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Summary

Machine gun type pillbox. One of two square pillboxes in a field west of Lodge Lane. Visible on aerial photographs taken between 1947 and 1976, but now obscured by tree cover. Part of the Weycroft defence area on the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Earthworks and structures associated with the Weycroft Defence Area on the World War Two 'Taunton Stop Line'

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417340
• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST30SW/97
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Ordnance Survey, 1904 - 1906, Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map (Cartographic). SDV325644.

No structure is depicted in this location.

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

HMG pillbox S.V.6 recorded in this location on (?) July 1940 plan.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3421-3422 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

A small rectangular structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974/1423 (Aerial Photograph). SDV348806.

Site visible on 1947 RAF aerial photo at circa ST31170011. Appears to be polygonal type FW3/24 and facing north-west to cover the Axe.

Ordnance Survey, 1976, OS/76051, OS/76051 V 019-020 08-MAY-1976 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359323.

A rectangular structure is visible.

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

Possibly pillbox of type 29, unable to get close to pillbox. NGR ST312001.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Two Pillboxes Near Weycroft Manor (Worksheet). SDV356737.

One of two pillboxes about 30 yards apart, in a field west of Lodge Lane. Square in shape, approximately 15 feet by 15 feet, with opening and shelf for Hotchkiss machine gun.

Horner, B., 1997, Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV117833.

Site visit 29th April 1997. Rectangular Vickers HMG type pillbox. Set above bank/hedgeline on ridge overlooking Axe Valley. Concrete block construction. Weathered blast wall on northeast side. The gun aperture faces north-north-west.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 7 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Vickers MG emplacement of type FW3/27

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA03-Weycroft-0016302, p5 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Site visit 14th January 2003. Weycroft defence area. Vickers machine gun emplacement. One of two located on a ridge to the south-east of Coaxdon Cottages overlooking the river Axe. A concrete block emplacement dug into the bank with an entrance at the south-east corner. Three embrasures, the main one being the largest. Brick-lined interior. Detached blast wall. Lies off a public footpath. In good condition.

Ordnance Survey, 2014, MasterMap (Cartographic). SDV355681.

Historic England, 2015-2016, NRHE to HER prototype, 485404 (Website). SDV359652.

Summary description
Two Second World War pillboxes situated near Weycroft Manor in a field west of Lodge Lane. The pillboxes were constructed in 1940-41 and built of breeze block, concrete and brick. Both are square in plan, measuring 15 foot by 15 foot and are located 30 yards apart. Both interiors contain a shelf for a Hotchkiss machine gun. The pillboxes formed part of the Taunton Stop Line. The Line which primarily followed natural waterways such as the River Axe and River Parrett was put in place to stop enemy advance from the west and the Devon, Somerset or Cornish coasts. The line was constructed by 551st and 552nd Army Troops Company Royal Engineers and manned in 1940 and 1941 by the 48th Division of VIII Corps. A field visit in 1996 found both structures extant and in a fair condition.
Full description
2 pillboxes, square in shape 30 yards apart (15ft x 15ft approx.). With embrasure and shelf for Hotchkiss machine gun. Near Weycroft Manor. In field W of Lodge Lane. (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 1940-41 1940 SECOND WORLD WAR 1941 SECOND WORLD WAR STRUCTURE
Related monuments
None recorded
Related events
is related to 1444724 THE DEFENCE OF BRITAIN PROJECT Measured Survey
Related archives/objects
is related to DEB01 Defence of Britain
Actors
Engineer HE NRHE Monument Inventory 01-01-1940 31-12-1940
Engineer HE NRHE Monument Inventory 01-01-1940 31-12-1940
Person of historic interest/notable pers HE NRHE Monument Inventory 01-01-1940 31-12-1945
Metadata
When created prior to 01-APR-1999
Created by Inventory

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

A rectangular structure, circa 3.5 by 4 metres, is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1947 and 1976. It corresponds to the location of a Second World War pillbox recorded on Royal Engineer’s plans of the 1940 Taunton Stop Line. It is not visible on later available aerial imagery, by which time the area is obscured by tree cover. It is depicted on the modern mapping and so has not been transcribed as part of this project.

Powell-Thomas, A., 2017, The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line, 77 (Monograph). SDV360594.

One of two machine gun emplacements overlooking the river. Both are dug into the bank with the entrance to the rear protected by a blast wall.

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. 7.
SDV117833	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1997. Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit. Taunton Stop Line Survey. Not Applicable.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown.
SDV325644	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 1904 - 1906. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Second Edition Ordnance Survey 25 inch Map. Map (Digital).
SDV348806	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974/1423. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV355681	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2014. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #90272 ]
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 3421-3422 11-APR-1947.
SDV356737	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Two Pillboxes Near Weycroft Manor. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV359323	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1976. OS/76051. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). OS/76051 V 019-020 08-MAY-1976.
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. 485404.
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. DA03-Weycroft-0016302, p5.
SDV360594	Monograph: Powell-Thomas, A.. 2017. The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line. The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line. Paperback Volume. 77.
SDV99101	Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

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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