Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 June 2012
The range of hills lying north by west of Bradford, separating the valleys of the rivers Wharfe and Aire, form an extremely interesting field of research. Plans and sketches have been made so as to include a sufficient extent of its more interesting features, and to point out the traces of the Brigantian tribes who once inhabited its wastes. Although these traces agree in their general character with the British earth-works already so carefully examined in the southern counties, yet they have some local peculiarities in their form, structure, and appearances, which render them worthy of attention. To thoroughly investigate them, in order to gain some little additional light (however trifling) upon the history of the brave races who, in these their mountain passes, so long resisted the disciplined troops of the Roman empire, would require much more time and patient attention than my duties during my visit to your neighbourhood allowed me to devote to them. I can therefore merely offer you a cursory view of their nature and character, in the hope that a more able mind may be led to bestow upon them that attention which the interest attached to them appears to me to merit.