed before this took place. Furthermore, the need for features such as trench
boards and revetments did vary according to ground conditions (War Office 1997).
Fig. 47. Cross section of a fire trench from the British War Office
manual “British Trench Warfare 1917-1918: a reference manual”
(War Office 1997).
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Upper zigzag
The results from Trench 1 and Trench 3 indicate that the upper zigzag was dug very shallow. The
maximum depth from the bottom of the topsoil at the edges of the zigzag and the start of the
lynchet at the base of the zigzag, is only 23mm for Trench 1 and 39mm for Trench 3. The zigzag
does not appear to have been deliberately backfilled at any point, with no subsoil layer (trench fill)
between the topsoil and lynchet; therefore the trench was seemingly left exposed once digging had
ceased. There was no evidence of any internal features and it is assumed that the findings of the
two trenches represent the profile of the entire earthwork. In addition, it is apparent that where the
zigzag terminates off the end of the lynchet (Trench 1) this potentially just represents an end point
for the exercise rather than a specific trench entrance.
Beyond comparing the plan of this earthwork to traditional communication and sapping trenches
interpreting the upper zigzag is challenging due to its significant lack of depth. A review of
comparative case studies has not found any similar examples and there appears to be no
justifiable reason to practice such a design when bearing in mind the lack of protection it would
surely provide – the lower zigzag demonstrates an awareness of the required depth of trenches by
those practicing them. Therefore it is likely that the upper zigzag represents a trench construction
exercise that has come to a premature end and this makes it impossible to be sure of the intended
function of the trench.
We are therefore possibly witnessing a snapshot of the trench construction process rather than the
end product. The apparent uniformity of depth along the trench in the middle of the exercise depicts
a well-coordinated and disciplined exercise that reflects the standard of training by local regiments
highlighted in the documentary research. The well thought-out training regime suggested at much
larger trench complexes such as Otterburn (Brown 2009: 12-13) is potentially also represented
here, if not on a much smaller scale. This scenario would therefore place the upper zigzag as later
Fig. 48. Cross section of a fire trench in west soil from the British War Office manual “British Trench Warfare
1917-1918: a reference manual” (War Office 1997).
56 | P a g e
in date, with the lower zigzag seemingly a completed exercise, although there is no way of
confirming this. If this is the case then we must ask why construction ceased. Possibly the
participants ran out of time and moved on to other exercises, or possibly those men (assuming it
was men, of course) who were practicing trench construction moved from the area – perhaps a
result of traveling overseas to join the war. The upper zigzag may even represent a training
exercise abandoned at some point around November 11th 1918. Again, without any documentary
or dating evidence it is impossible to know.
7 Conclusions
7.1 Drill Hall
The survey shows that most of the modifications made to the Drill Hall have been relatively minor,
and have not significantly or permanently compromised either the layout or the appearance of the
building. The covered entrance probably did detract from the visual impression of the Drill Hall, but
its removal means that the main entrance of the building has been returned to something
approaching its original appearance. The use of the building as a Scout Hall from 1936,
subsequent to its military use has been key in preserving, with minor modifications, the original
layout of the building along with a number of original features of architectural and historical interest.
Later features of significance to the history of Scouting at the Drill Hall are also preserved in the
Drill Hall.
The origin of the site is also reflective of the beginnings of Volunteer Rifle Corps’ across the
country; these new forces needed accommodation to practice their drill, however with most
volunteer’s working class labourers and no central funding available, their early development often
depended on the generosity of men such as Walter Morrison. As we learnt Morrison was more than
willing to use his own fortune to help finance military training in the area, including supporting the
Giggleswick OTC. The Castleberg Drill Hall is the most architecturally prominent example of this
support, with purpose built Drill Halls preferred to the adaptation of existing buildings (Carmichael
2013: 3). Whereas there is no such thing as a standard Drill Hall design (Fisher & Roberts 2014)
the Castleberg Drill Hall does have similar features to most other Drill Halls and its early
development – both as a place for drill and a social venue – mirrors what is seen throughout the
country (Carmichael 2013: 3).
