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Cowie Line is a Second World War anti-invasion defence line comprising a series of concrete pill boxes and anti-tank blocks positioned between 200 and 275 metres south-east of Ury House in Kincardineshire. The structures are situated on bedrock of the Southern Highland Group, formed during the Middle Cambrian period, which consists primarily of pelite. This geological foundation provided stable ground for the installation of heavy concrete defensive works during the urgent rearmament programme of the early 1940s.
The Cowie Line represents part of Scotland's extensive coastal defence network established following the threat of German invasion after 1940. Pill boxes of standardised design were deployed at intervals along vulnerable approaches, whilst anti-tank blocks provided obstacle lines to impede mechanised assault. The combination of these two defensive types reflects contemporary military doctrine emphasising layered defences against both infantry and armoured attack.
The monument is protected as a scheduled ancient monument under reference SM6439 by Historic Environment Scotland, recognising its significance as evidence of wartime military engineering and strategic planning. The surviving structures remain visible reminders of the preparations undertaken to defend Scotland during one of the nation's most critical periods.
Cowie Line, pill boxes & anti-tank blocks 200m SW-275m SE of Ury House is a scheduled monument protected by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6439. View the official record →
Cowie Line is a Second World War anti-invasion defence line comprising a series of concrete pill boxes and anti-tank blocks positioned between 200 and 275 metres south-east of Ury House in Kincardineshire. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic Environment Scotland under reference SM6439.
Cowie Line, pill boxes & anti-tank blocks 200m SW-275m SE of Ury House is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic Environment Scotland — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Scotland. The official designation reference is SM6439.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Cowie Line, pill box & anti-tank blocks 450m W of Ury House (0.7 km), Unenclosed settlement, 250m NW of cemetery, Kirkton of Fetteresso (1.6 km), Cowie Line, pill box & anti-tank blocks ESE of Rickarton House (2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 14 strands of Cowie Line, pill boxes & anti-tank blocks 200m SW-275m SE of Ury House's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cowie Line, pill boxes & anti-tank blocks 200m SW-275m SE of Ury House stands on Southern Highland Group, bedrock that formed in the Middle Cambrian. The rock here is pelite.