Glen Cottage
Fort (Iron Age)
Site Name Glen Cottage
Classification Fort (Iron Age)
Alternative Name(s) Dryburn
Canmore ID 58922
Site Number NT77SW 2
NGR NT 70566 74477
NGR Description Centre
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/58922
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Dunbar
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
NT77SW 2 NT 70564 74474
(NT 7059 7447) Crop-mark of a double-ditched enclosure is visible on air photographs (106G/Scot/UK121: 3425-6, flown 1946).
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Although there are no traces visible on the ground, this is probably the site of a small promontory fort which has been defended by precipitous natural slopes on its N, E and S sides. (See illustration accompanying NT77SW 1 for AP).
Visited by OS (WDJ) 28 March 1966
(NT 7059 7447) Earthwork (NR) (site of)
OS 6" map (1971)
Additional air photographs have been taken in 1976 (listed by CUCAP as an enclosure and by the RCAHMS as a fort).
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Scheduled as Glen Cottage, promontory fort.
Information from Historic Scotland, scheduling document dated 22 November 1993.
Note (7 January 2016 - 18 May 2016)
Cropmarks have revealed a fort occupying a steep-sided promontory formed where a burn gully cuts through the escarpment dropping down on the N into the gorge occupied by the Dry Burn. While the escarpment falls away sharply all round the N, E and S flanks, two ditches have been drawn in an arc across the neck to block access from the NW and W, the inner measuring up to 5m in breadth and the outer 3m; a more irregular mark crossing the neck about 7m to the rear of the inner ditch may be an internal quarry scoop set immediately to the rear of the rampart. Thus defined, the interior is roughly rhomboidal on plan, measuring about 60m from E to W by 45m transversely (0.3ha), and though stratified remains may be preserved in the deeper sediments in the probable quarry scoop, no clear traces of any structures are visible elsewhere. Nor is there any evidence of an entrance causeway across the defences. The only other feature is a possible spur of ditch outside the defences on the SW, but its date and purpose are uncertain.
Information from An Atlas of Hillforts of Great Britain and Ireland – 18 May 2016. Atlas of Hillforts SC3926
Aerial Photographic Transcription (8 February 2019)
An interpretative transcription, or mapping, of information on oblique aerial photographs was produced on 8 February 2019.
Aerial Photographic Transcription (8 February 2019)
An interpretative transcription, or mapping, of information on oblique aerial photographs was produced on 8 February 2019.
Note (10 June 2023)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed and changed from FORT (PREHISTORIC).