Furthermore, the re-use and development history of the Drill Hall is a common one. In their later
years many Drill Halls have been used as leisure facilities, GPO sorting offices or telephone
exchanges, downgraded to cadet unit premises, or used as engineering or stores buildings (Fisher
& Roberts 2014). However, many have been demolished and redeveloped as brownfield sites, with
a 2006 survey revealing that from a total of 1,863 documented Drill Halls in England, only 309 of
the 476 (64 per cent) built before 1900 survived (Carmichael 2013: 3). Therefore, the Castleberg
Drill Hall demonstrates the value of reusing significant local buildings, maintaining its historical
integrity and enabling the local community to benefit from this important architectural feature of the
Settle landscape.
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7.2 Rifle Range
Like the Castleberg Drill Hall, the origin of the Attermire Rifle Range is also reflective of the
beginnings of Volunteer Rifle Crops’ across the country, with adequate facilities required for these
newly formed units that were funded by wealthy benefactors such as Walter Morrison. We know
from the Settle Pamphlets that during its early days the range and activities took place there
received great support from local people, with donations of equipment and competition prizes
coming in from different parts of the community. Furthermore, it’s ninety or so years’ service up
until its closure in the early 1950’s (Mussett 1980: 11) made it an important feature in the local
military landscape for a long period during which the presence or threat of war was an almost
constant in British society. The damage done to the 19th century iron targets by larger armour
piercing shells during the Second World War serves as a reminder of the longevity of the rifle range
and the instability of the period it survived in.
During this period the range was used by a variety of different people and groups. This included the
NCRC, the Giggleswick School OTC and the Settle Home Guard during the Second World War. It
was therefore a site that was experienced and appreciated by people from different walks of life
and from different periods of modern history. However they all came to the range with the same
intention: to practice their rifle shooting skills. They would all have experienced the same
surrounding landscape, the sounds of bullets ricocheting off targets, walls and the face of
Warrendale Knotts, and the familiar sounds of a rifle fire. Although the range is no longer in use,
the surrounding landscape is heavily walked by ramblers who have the opportunity to learn about
what remains of the rifle range.
Today rifle ranges built in the mid-19th century for the purposes of training in anticipation of a war
with France are rare, with most falling apart ether by the effects of neglect over time or by
deliberate dismantling by those wishing to make use of the construction materials. For example, at
Ellerlands only part of the target structure still survives, with the remainer reported to have been
robbed to build a modern toilet block. Therefore, Nelsons article and reconstruction drawing of the
Attermire Rifle Range is an important source for understanding the history, design and use of the
site and it is hoped that this project has furthered this understanding.
7.3 Training Trenches
The fieldwork has added significantly to our understanding of the earthworks, although their
interpretation remains challenging. The design of the trenches in plan are similar to communication
trenches, although if so they are notably under-dug and presents questions regarding the choice of
location and why other trench forms have not been practiced. They may be replica German
trenches, although there is no evidence of artillery or small arms training (despite the random
strong, discrete anomalies detected in the geophysics across the site) as might be expected if one
was to practice attacking the enemy line. They may be the remains of a sapping drill by a local
engineer company; however if the lower zigzag represent a completed exercise, it does not
correspond with the deep and narrow design of a normal sapping trench and thus again has been
under-dug. The lower zigzag may have included internal features such as trench boards and
revetments, which have since been removed, or it may have always been as it is now. The lack
artefacts found within the trenches (e.g. food tins and domestic waste) suggests that they were not
lived in.
This lack of clarity and apparent lack of specific design may however speak for itself. The surveys
58 | P a g e
revealed the diminutive nature of the earthworks in comparison to other training trenches in Britain.
Consequently, rather than attempting to compare the earthworks to specific trenches features (e.g.
saps or communication trenches) it might be more suitable to consider them as simple, small-scale
exercise, in trench digging or even just trench layout. Training trench drills served to build up
fitness levels, fostering team spirit among volunteer forces and working together as a unit, as much
as teaching how to construct the perfect military trench (Brown 2009: 13, English Heritage 2014).
Training trenches are often small disjointed examples designed to provide soldiers with the merest
familiarisation of trench life (Brown & Field 2007: 170).
As the documentary research has revealed, the North Craven Rifle Corps, or Craven Territorials,
had been fully engaged in military training during the 55 years prior to outbreak of the Great War,
and with zigzag sap trenches being used from the 17th century it is possible that the earthworks are
significantly older than the postulated WW1 date; with no dating evidence from the trench contexts
to contradict this. The formation of the NCRC (1859) – and the subsequent construction of the
Castleberg Drill Hall and Attermire Rifle Range – came not long after the British military learned a
valuable lesson in trench warfare during the Crimean War (1853-1856). It is possible that this new
understanding of trench warfare was passed down to local volunteer organisations and assimilated
into their training; with the effectiveness of zigzag trench design as learnt during the Boer War
(1899-1902) also taken on board. It is reasonable to suggest that learning about military trenches
was part of the volunteer training programme at some point.
