See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

A linear anomaly recorded during a geophysical survey, carried out on land to the west of Chard Road on the north-east edge of Axminster. Later investigations recorded ditches and pits present. One of the ditches contained prehistoric pottery and worked flint.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses: none recorded

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• ANTI TANK DITCH? (World War II - 1939 AD (Between) to 1945 AD (Between))

Full description

Edwards, M. + Trick, S., 2021, Land West of Chard Road, Axminster: an archaeological magnetometer survey (Report - Survey). SDV365421.

Two amorphous anomalies (Groups 5 and 6) were recorded during a geophysical survey (Area B), which was carried out over three fields to the west of the Chard Road on the north-east edge of Axminster in advance of a planning application. Their shapes may suggest a natural origin. They are on the same alignment as the Taunton Stop Line which passes through the site and may be related to it, possibly an anti-tank earthwork.

Vinnels, L., 2023, Land Adjacent to Cloakham Lawn and Chard Road, Axminster, Devon: Trench Evaluation (Report - Evaluation). SDV366294.

An archaeological trench evaluation was completed by AC archaeology in May 2023 on land adjacent to Cloakham Lawn and Chard Road, Axminster, Devon (NGR SY 30484 99675). The evaluation comprised the machine excavation of 38 trenches totaling 1560m in length, with each 1.9m wide. Trenches were positioned to target anomalies interpreted from a previous geophysical survey, which indicated the potential for prehistoric settlement, funerary and agricultural occupation of the site. Two probable prehistoric enclosures and a likely Bronze Age barrow ring ditch were present in the trenches. There was also evidence for wider prehistoric occupation across the site, including former ditches relating to early field division. Finds recovered indicate the earliest use of the site was in the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods, then in situ occupation in the Bronze Age and continuing in the Iron Age. Subsequent use was identified in the form of a possible early Roman enclosure, which then appears to have acted as the focus for small scale settlement later in that period. The site appears to have formed part of the agricultural landscape in the medieval and post-medieval periods. No evidence was found within the trenches for features or deposits relating to the Second World War Taunton Stop Line and the Weycroft Defence Area.

Trench 9 and 11 was positioned to target a linear anomaly interpreted from the previous geophysical survey.

In Trench 9, two ditches were present and corresponded to the linear anomaly and the trench was widened in this location to allow fuller excavation. Additional features present comprised a ditch terminus and four pits. One of the corresponding ditches contained undiagnostic prehistoric pottery sherds and three pieces of worked flint. No evidence of the feature being related to anti-tank defences was present.

In Trench 11 one unexcavated linear feature was present which corresponded to the targeted anomaly, but exact dimensions were unclear due to a fill that was identical to adjacent alluvium.

Sources / Further Reading

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV8907 - Geophysical Survey on land to the west of Chard Road, Axminster
• EDV9180 - Trench Evaluation: Land adjacent to Cloakham Lawn and Chard Road, Axminster, Devon (Ref: ACD2883/2/0)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.