The Weycroft defence area, centred on Weycroft Mill, formed part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line planned and constructed in 1940 to prevent any German advance from the south-west peninsula. The main anti-tank obstacle was the River Axe. The road and rail crossings were key defensive points. Aerial photographic evidence also suggests that the river banks were cut back and steepened as well as being strenthened by rows of anti-tank cubes. It was further covered by pillboxes on the higher ground to the north-east. See associated monuments for details of individual sites, buildings and features.
The Weycroft defence area, centred on Weycroft Mill, formed part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line planned and constructed in 1940 to prevent any German advance from the south-west peninsula. The main anti-tank obstacle was the River Axe. The road and rail crossings were key defensive points. Aerial photographic evidence also suggests that the river banks were cut back and steepened as well as being strenthened by rows of anti-tank cubes. It was further covered by pillboxes on the higher ground to the north-east.
The defence area provides an excellent example of the Taunton Stop Line defences and the surviving defence works are of national importance. The line of anti-tank blocks with the unusual addition of concrete posts is a major monument in itself.
It is recommended that consideration be given to the protection of the in situ concrete posts and also to the establishment of a pillbox walk through the area, using the footpaths on the south side of the river.
See report for more information and associated monuments for details of individual defences.
| MDV72476 | Parent of: Anti-tank cube by the southern weir at Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV72471 | Parent of: Anti-tank cubes north-east of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV134049 | Parent of: Anti-tank earthwork on the Taunton Stop Line, west of Chard Road, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV120458 | Parent of: Anti-tank gun position circa 285 metres north-east of Weycroft Hall, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV47891 | Parent of: Anti-tank obstacles north-west of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV49428 | Parent of: Anti-tank obstacles south-west of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV120898 | Parent of: Anti-tank obstacles to the north of Axminster Town Football Club (Monument) |
| MDV48675 | Parent of: Pillbox S.29 circa 365 metres to north-east of Weycroft Hall, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV72474 | Parent of: Pillbox S.30 to east of Weycroft Mill Weirs, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV52930 | Parent of: Pillbox S.33 to east of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV49436 | Parent of: Pillbox S.34, 210 metres west of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV52927 | Parent of: Pillbox S.35 about 200 metres south-west of Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV52929 | Parent of: Pillbox S.37 about 128 metres north of Axminster Town Football Club (Monument) |
| MDV39373 | Parent of: Pillbox SV.5 circa 470 metres north-east of Weycroft Hall, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV39372 | Parent of: Pillbox SV.6 circa 425 metres north-east of Weycroft Hall, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV52928 | Parent of: Railblock S.RL.27 to the west of Weycroft, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV72473 | Parent of: Railblock S.Rl.27.a, 147 metres north of Axminster Town Football Club (Monument) |
| MDV120456 | Parent of: Roadblock C.55, Lodge Lane, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV48664 | Parent of: Roadblock S.Rd.53 at Coaxdon Cottages, All Saints (Monument) |
| MDV72482 | Parent of: Roadblock S.Rd.53a 30 metres north of railway bridge on Chard Lane, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV72477 | Parent of: Roadblock S.Rd.54, Weycroft Bridge, All Saints (Monument) |
| MDV72470 | Parent of: Roadblock S.Rd.56 at Weycroft, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV49435 | Parent of: Weycroft anti-tank ditch, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV119535 | Part of: The Taunton Stop Line (Monument) |
| MDV52926 | Related to: Pillbox about 152 metres north-east of Axminster Town Football Club (Monument) |
| MDV119012 | Related to: Pillbox on the railway line south-east of Sisterhood Farm, Axminster (Monument) |
| MDV17622 | Related to: Weycroft Mill, Axminster (Building) |