In addition, with the Giggleswick School OTC conducting military training in the area from 1910 and
the Giggleswick Village Guard using the schools facilities (which are overlooked by the lynchets)
we have two other groups who would also have benefited from an exercise in trench construction.
The small scale of the trenches may even reflect the efforts of smaller schoolboys being given a
taste of trench digging.
Despite uncovering no evidence to confirm who was behind their construction or date, the trenches
probably sit within a well-defined context of late 19th and early 20th century local military training; a
period which is also defined by an increase in the use of zigzag trenches by the British military. The
Military Lands Act (1892) – amended in 1900 – gave the Secretary of State powers to purchase
land in the United Kingdom for military purposes of any portion of Her Majesty’s military forces. It
also meant that volunteer corps may, with the consent of the Secretary of State, themselves
purchase land under this Act for military purposes. This act helped facilitate this increase of military
‘landscapes’ both at a local and national level and whereas Giggleswick School did not own the
land beneath Kelcow Wood prior to the First World War, it is possible that under the remit of the act
the NCRC or the Craven Territorials did have ownership or lease of the land for military training
purposes.
It seems likely that at least one of the groups described above were involved in the digging of the
Giggleswick Trenches, if not as a joint educational exercise in the basics of trench warfare. Even if
not, and the trenches are the remains of an engineering company drill, it is hard to envisage that
the local groups were not aware of their construction and therefore able to appreciate how they
added to a special local military landcape that they themselves had already helped to define. We
must also be aware of the fact that the construction of practice trenches in Britain continued until
the Second World War (Brown 2009: 3).
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8 Outreach
The main focus of Training and Trenches was to engage members of the local community with the
physical legacy of the First World War. Archaeological fieldwork is becoming increasingly oriented
around public outreach and education, with such an approach helping drive the archaeological
discipline into new, fruitful territory. More and more people are becoming actively engaged with
their own local history through archaeological projects and learning new practical skills along the
way. Taking advantage of the opportunity presented by the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Understanding
the First World War’ programme, Training and Trenches was successful in achieving a high level of
community engagement and achieving its outreach aims. Over 300 people took part in the project
between May and August 2014 and therefore actively engaged with the physical legacy of the First
World War in the Settle area.
8.1 Documentary Research
The project aimed to give
younger people from the
surrounding community the
opportunity to contribute to
the results of the project by
taking part in archaeological
and documentary research.
Michael Miles was ‘recruited’
as a voluntary Research
Assistant. Michael had been
taking part in the National
Parks Mosaic programme
(http://www.cnp.org.uk/sector
/mosaic) for over a year and
was interested in taking part
in some archaeological
research, having heard about
the project from one of the
Mosaic co-ordinators.
The Mosaic ‘Young
Champions’ project
introduces 18-25 year olds to
the National Park life, gaining
experience and skills that will
help towards employment.
Michael attended the
research day at the
Giggleswick School Archive
and the Imperial War
Museum in London (Fig. 49).
The former was
Figure 49. Research Assistant Michael Miles outside the Imperial War
Museum in London.
60 | P a g e
supplemented with an informative guided tour of the glorious school chapel by the school’s
archivist Barbara Gent, and the latter took in the sights and sounds of the museum and its
surroundings. Michael also took part in the training trench survey and excavation, and an end of
project talk at the Museum of North Craven Life in Settle. His contribution was invaluable and his
involvement in the project enabled him to learn valuable new skills that he will hopefully be able to
use in the future.
8.2 Surveys
The three surveys days were designed to include volunteers and allow them to learn new recording
skills as well as contributing their own knowledge and expertise. The rifle range survey was carried
out by National Park Authority staff, alongside local volunteers and rifle range enthusiasts (and
experts), Anthony Crawshaw and Bill Flentje. As well as helping with the survey itself, Anthony and
Bill’s presence provided a fascinating insight into the history and function of the site; with their
expert knowledge and description of how the range worked adding much to the day. Bill spent
much of the time scouring the base of Warrendale Knotts behind the range looking for spent
ammunition; with his trained eye recovering a handful of artefacts. Their involvement was
particularly helpful due to the ‘off the cuff’ nature of the outreach that ensued. The range is located
close to a public footpath and 30 plus walkers came past the site during the day (Fig. 50). Anthony
and Bill provided these inquisitive visitors with plenty of historical and architectural information
relating to the range, and the walkers were left with an enhanced knowledge of the region ’s military
history.
