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Summary

Pillbox visible as a small structure on aerial photographs taken in the late 1940s, close to the anti-tank ditch on east side of Axminster. Part of the Axminster fortified area on the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940. The area has since been developed and it is not visible on the more recent available aerial imagery.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/311

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3199-3200 22-JAN-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359315.

A small flat-roofed structure is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431/3199 (Aerial Photograph). SDV109622.

Polygonal pillbox visible on RAF 1948 aerial photograph. Probably type FW3/24. Faces east covering a length of anti-tank ditch. Other details: HER No. 39/61.

Wills, H., 1985, Wills, H. 1985 Pillboxes, 74 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists polgonal pillbox of mixed construction facing east at SY299982.

Horner, B., 1994, Taunton Stop Line Survey (Personal Comment). SDV360458.

Location map in Taunton Stop Line Survey file.

Neophytou, M. + Goodwin, N., 2006, Archaeological Assessment of the Former Cattle Market Site, Axminster., 3, Site 1 (Report - Assessment). SDV340798.

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

A five-sided, fat-roofed structure, circa 6 metres across, is visible on aerial photographs taken in 1948 is a Second World War pillbox that forms part of the 1940-1941 Taunton Stop Line.
The 1940s RAF prints held by Historic England have been recorded as additional sources in this project because there is a possibility that the prints may have been processed differently to those held by Devon County Council. This would potentially result in images on which archaeological features show slightly differently.
The structure is not visible on recent aerial photographs.

Sources / Further Reading

SDV109622	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431/3199. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Wills, H. 1985 Pillboxes. Pillboxes. Unknown. 74.
SDV340798	Report - Assessment: Neophytou, M. + Goodwin, N.. 2006. Archaeological Assessment of the Former Cattle Market Site, Axminster.. Exeter Archaeology Report. 06.71. A4 Stapled + Digital. 3, Site 1.
SDV359315	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3199-3200 22-JAN-1948. [Mapped feature: #94483 ]
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
SDV360458	Personal Comment: Horner, B.. 1994. Taunton Stop Line Survey. Not Applicable.

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV4412 - Assessment of Former Cattle Market, Axminster
• EDV7508 - The Blackdown Hills AONB and East Devon River Catchments National Mapping Programme (NMP) project (Ref: ACD1228)

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