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Summary

Possible anti-tank obstruction along the river, perhaps part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line that was constructed in 1940. Most clearly visible as an earthwork bank on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s, but some parts may survive. The River Axe was the main anti-tank obstacle during the Second World War. Its banks were cut back and steepened and and short lengths of anti-tank ditch were added across its outward (west) facing loops.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• FLOOD DEFENCES? (Post Medieval to XX - 1540 AD to 1948 AD (Between))
• RIVER DEFENCE SITE (Constructed, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3420-3421 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A curvilinear earthwork bank is visible in several sections along the river.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1975, RAF/CPE/UK/1975 FP 1118-1119 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359646.

A curvilinear earthwork bank is visible in several sections along the river.

Environment Agency, 1998-2014, LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution), LIDAR SY3201 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014 (Cartographic). SDV359177.

Small segments of the bank are indistinctly visible.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA04-Wadbrook, Report p2 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Wadbrook defence area. The main anti-tank obstacle at Wadbrook was the River Axe. Its banks were cut back to steepen them and short lengths of anti-tank ditch were added across its outward (west) facing loops.

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

A curvilinear earthwork bank, in places up to circa 15 metres wide along the east side of the river, is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947. It is thought to be associated with the numerous 1940-1941 anti-tank obstacles that form part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line in this area, although it is possible that parts were based on earlier flood banks. Some parts are indistinctly visible on images derived from lidar data captured between 1998 and 2014 although much seems to have been levelled or eroded.

Action East Devon, 2017, Axminster Remembers, http://axremembers.actioneastdevon.org.uk/axminster-stories/norma-and-delphine (Website). SDV360244.

The interviewees state that the Yarty and Axe were dredged as part of the anti-invasion preparations, and the silt was used to bank up the sides.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3420-3421 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #79055 ]
SDV359177	Cartographic: Environment Agency. 1998-2014. LiDAR DTM data (1m resolution). Environment Agency LiDAR data. Digital. LIDAR SY3201 Environment Agency DTM 01-JAN-1998 to 30-SEP-2014.
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
SDV359646	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1975. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1975 FP 1118-1119 11-APR-1947.
SDV360244	Website: Action East Devon. 2017. Axminster Remembers. http://axremembers.actioneastdevon.org.uk. Website. http://axremembers.actioneastdevon.org.uk/axminster-stories/norma-and-delphine.
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. DA04-Wadbrook, Report p2.

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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