Figure 50. Talking to members of the public during the rifle range survey.
A team consisting of National Park Authority staff, Dales Volunteer Victoria Bennett, Research
Assistant Michael Miles, and Site Director David Johnson, undertook a plane table survey of the
earthworks (Fig. 51). The survey went well and produced the detailed plan of the training trenches
61 | P a g e
used to inform the excavation methodology, as well as the lynchets.
Aside from the member of YDNPA staff who co-ordinated the exercise, plane table surveying was a
new experience for all involved. Plane table survey is an alternative to the ‘off-set’ method and
produces more accurate results on the challenging and uneven terrain presented here. Everyone
had a go at each part of the process, from staff holding and tape ‘wrangling’ to making the
measured drawing, developing new skills in the process.
Figure 51. The survey team at the training trench earthworks.
8.3 Excavation
The number of
people involved in
physically
excavating the
training trenches
during the exercise
proved to be quite
remarkable for a
small six day
programme. In
addition, over the
course of the
fieldwork many
people from the
local area came to Figure 52. Students from Giggleswick School being shown how to record a trench
by a member of the Ingleborough Archaeology Group.
62 | P a g e
look at the site and engage with outreach activities. Eleven Ingleborough Archaeology Group
members took part in the excavation and several Ingleborough District Scout Group members
helped set up and close down the site, providing us with the use of their large field tent. Two
volunteers came and helped from Archaeological Services WYAS in Leeds, Megan Clement and
Finlay King, and Emma Wilson from Northallerton 6th Form College, who wanted to study
archaeology at university. On the second day around 50 students and staff from Giggleswick
Primary School were given a classroom talk about the project before coming up to have a look at
the site and have a go at digging. On the final day over 70 students and staff from Giggleswick
Junior School were given a site tour and lesson on how to record an archaeological trench (Fig.
52). It was particularly satisfying to see this latter group of students engage with archaeological
features that were possibly created their predecessors, 100 years earlier.
In the middle of the excavation on June 21st there was a public open day attended by over 100
people including children, parents and supervisors from the Yorkshire Dales Young Archaeologists
Club and the Yorkshire Dales Young Rangers, who got to have a go at digging. Also in attendance
throughout the day were staff members from the Craven Museum, the Museum of North Craven
Life, and the Council for British Archaeology. One of the most engaging elements of the open day
was the talk and handling sessions given by two WW1 re-enactors from the Leeds Royal
Armouries (Fig. 53). These superb sessions taught everyone on site about trench warfare, how
soldiers would have dressed and the equipment they would have carried. Having two men dressed
in First World War attire talking about life in the trenches whilst stood inside real military trenches
was very effective and thoroughly enjoyed by children and adults alike.
Figure 53. First World War re-enactors giving a lesson on trench warfare during the site open day.
8.4 Dissemination
Once all of the fieldwork and research had been undertaken two talks were held in July 2014 to
begin disseminating the results of the project to the local community. On Tuesday 22nd Project
Manager James Spry spoke to members of the public at the Craven Museum & Art Gallery in
63 | P a g e
Skipton (Fig. 54), with
20 people attending.
Particularly heart-
warming was the
attendance of one
local ex-serviceman
(wearing his medals)
whose own father had
been part of Tunstill’s
Craven Legion.
As is already clear, the
most important factor
in the project’s
success has been the
input of local
volunteers. It was
therefore fantastic to
see this continue at
the talk with another of
the attendees - Mr
Earnest Ramsbottom -
providing a valuable insight into the possible purpose of the practice trenches and being our source
of the ‘sap’ trench theory.
On Monday 28th July a similar talk
was given at the Museum of North
Craven Life in Settle, with Research
Assistant Michael also on hand to
contribute. Michael spoke about
how he became involved through
the National Parks Mosaic project,
and went through the results of the
documentary research. Again the
talk was well received, with 24
people attending. The Folly was a
great venue to hold the talk,
especially as the museum has its
own ‘War Beckons’ exhibition which
is dedicated to the First World War
story in Settle and North Craven.
