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Summary

Pillbox situated adjacent to a leat leading from the Axe to Coaxdon Mill. It is constructed of concrete breeze blocks with some of the exterior walls supported by butresses. Visible as a six-sided structure on aerial photographs taken in the 1940s. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417335
• Old DCC SMR Ref: ST30SW/169

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Pillbox S.27 recorded on (?) July 1940 plan but on east bank of river.

Royal Air Force, 1947, CPE/UK/1974/3422 (Aerial Photograph). SDV363150.

Probable pillbox visible on RAF 1947 aerial photo on west side of river Axe facing north-west and covering the railway line and approach to the river.

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.

Wills, H., 1985, Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940, 76 (Monograph). SDV336210.

Wills lists polygonal pillbox of mixed construction facing west at ST315005.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Pillbox, Lower Coaxdon (Worksheet). SDV356732.

Pillbox on the bank of the River Axe to the east of Lower Coaxdon. Built of breeze blocks. Some exterior walls are supported by butresses. Interior contains a concrete baffle.

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

Pillbox S.27 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 & 04-Wadbrook-S0001229, Map 2 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Extant pillbox.

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

A small six-sided structure, just over 5 metres wide, is visible just east of a mill race on aerial photographs taken in 1947. It is very likely to be the Second World War pillbox S.27 marked on Royal Engineers plans for the 1940 Taunton Stop Line. It is not visible on the later available aerial imagery and seems to be obscured by tree cover.

Powell-Thomas, A., 2017, The West Country's last Line of Defence. Taunton Stop Line, 76 (Monograph). SDV360594.

Surrounded by trees but still in fair condition.

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.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Pillboxes. A Study of UK Defences 1940. Pillboxes. Hardback Volume. 76.
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. [Mapped feature: #94500 ]
SDV356732	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Pillbox, Lower Coaxdon. 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
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 & 04-Wadbrook-S0001229, Map 2.
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. 76.
SDV363150	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. CPE/UK/1974/3422. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).

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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