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Summary

Pillbox visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012, overlooking bends in the River Axe. As far as can be ascertained from the aerial photographs and from the road it appears to survive relatively extant. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Pill boxes, anti-tank ditches and obstacles, World War II at the Boshill Cross Stong Point of the Taunton Stop Line, a defensive crossing on the River Axe

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417505
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/158
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• PILLBOX (Built, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Royal Engineers, 1940, Plans of Taunton Stop Line, LXXXIII NE (Cartographic). SDV325259.

Pillbox marked on Royal Engineer's plan as S.82.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3357-3358 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A small pale structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1947, CPE/UK/1974/2493 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361972.

Visible at circa SY25889200.

Wills, H., 1985, Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940, 74 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists polygonal west-facing pillbox of mixed construction at SY258920.

Hellis, J., 1990, List of Defensive Sites (Un-published). SDV99101.

Horner, W., 1994, East Devon Pillboxes (Personal Comment). SDV356839.

Site visit on 16th March 1994. Brick-clad pillbox viewed from distance in fields at SY25889200. Appears to be west facing and Type FW3/24.

Cochrane, J. N., 1996, Pillbox in Field East of River Axe (Worksheet). SDV356831.

Type 24 pillbox in field midway between River Axe and B3172 road. Brick cladding eroding in places. Photo.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 5 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Pillbox of type FW3/22 with 3ft 6in walls.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, CCO SY2592_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

A six sided structure is visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1476 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox visible on 1947 Aerial Photograph. May represent pillbox recorded on ground at SY 258 920. Part of Taunton Stop Line.
SMR.

THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION, 2008, WWII Pill Boxes in the Axe Valley, 2-3, 19, 24 (Report - Survey). SDV347565.

Pillbox S82. Type 24. The walls are of 3 feet 6 inch thick reinforced concrete with 4.5 inch brick internal and external skins. The gun ports have been modified as has the internal baffle wall. Other details: Sections and plans.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2013 - 2014, South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit, 09-MAY-2014 (Site Visit). SDV351142.

The structure is extant, with some vegetation growth on the roof.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

This pillbox, part of the Taunton Stop Line, is visible as a small flat roofed structure on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012. It appears to have 6 sides, and measures circa 6 by 6 metres. Its depiction on modern mapping does not match the extent visible on the aerial photographs, so it has been transcribed from the most recent available aerial photographs, on which it is clearly visible and appears to be extant.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Rectangular structure shown.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV109230	Report - non-specific: Dobinson, C. S.. 1998. The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing. Twentieth Century Fortifications in England. AI/S/3. Photocopy. 5.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. LXXXIII NE.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940. Pillboxes. Hardback Volume. 74.
SDV347565	Report - Survey: THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 2008. WWII Pill Boxes in the Axe Valley. Devonshire Association. Digital + A4. 2-3, 19, 24.
SDV351142	Site Visit: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2013 - 2014. South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit. AC Archaeology. Digital. 09-MAY-2014.
	Linked images:48
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. CCO SY2592_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012. [Mapped feature: #90257 ]
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 1476.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3357-3358 13-APR-1946.
SDV356831	Worksheet: Cochrane, J. N.. 1996. Pillbox in Field East of River Axe. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV356839	Personal Comment: Horner, W.. 1994. East Devon Pillboxes.
SDV361972	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. CPE/UK/1974/2493. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV362729	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2019. MasterMap 2019. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV99101	Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5167 - Survey of Pillboxes in the Axe Valley
• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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