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Summary

A small structure to the east of Bushes Coppice on the B3172. It was formerly believed to be a Second World War pillbox, but is more likely to be a post-war temporary agricultural feature. It is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 but not 1946.

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

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/165
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• (Former Type) PILLBOX (Built, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)
• STRUCTURE (Built, XX - 1947 AD to 1956 AD (Between))

Full description

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

There is no reference to a pillbox at this location. There is a nearby pillbox marked as S.80 but this is about 100 metres away to the North-East.

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

Nothing is visible in this location.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1994 2493-2494 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A small pale structure is visible.

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

Possibly the site listed by Wills at SY262925. Described as polygonal, of mixed construction and SW facing. Possible duplicate listing at SY263925.

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

Pillbox. No description given.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1479 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox visible on 1947 Aerial Photograph. May represent pillbox recorded on ground at SY 262 925 or 263 925. Part of Taunton Stop Line.
SMR.

Miller, D., 2006, Untitled Source (Interpretation). SDV325235.

The pillbox(?) is marked on a point where the road breaks a line of anti-tank ditches, visible on 1946-1949 Aerial photographs. There is no reference to a pillbox at this location but there is for anti-tank sockets in the road.

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

Although a small structure circa 4.5 metres square is visible in this location on aerial photographs taken in 1947, no structure is visible here on photographs from the previous year, suggesting that the feature is more likely to be a temporary post-war structure, perhaps a hayrick.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV325235	Interpretation: Miller, D.. 2006. Unknown.
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.
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
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. 1479.
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.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1994 2493-2494 11-APR-1947.
SDV99101	Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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