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Summary

Rectangular pillbox set into the embankment beside the railway line. Visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken from 1947 to 2014. 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/88
• SHINE Candidate (Yes)

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Pillbox recorded on Royal Engineer's plan as S.37.

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

A rectangular structure is visible.

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

Possible pillbox or platelayers hut visible on RAF 1947 aerial photograph on east side of railway line.

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

Site visit 13th June 1995. Rectangular pillbox beside railway line. Set into embankment with rear door at lower level then northwest facing gun apertures. Concrete block construction.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Pillbox Beside Railway, Weycroft (Worksheet). SDV356741.

Rectangular pillbox beside railway. Below Sisterhood Farm, where railway line runs near River Axe, at a public crossing point over the railway.

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

Rectagular pillbox, no other information provided.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA03-Weycroft-S0001349 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Site visit 14th January 2003. Weycroft defence area. Pillbox (variant) on east side of and commanding railway line, near public crossing, to the south-west of Weycroft. Square concrete block pillbowx with entrance on south-east side, away from railway line. Small stepped embrasures. The entrance has a large lintel with an embrasure above the doorway. The pillbox is heavily overgrown with vegetation. No close access due to vegetation and a fence. In fair condition.

Next Perspectives, 2014, Aerial Photography for Great Britain, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SY3099 23-MAY-2010 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359479.

A rectangular structure is visible.

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

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

A low, flat-roofed structure is visible on aerial photographs taken from 1947 onwards. It is immediately east of the railway line and is probably the pillbox recorded on a 1940 Royal Engineers plan and part of the Taunton Stop Line. It is visible on recent aerial images taken in 2014 but is depicted on modern mapping so has not been transcribed as part of this survey.

Powell-Thomas, A., 2017, The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line, 78 (Monograph). SDV360594.

Square Type 26 pillbox with a loophole above the entrance.

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.
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).
SDV355681	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2014. MasterMap. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital. [Mapped feature: #94489 ]
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.
SDV356741	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Pillbox Beside Railway, Weycroft. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
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
SDV359479	Aerial Photograph: Next Perspectives. 2014. Aerial Photography for Great Britain. Digital. Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SY3099 23-MAY-2010.
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-S0001349.
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. 78.

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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