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Summary

A row of concrete anti-tank obstacles intended to block the way through to the river is visible as several small structures on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s. Not visible on later available imagery or on the ground. Part of the Weycroft defence area on the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structures associated with the Weycroft Defence Area on the World War Two 'Taunton Stop Line'

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST30SW/115
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ROADBLOCK (Constructed, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

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

Roadblock S.Rd.53 marked on Royal Engineer's plan at this location.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3421-3422 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A row of small structures is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974/1423 (Aerial Photograph). SDV348806.

Row of concrete anti-tank obstacles visible on 1947 RAF aerial photograph. Intended to block the approach to (?) the ford between the cottages and the site of the former cement works. Part of the Taunton Stopline.

Horner, B., 1995, Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV325640.

Site visit 13th June 1995. No trace of obstacles seen from lane approaching Coaxdon Cottages.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 13 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Roadblock S Rd 53 at Weycroft. Priority 'A' of type 'RB No2 R' with 12 tetrahedra and 20 mines.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA03-Weycroft-S0016272 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Weycroft defence area. Roadblock S.Rd. 53. Located just to the north of Coaxdon Cottages, comprising 12 tetrahedra and 24 mines. Site destroyed.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2016-2018, The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV359463.

A row of small pale structures, just over a metre wide, across the road at the cement works west of a footbridge west of the Axe, is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947. They are very likely to be remains of the Second World War roadblock marked on Royal Engineers plans for the 1940 Taunton Stop Line. A larger square structure circa 2 metres across is visible immediately to the west and may be associated. They were not visible on the later available aerial imagery and appear to have been removed soon after the end of the war. They have been transcribed as circular in plan, but may have been cubes.

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. 13.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown.
SDV325640	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1995. Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit. Taunton Stop Line Survey. Not Applicable.
SDV348806	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974/1423. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3421-3422 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #93262 ]
SDV359463	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2016-2018. The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme Project. Historic England Research Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:2
SDV360266	Report - Survey: Foot, W.. 2005. Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England. Council for British Archaeology/English Heritage. Digital. DA03-Weycroft-S0016272.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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