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Summary

Pillbox in a field on Bagley Hill overlooking the river Axe and the railway line. Visible as a structure on aerial photographs between 1947 and 2010. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status

• SHINE: Second World War pillbox, part of the Taunton Stopline, about 230 metres west-south-west of Bagley Hill Farm

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417339
• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST30SW/99

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1947, CPE/UK/1974/3421 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363126.

Possible site visible on 1947 RAF aerial photo at circa ST31730072.

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

A small structure is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

Wills, H., 1985, Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940, 76 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists polygonal west facing pillbox of mixed construction at ST317008.

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

Pillbox probably of type 29, unable to get close to it NGR ST317007.

Horner, B., 1993, Pillboxes and Roadblocks (Site Visit). SDV360454.

Site visit on 14th May 1993. Visible at above grid reference from road above Sandford Farm. Apparently intact though overgrown. Part of Taunton Stop Line.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Pillbox, Bagley Hill (Worksheet). SDV356734.

Pillbox in an open field on Bagley Hill, above the River Axe and railway line. Very much covered by blackthorn and ivy.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 4 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Pillbox S.26 of type FW3/22 with 3ft 6in thick walls.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA04-Wadbrook-S0001233, Map 2 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Extant pillbox, condition unknown.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST3100 23-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359317.

The exterior walls of a small structure are partly visible. Map object partly based on this source.

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

Map object previously based on this source.

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

A small structure, perhaps up to 7 metres wide, is visible east of the river on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards. It is very likely to be the Second World War pillbox S.26 marked on Royal Engineers plans for the 1940 Taunton Stop Line. It is partly obscured by tree cover on recent aerial photographs, and may have lost its roof.
The structure visible on the aerial photographs is a different shape to that depicted on the modern mapping, and so has been transcribed.

Powell-Thomas, A., 2017, The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line, 76 (Monograph). SDV360594.

On Bagley Hill overlooking the railway and the river.

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. 4.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940. Pillboxes. Hardback Volume. 76.
SDV355681	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2014. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
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. [Mapped feature: #90274 ]
SDV356734	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Pillbox, Bagley Hill. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV359317	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery ST3100 23-MAY-2010.
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
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-S0001233, Map 2.
SDV360454	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1993. Pillboxes and Roadblocks. Not Applicable.
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. 76.
SDV363126	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. CPE/UK/1974/3421. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
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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