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Summary

Three small pale possible structures, visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 close to the rail bridge over the river Axe, correspond to the record of a railblock on a Royal Engineer’s Plan. A concete block with a barrier slot was visible beside the railway line in 1995. The railblock formed part of the Weycroft defence area on the 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

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY39NW/87
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• RAILBLOCK (Constructed, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Royal Engineers, 1940, Plans of Taunton Stop Line, Axminster Union & RD (Cartographic). SDV325259.

Railblock S.RL.27 recorded on Royal Engineer's plan.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1423-1424 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Small pale probable structures are visible.

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

Concrete rail-block visible on RAF 1947 aerial photograph. On the south side of the bridge over the river Axe.

Horner, B., 1995, Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV325640.

Site visit 13th June 1995. Concrete block with barrier slot visible beside railway line.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 14 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Railblock for bridge over river Axe, Weycroft.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA03-Weycroft-S0016271 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Railblock. Serial no. S.RL. 27 located at the railbridge over the river Axe to the west of Weycroft. Part of the Weycroft defence area. Destroyed.

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

Three small pale features, possibly square structures just over a metre in width, are visible either side of the railway line south of the bridge on aerial photographs taken in 1947. Their location corresponds to the record of a railblock on a Royal Engineer’s Plan and it is possible that the structures were part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line, although their form is difficult to discern from the aerial photographs alone. The area had been cleared in the early 21st century and the structures may have been destroyed or moved.

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. 14.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. Axminster Union & RD.
SDV325640	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1995. Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit. Taunton Stop Line Survey. Not Applicable.
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 1423-1424 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #94488 ]
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. DA03-Weycroft-S0016271.

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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