Three newsletters were produced
during the course of the project,
distributed among different
individuals and organisations within
the local community as well as to
other professionals with an interest
Figure 54. The Training and Trenches talk at the Craven Museum & Art Gallery.
Figure 55. A screen shot of the ‘Yorkshire Dales Archaeology’
Facebook page and the Attermire Rifle Range post.
64 | P a g e
in First World War Archaeology. As well as keeping local residents up to date with the project’s
progress this also facilitated a free exchange of information with other people carrying out similar
research, which has ultimately been of benefit to interpreting the results of this project.
Progress has also been trackable on the ‘Yorkshire Dales Archaeology’ Facebook page, with the
newsletters and other activity updates put up on the pages wall. An extensive project photo album
is also available on the page (https://www.facebook.com/dalesarch). The Facebook page itself has
proven very popular and productive, and in the case of the Training and Trenches posts, the total
number people ‘reached’ has entered the thousands. For example, the Attermire Rifle Range ‘post’
and photo album was ‘reached’ by 1,783 people and actively ‘shared’ by thirteen others (Fig. 55).
This was a good demonstration of how social media can be used in a responsible and highly
effective way to inform a wide audience of local archaeological research.
9 Legacy
The Training and Trenches project set out to achieve three primary aims - to increase the public
awareness and understanding of the three chosen sites and the legacy of the First World War in
the Settle area; to demonstrate the important role that archaeological research can play in
investigating the impact of the First World War on British soil; to engage various local community
groups and individuals with their local heritage and provide them with original learning and training
opportunities. This report hopefully demonstrates that each of these aims has been successfully
achieved. With over 300 people taking part in the project and people from outside the immediate
area learning about the project through newsletters and social media, there is no doubt that many
people now have a greater awareness and understanding of the three sites and the legacy of the
First World War in the Settle area. This is something that this report will contribute to.
The archaeological fieldwork has added an innovative method to the research of the First World
War in Britain, with the surveys helping define the nature of the sites, and the excavation shedding
light on the development and possible purpose of the training trench earthworks. All of the fieldwork
has complemented and in some cases demonstrated links with the results of the documentary
research. The earthwork surveys and excavation in particular contributes to an under-
representative dataset on military practice trenches in Britain.
By facilitating the involvement of so many different people and groups with the fieldwork and
research the project has been successful at engaging the community with its local heritage, with
many people taking part in archaeological fieldwork for the first time and learning new skills. It is
hoped that everyone involved in Training and Trenches will retain fond memories of their
experience and that the story that this project has striven to tell will stay in their consciousness
during the centenary period and beyond. However, to complement these personal experiences, as
well as to reach those not fortune enough to be directly involved in the project, this report has been
produced with the intention of creating a significant project legacy in itself.
The richness of the Settle First World War story has exceeded expectations, encompassing many
different organisations, individuals, sites and sources. The early activities of the North Craven Rifle
Corps fifty-five years before the war and the continuation of the Giggleswick Combined Cadet
Force today, demonstrates that the true context of any local Great War story is reflected in the lives
and actions of several generations, both in the past and the present. As the research has revealed,
the Settle community demonstrated great pride and commitment to the cause of military training,
65 | P a g e
with the distinguished service those ‘ordinary’ men who served with the Duke of Wellington’s West
Riding Regiment a tribute to the this indispensable local spirit. Characters like Walter Morrison
helped ensure the legacy of those local men involved in military action both before and after the
war, and websites such as Craven’s Part in the Great War and other local projects, as well
everyone who helped with this fieldwork, are safeguarding this legacy today.
During the First World War centenary information about the events a century ago will be
disseminated to people around the world in abundance. However, this project has demonstrated
that it is perhaps by learning about how the war impacted on local communities and how these
people came to involve themselves with military life, that we can best understand Britain’s Great
War. Archaeological research is demonstrating time and time again that it can be an effective way
of actively engaging people with their local heritage. When this heritage encompasses a subject
like the First World War, with its lessons as relevant to today’s society as those in the past, this
engagement becomes even more important. International events are reflected on a local scale.
Arguably however, the most significant legacy of Training and Trenches project has been the
accommodating nature of the local community and those affected by its research, the interest it has
generated and the eagerness of people to be involved and show support for an innovate local
venture. Poignantly this is exactly the impression of the Settle community both during and leading
up to the Great War that this project is left with.
66 | P a g e
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