HeritageGateway - Home
Site Map
Text size: A A A
You are here: Home > > > > Devon & Dartmoor HER Result
Devon & Dartmoor HERPrintable version | About Devon & Dartmoor HER | Visit Devon & Dartmoor HER online...

See important guidance on the use of this record.

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


HER Number:MDV49827
Name:Anti-Tank Obstacles east of the River Axe, Colyton

Summary

Several hundred pyramid shaped Second World War anti-tank obstacles (pimples) have been reused to stabilise the river bank to the north of Axe Bridge.

Location

Grid Reference:SY 260 927
Map Sheet:SY29SE
Admin AreaDevon
Civil ParishColyton
DistrictEast Devon
Ecclesiastical ParishCOLYTON

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

  • Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/241

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

The Royal Engineer's Plan indicates an enclosing line of defences to the immediate east of this position, the defences surround Pillboxes S.76, S.77 and S.78 but do not appear on the later 1947 aerial photograph nor do they line up with the later 'Boxhill Cross Hedgehog' defences. It is likely that the 'circa 1940 enclosing line' was only ever planned and never built.

Horner, B., 1993, Taunton Stop Line Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV356798.

Site visit 6th February 1993. Pile of possible concrete anti-tank obstacles visible on riverbank beside pillbox. Appear to be re-deposited, possibly from the position of MDV47887.

Horner, B., 1995, Anti Tank Obstacles east of River Axe (Site Visit). SDV125265.

Site visit 18th September 1995. Closer inspection shows that these are indeed anti-tank obstacles of a pyramidal kind ('pimples').

Cochrane, J. N., 1997, Reused Anti Tank Obstacles (Worksheet). SDV357215.

Several hundred (200-300) pyramid shaped anti-tank obstacles (pimples) reused to stabilise river bank. Possibly reused from further up river or from the north-east strech of the Boxhill Cross Hedgehog, where there appears to have been a belt of posts or pimples as indicated on RAF aerial photos.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1291 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pile of possible (?redeposited) concrete anti-tank obstacles visible next to pillbox on Aerial Photograph.
SMR.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV125265Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1995. Anti Tank Obstacles east of River Axe. Digital.
SDV325259Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. LXXXIII NE.
SDV351568Archive - 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. 1291.
SDV356798Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1993. Taunton Stop Line Site Visit. Digital.
SDV357215Worksheet: Cochrane, J. N.. 1997. Reused Anti Tank Obstacles. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital. [Mapped feature: #30783 ]

Associated Monuments

MDV125708Part of: Boshill Cross Strong Point (Monument)
MDV119535Part of: The Taunton Stop Line (Monument)
MDV47887Related to: Anti-Tank Obstacles circa 235 metres north of Axe Bridge, Axmouth (Monument)

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events: none recorded


Date Last Edited:Dec 19 2024 5:42PM