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Sheriff Muir

Bunker(S) (Second World War), Gun Emplacement(S) (Second World War), Trench(S) (First World War), Trench(S) (Second World War)

Site Name Sheriff Muir

Classification Bunker(S) (Second World War), Gun Emplacement(S) (Second World War), Trench(S) (First World War), Trench(S) (Second World War)

Alternative Name(s) Whitestone Range; Black Hill; Sheriffmuir

Canmore ID 145651

Site Number NN80SW 23.02

NGR NN 8365 0345

NGR Description Centred NN 8365 0345

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/145651

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Stirling
  • Parish Dunblane And Lecropt
  • Former Region Central
  • Former District Stirling
  • Former County Perthshire

Activities

Field Visit (27 November 1998)

NN80SW 23.02 8365 0345

An extensive network of trenches connects two concrete and two timber bunkers, four gun-emplacements and a concrete blockhouse to the SW of the Atlantic wall (NN80SW 23.01). The trenches extend up the flank of Black Hill, and are clearly of two distinct phases; a simple World War I trench system that was modified and extended during World War II. The World War I trench is aligned from NE to SW and runs along a terrace from a turf redoubt to the SW (NN 83509 03354), with a concrete blockhouse (NN 83594 03473) and at least three machine gun emplacements laid out off it, indicating its reuse during World War II. Three rectangular bunkers, one of timber and turf (NN 83572 03372) and two of concrete (NN 83636 03438, NN 83719 03504), that lie along the back of the terrace date to World War II . A trench connects each bunker to the reused World War I trench to the NW. Towards the rear of the terrace, each of these trenches is cut by a trench connecting the bunkers to circular gun emplacements (NN 83622 03338, NN 83684 03419, NN 83741 03467) on the hillside to the SE, indicating at least two distinct episodes in the construction of the World War II trenches. The bunkers are entered from the SE, away from the firing positions to the NW (NN80SW 23.04). The gun emplacements measure between about 5m and 8m in diameter and in one case the iron rods which supported the superstructure are still in place. Machine gun emplacements (at NN 83594 03357, NN 83579 03385, NN 83546 03424, NN 83621 03454, NN 83623 03461, NN 83670 03542 and NN 83702 03566. Others may be hidden by the rank heather which carpets much of the range) scattered across the site are much smaller, measuring about 2m in diameter, in some cases with a shuttered concrete lining. A large trench with a ragged upcast bank extends from the SW end of the trench system.

Further evidence for remodelling during World War II is provided by three paths or tracks which are visible on a post-war vertical aerial photograph (RAF 106G/SCOT/120 frame no.4250, 20 June 1946) leading from the public road to the trenches. The S track led up past the concrete blockhouse, perhaps bringing building materials to this end of the site, and is cut by the westernmost trench, suggesting that the digging of the trench may post-date the construction of the blockhouse. The other two tracks appear to stop at the large trench.

Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 27 November 1998.

Project (March 2013 - September 2013)

A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.

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