See important guidance on the use of this record.

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

Summary

Hexagonal concrete reinforced pillbox dug into a ridge, facing north-west overlooking the river Axe. Visible as a six-sided structure on aerial photographs taken between 1947 and 1976 and subsequently obscured by tree cover. Part of the Weycroft defence area on 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: 1417334
• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST30SW/127
• 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, Axminster Union & RD (Cartographic). SDV325259.

Pillbox S.29 recorded on Royal Engineer's plan.

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

A six sided structure is visible.

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

Pillbox visible on 1947 RAF aerial photo. Appears to be polygonal type FW3/24 facing west-north-west covering the Axe.

Ordnance Survey, 1969, OS/69270, OS/69270 V 051-052 12-JUN-1969 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359511.

A six sided structure is visible.

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

A six sided structure is visible.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Pillbox, Weycroft (Worksheet). SDV356728.

Hexagonal pillbox on the edge of a wood above the east side of the River Axe between Weycroft and Coaxdon. It appears to have a ventilation hole in roof. Earth well up on sides. Threat of vandalism, so the farmer has covered over the entrance with soil to protect it.

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

Site visit 29th April 1997. Shuttered concrete reinforced Type 24 pillbox set in angle of field on ridge overlooking the Axe valley. The pillbox is sunk almost flush with the scarp and has a lip, now exposed by erosion, at ground level. Faces northwest.

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

Pillbox S.29 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, DA03-Weycroft-S0001228 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Site visit 14th January 2003. Weycroft defence area. Pillbox (Type FW3/24). Located on the edge of a wood on a ridge north of Weycroft. North-west facing concrete faced pillbox with small embrasures. Dug into side of ridge, now with earth heaped up at the back. In fair condition. On private land. Access difficult.

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

A six-sided structure, circa 5-6 metres in extent, is visible on aerial photographs taken between 1947 and 1976. It corresponds to the location of a Second World War pillbox that forms part of the 1940 Taunton Stop Line. It is not visible on later available aerial imagery when the area is obscured by tree cover.

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

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.
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. Axminster Union & RD.
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).
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.
SDV356728	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Pillbox, Weycroft. 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
SDV359511	Aerial Photograph: Ordnance Survey. 1969. OS/69270. Ordnance Survey Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). OS/69270 V 051-052 12-JUN-1969. [Mapped feature: #93273 ]
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-S0001228.
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.

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)

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