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Summary

Pillbox on the east side of the River Axe. It is visible on aerial photographs from 1946 and, although partially obscured by tree or scrub growth in 2006, it appears to survive relatively extant. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Pill boxes, anti-tank ditches and obstacles, World War II at the Boshill Cross Stong Point of the Taunton Stop Line, a defensive crossing on the River Axe

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417502
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/162
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Pillbox marked on Royal Engineer's plan as S.81.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3357-3358 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A small six sided structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1947, CPE/UK/1974/2493 (Aerial Photograph). SDV361972.

Visible at circa SY26039240.

Wills, H., 1985, Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940, 74 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists a polygonal southwest facing pillbox of mixed construction at SY261925.

Hellis, J., 1990, List of Defensive Sites (Un-published). SDV99101.

Pillbox, too overgrown to see site. NGR given as SY260926 (possibly means 924).

Hellis, J., 1992, The Taunton Stop Line, 44 (Article in Serial). SDV130111.

Horner, W., 1993, Pillboxes (Personal Comment). SDV109631.

Site visit on 4th December 1993. Pillbox visible from Axe bridge. Obscured by vegetation.

Horner, W., 1994, East Devon Pillboxes (Personal Comment). SDV356839.

Site visit on 16th March 1994. Polygonal brick and concrete pillbox of type FW3/24. Located beside the Axe and facing west.

Cochrane, J. N., 1996, Pillbox on East Bank of River Axe (Worksheet). SDV357210.

Type 24 Pillbox. Overgrown by thicket and being undermined by river bank erosion. Photo.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 5 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Pillbox of type FW3/22 with 3ft 6in walls.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1478 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox visible on 1947 Aerial Photograph. May represent pillbox recorded on ground at SY 260 926. Part of Taunton Stop Line.
SMR.

Next Perspectives, 2006, Pan Government Agreement, Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY2692 17-JUN-2006 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352652.

A small six sided structure is visible.

THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION, 2008, WWII Pill Boxes in the Axe Valley, 2, 17, 18, 19 (Report - Survey). SDV347565.

Pillbox S81. Type 24. Workmanship generally poor; the roof concrete was poured onto corrugated steel sheeting which was not supported properly and sagged before the concrete set. All the gunport openings have been extensively patched and in some cases the timber formwork is still in place. The wall comprises 42 inches of reinforced concrete with no inner or outer brickwork. The internal baffle wall has been modified giving more space for the gunners. Other details: Photos, plan and section.

Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R., 2013 - 2014, South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit, 09-MAY-2014 (Site Visit). SDV351142.

The structure is just visible from the road, obscured by vegetation.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

This pillbox, part of the Taunton Stop Line, is visible as a small flat roofed structure roughly 6 by 6 metres in size on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2006. It was partially obscured by tree or scrub growth in the most recent photographs; however, as far as can be ascertained from the aerial photographs it appears to be relatively extant. Its depiction on modern mapping does not match the extent visible on the aerial photographs, so it has been transcribed.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Structure shown.

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. 5.
SDV109631	Personal Comment: Horner, W.. 1993. Pillboxes. Not Applicable.
SDV130111	Article in Serial: Hellis, J.. 1992. The Taunton Stop Line. Fortress. 14. Unknown. 44.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. LXXXIII NE.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940. Pillboxes. Hardback Volume. 74.
SDV347565	Report - Survey: THE DEVONSHIRE ASSOCIATION. 2008. WWII Pill Boxes in the Axe Valley. Devonshire Association. Digital + A4. 2, 17, 18, 19.
SDV351142	Site Visit: Hegarty, C., Knight, S. and Sims, R.. 2013 - 2014. South Devon Coast RCZAS National Mapping Programme Project Site Visit. AC Archaeology. Digital. 09-MAY-2014.
	Linked images:48
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351568	Archive - Survey: Exeter Archaeology. 2003-2004. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey. Digital + Mixed Archive Material. Site No. 1478.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3357-3358 13-APR-1946. [Mapped feature: #90261 ]
SDV352652	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2006. Pan Government Agreement. Pan Government Agreement Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives PGA Imagery SY2692 17-JUN-2006.
SDV356839	Personal Comment: Horner, W.. 1994. East Devon Pillboxes.
SDV357210	Worksheet: Cochrane, J. N.. 1996. Pillbox on East Bank of River Axe. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV361972	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. CPE/UK/1974/2493. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV362729	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2019. MasterMap 2019. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV99101	Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV5167 - Survey of Pillboxes in the Axe Valley
• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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