Showing posts with label Woods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Woods. Show all posts

Tuesday 5 April 2022

Skulferatu #65 - Anti Tank Blocks, Gosford Bay, East Lothian

 

During WWII numerous coastal areas around the UK were seen as being potential landing places for a sea borne invasion by the German forces.  Given this, in many of these sites, man made obstructions were put in place to hinder any possible enemy assault.  Some of these were designed to make it difficult for landing craft to get into the shore and others were designed to slow down tanks and other vehicles if they got ashore. The Anti Tank Blocks that can be seen along stretches of the East Lothian coast line were one of the obstruction methods deployed.  These were large concrete blocks that were placed around vulnerable parts of the coast to impede and delay any tanks that were landed on the shore.

 

A photo showing Anti Tank Blocks on the beach near Longniddry Bents.  These are large square concrete blocks and they stretch off into the distance. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks on beach near Longniddry Bents

 

A photo of the sands near Longniddry Bents.  the tide has gone out leaving curved patterns of shallow water on the beach.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Sands near Longniddry Bents

 

A photo showing Anti Tank Blocks on the beach near Longniddry Bents.  These are large concrete blocks and they  appear to have been topples over so that they are now rectangular in shape as the bases are no longer buried in the sand. Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks on beach near Longniddry Bents

 

Today, there is still a row of these blocks running along from Longniddry Bents to Gosford Bay.  Many are weathered and disappearing into the sand and pebbles of the beach, but others, such as those protected by the trees within the woods at Craigielaw, are still well-preserved and whole.

 

A photo showing two of the anti tank blocks in the woods at Craigielaw.  There is a large deciduous tree behind them that has shed its leaves and its branches are bare.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks in the woods at Craigielaw

 

A photo showing a line of the anti tank blocks stretching off through the woods with the bare branches of a large tree stretching out over them.   Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks in the woods at Craigielaw

 

A photo showing the concrete Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay.  The beach around them is white with seashells.   Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay

 

A photo showing several of the Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay.  they are sitting amongst the rocks by the sea.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay

 

A photo showing the Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Anti Tank Blocks on the beach at Gosford Bay

 

As well as now being an interesting historical reminder of a dark and fearful time in the UK’s history, many of the crumbling blocks are now home to insect and plant life.

 

On my walk, I followed the row of Anti Tank Blocks along the coast and through the woods, from Longniddry to Gosford Bay. 

 

A photo showing the last of the Anti Tank Blocks at Gosford Bay.  It is pitted and crumbling from the effects of the sea and the weather.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Last of the Anti Tank Blocks at Gosford Bay

 

I left the Skulferatu that accompanied me in a hollow in the last block standing amongst the rocks in Gosford Bay.

 

A photo showing a small ceramic skull (Skulferatu #65) being held up in front of the last of the anti tank blocks at Gosford Bay.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Skulferatu #65

 

A photo showing a small ceramic skull (Skulferatu #65) in one of the pitted hollows of the last anti tank block at Gosford Bay.  Photo by Kevin Nosferatu for the Skulferatu Project.
Skulferatu #65 in a hollow in the Anti Tank Block

 

TomTom map showing location of Skulferatu #65
Map showing location of Skulferatu #65

 

The coordinates for the location of the Skulferatu are –

 

Latitude 56.004890

Longitude -2.889890

 

I used the following sources for information on the Anti Tank Blocks –

 

Canmore - Gosford Sands