Earthwork record MAB45323 - COWIE LINE

Remains of anti-tank barrier, which forms part of the Cowie stop line from WWII.

Remains of anti-tank barrier, which forms part of the Cowie stop line from WWII. Utilises a gorge at its western end for natural defence and consists of several sections. The first, from NO 7570 8738 to NO 7582 8736 is flanked on the east by a natural bank. The artificial bank varies, but generally consists of a vertical face, up to 2m high, revetted by vertical poles over 2m high held by loops of galvanized wire. At the western portion a ditch, up to 2m wide is fronted by a counterscarp bank at the north. This broadens to the east into a 5-6m berm between bank and vertical face. The remaining sections begin where the riverbank itself is high enough to form a barrier. There are three right-angled steel post along the top of the scarp. The artificial barrier begins again at NO 7580 8739 with a vertical face held by revetting posts, with the counterscarp appearing where space permits. The height of the vertical barrier in this section varies from 1-4m. This section ends at NO 7635 8731 with a complex zig-zag. These sections were the only part of the Cowie line where the timber revetment survived in any quantity when surveyed in 2004-5.

BARCLAY, G J, 2005, THE COWIE LINE (PSAS 135: P119-61), 139-141 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2285.

THE COWIE LINE

Record last edited

Feb 19 2026 1:33PM