Earthwork record MAB45341 - COWIE LINE

Remains of a World War II anti-tank barrier, part of the Cowie Stop Line.

Remains of a World War II anti-tank barrier, part of the Cowie Stop Line. The artificial bank resumes where the natural bank of the Cowie Water is not in itself a natural obstacle. The barrier is a bank up to 2m high, probably using an existing river terrace. Considerable quantities of barbed wire were noted at this western end. This section is complex curving across the haugh and splitting into two arms which enclose a section of haugh, part having a counterscarp and becoming a deep ditch towards the river. The northern of these follows the course of the river and partially fades as the height of the riverbanks form an obstacle. The two arms meet at a ford, which was protected by two lines of anti-tank cubes and a pill-box (see NO88NW0030 and 31) and the steep rise of the river bank. Two slit-trenches survive on high ground overlooking the bridge, one looking along the bridge, the other to the east. To the east of Findlaystone bridge the riverbank, already naturally high, is again artificially raised by up to 1m. The bank is vertical, dropping from 2m high to 1.3m, accompanied by much galvanized wire, to the bend in the river where it disappears and is replaced by a line of 15 concrete anti-tank cubes. To the east of these the barrier resumes with the customary vertical bank until at NO 84597 88378 the river bank is again high enough to be a natural barrier.

BARCLAY, G J, 2005, THE COWIE LINE (PSAS 135: P119-61), 147-150 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2285.

THE COWIE LINE

Record last edited

Feb 19 2026 1:35PM