Stobs Camp Military Camp

During site visit attended by SBC, RCAHMS, HS, Archaeology Scotland and HAS, practice trenches identified on the ground. Three lines of trenches, two of which were joined by a communication trench. Situated approximately 160 metres to the east of Barns farmhouse and 105 metres to teh north-east of the right angled trackway leading to the farmhouse from the south.

Visited by Chris Bowles on 16 June, 2014.

NT 50437 09301 (centred on) A community excavation was undertaken, 13–14 June 2017, which aimed to investigate a practice trench believed to be dug by British soldiers prior to, or during, WW1. The practice trench was marked by a shallow crenellating depression 39m in length on a NW/SE alignment. To this end, one trench measuring 3 x 3m was located perpendicular to the practice trench and was opened by hand.

At the back of the trench system the steep sides of the practice trench were excavated to a depth of 0.55m. The bottom was not reached. It was 0.4m wide and was infilled with blue-gray clay. At the front of the trench system the practice trench was wider, reaching 1.1m. It was excavated to a depth of 0.4m. The bottom was not reached. During sieving of the top soil a tunic button belonging to a Seaforth Highlander was found. The Seaforth Highlanders trained at Stobs Camp in the summer of 1907. Two coins were also discovered during a metal detector survey prior to excavation; a 1901 Queen Victoria halfpenny and a 1905 Edward VII penny.

During the first day of excavation 14 pupils and 2 teachers from Hawick High School took part in the dig. On the second day a further 6 adult volunteers joined the excavation.

Archive: NRHE and Scottish Borders Council (intended)

Funder: Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Borders LEADER, Fallago Environment Fund and BCCF Environmental

Andrew Jepson and Dianne Swift– Archaeology Scotland

(Source: DES, Volume 18)