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Summary

Vickers machine gun type pillbox visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012. It was largely obscured by scrub and tree growth in 2012 but is likely to survive relatively extant, although it is not shown on modern mapping. One of a group of four along a hedgeline on the east side of the B3172. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• National Monuments Record: 1417459
• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29SE/248

Monument Type(s) and Dates

• VICKERS MACHINE GUN EMPLACEMENT (Built, World War II - 1940 AD to 1940 AD)

Full description

Royal Air Force, 11/04/1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, 4492; 39/42 (Aerial Photograph). SDV349479.

Rectangular pillbox visible just to south of hedge. Also visible more clearly on 1970s aerial photograph of the Axe estuary.

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

Pillbox marked on Royal Engineer's plan as S.V.16.

Royal Air Force, 1946, RAF/106G/UK/1412, RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3324-3325 13-APR-1946 (Aerial Photograph). SDV352504.

A pale feature, possibly a structure, is visible.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974/4492 (Aerial Photograph). SDV362958.

Rectangular pillbox visible just to south of hedge.

Unkown, 1970-1979, Aerial Photograph (Large) of the Axe Estuary (Aerial Photograph). SDV120941.

Pillbox clearly visible on 1970s aerial photograph of the Axe estuary.

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

Wills records one of two south-west facing rectangular pillboxes at SY256905.

Horner, B., 1995, Pillboxes at Axmouth (Site Visit). SDV362779.

Site visit on 24th September 1995. Rectangular type 28 heavy machine gun pillbox with blast wall covering side door visible from tramway on other side of river. Faces south-west down the Axe estuary, at slightly different angle to pillbox MDV55049 which is about 15 metres downslope of it. Photograph (slide) taken.

Cochrane, J. N., 1996, Pillbox on East Side of B3172 (Worksheet). SDV356915.

Pillbox in field on east side of B3172. Square heavy machine gun type with large aperture, pillbox partly recessed in ground. Entrance blocked (since 1989 when it showed signs of habitation).

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 7 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Vickers machine gun pillbox of type FW3/27.

Channel Coast Observatory, 2001-2012, Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography, CCO SY2590_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012 (Aerial Photograph). SDV351226.

The south-western part of the structure is visible.

Exeter Archaeology, 2003-2004, East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Archaeological Survey, Site No. 1250 (Archive - Survey). SDV351568.

Pillbox visible on 1947 Aerial Photograph. May represent pillbox recorded on ground at SY 256 905. Part of Taunton Stop Line.
SMR.

Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R., 2013-2014, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project (Interpretation). SDV351146.

A small flat roofed building is visible as a structure on aerial photographs taken between 1946 and 2012. It is circa 4 metres square and is likely to be a Second World War pillbox forming part of the Taunton Stop Line. The structure is not clearly visible in the available 1940s aerial photographs, and may have been camouflaged. It was partially obscured by scrub in 2012.

Pink, F., 2014-2015, South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment (Interpretation). SDV357736.

Ordnance Survey, 2019, MasterMap 2019 (Cartographic). SDV362729.

Pillbox not shown.

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. 7.
SDV120941	Aerial Photograph: Unkown. 1970-1979. Aerial Photograph (Large) of the Axe Estuary. Photograph (Paper).
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. LXXXIII SE & XCV NE.
SDV336210	Monograph: Wills, H.. 1985. Wills, H. 1985 Pillboxes. Pillboxes. Unknown. 74.
SDV349479	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 11/04/1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). 4492; 39/42.
SDV351146	Interpretation: Hegarty, C. + Knight, S. + Sims, R.. 2013-2014. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme Project. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV351226	Aerial Photograph: Channel Coast Observatory. 2001-2012. Channel Coast Observatory Aerial Photography. Channel Coast Observatory. Digital. CCO SY2590_20120917ortho.ecw 17-SEP-2012. [Mapped feature: #95058 ]
SDV351568	Archive - 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. 1250.
SDV352504	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1946. RAF/106G/UK/1412. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/106G/UK/1412 RP 3324-3325 13-APR-1946.
SDV356915	Worksheet: Cochrane, J. N.. 1996. Pillbox on East Side of B3172. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV357736	Interpretation: Pink, F.. 2014-2015. South Devon Coast Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey Desk-Based Assessment. AC Archaeology Report. Digital.
	Linked documents:1
SDV362729	Cartographic: Ordnance Survey. 2019. MasterMap 2019. Ordnance Survey Digital Mapping. Digital.
SDV362779	Site Visit: Horner, B.. 1995. Pillboxes at Axmouth. Not Applicable.
SDV362958	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974/4492. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper).

Associated Monuments

Associated Finds: none recorded

Associated Events

• EDV6127 - Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey National Mapping Programme (NMP) for South-West England - South Coast Devon (Ref: ACD618)

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