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Summary

Site of Second World War pillbox, possibly Type 28, at southwest corner of works building. Part of the Second world War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940. Visible as a six-sided structure on aerial photographs taken in the late 1940s. It was demolished pre 1960.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: SY29NE82
• National Record of the Historic Environment: 1417411
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/290
• Pastscape: 1417411

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Engineers, 1940, Plans of Taunton Stop Line, Axminster Union & RD (Cartographic). SDV325259.

Pillbox marked on Royal Engineer's plan as S.44.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1424-1425 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

What appears to be a six-sided structure is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3198-3199 22-JAN-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359315.

A small structure is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431/3199 (Aerial Photograph). SDV109622.

Pillbox, possibly a Type 28, visible on Royal Air Force photograph of 1948, at south-west corner of works building. It faces north-west over the River Axe. Part of the Taunton Stop Line.

Wills, H., 1985, Wills, H. 1985 Pillboxes, 74 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Polygonal pillbox of mixed construction. West facing.

Newbery, J. D., 1997, Coal Yard Pillbox, Castle Hill, Axminster (Worksheet). SDV356753.

Pillbox destroyed pre-1960.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 4 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Pillbox of type FW3/22 with 3 feet 6 inch walls.

Historic England, 2015-2016, NRHE to HER prototype, 485436 (Website). SDV359652.

Summary description
Site of a Second World War pillbox located at Bunce's Coal Yard, by the river bank, off Castle Hill, Axminster. The pillbox was constructed in 1940-41, built of reinforced concrete and had been demolished by 1960. A field visit in 1997 located no traces of the structure.
Full description
Pillbox, destroyed pre-1960. At Bunce's Coal Yard, by the river bank, off Castle Hill, Axminster. (1)
Sources
1 Migrated Defence of Britain Project database record originally compiled from various sources The two databases developed by the Project can be searched on-line through the Archaeology Data Service at http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/specColl/dob/index.cfm
Monument types, periods and evidence
Pillbox: Constructed 1940-1, Second World War. Documentary evidence
Related monuments: None recorded
Related events: 1444724 THE DEFENCE OF BRITAIN PROJECT Measured Survey
Related archives/objects: DEB01 Defence of Britain
DoB Anti Invasion Database UID S0001305
Record created: Prior to 01/04/1999

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

A small six-sided flat-roofed structure, circa 6 metres across, is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1948. It is in the same location as the 1940-1941 brick, reinforced concrete pillbox that forms part of the Taunton Stop Line previously recorded by various other sources.
The 1948 RAF prints held by Historic England have been recorded here as an additional source because there is a possibility that the prints may have been processed differently to those held by Devon County Council. This would potentially result in images on which archaeological features show slightly differently.
The structure is not visible on later available aerial photographs, and the area has been developed.

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. 4.
SDV109622	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431/3199. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. Axminster Union & RD.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Wills, H. 1985 Pillboxes. Pillboxes. Unknown. 74.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1424-1425 11-APR-1947.
SDV356753	Worksheet: Newbery, J. D.. 1997. Coal Yard Pillbox, Castle Hill, Axminster. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV359315	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3198-3199 22-JAN-1948.
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
SDV359652	Website: Historic England. 2015-2016. NRHE to HER prototype. https://nrhe-to-her.esdm.co.uk/home. Website. 485436.

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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