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Summary

A railblock and a row of anti-tank cubes flanking the railway line are visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947. The railblock survives as two concrete plinths with slots for horizontal rails either side of the line. Several of the anti-tank cubes also survive in situ with more now lying in the river or tumbled on the bank. 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

• National Monuments Record: 1417347
• National Monuments Record: 1417348
• 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.27a 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.

A row of small structures is visible. Map object partly based on this source.

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

Row of about 7 concrete anti-tank cubes recorded on RAF 1947 aerial photo on east side of railway, linking with anti-tank ditch. Further blocks on the west side of the railway line.

Hellis, J., 1990, List of Defensive Sites (Un-published). SDV99101.

Site visit 15th January 1989. Road block at SY302996.

Horner, W., 1995, Taunton Stop Line Survey Site Visit (Site Visit). SDV325677.

Site visit 13th May 1995. Several of ten blocks, 5ft/1.5m types, are still standing. Others are lining the river bank, probably resited as revetting. The blocks flanking the railway are grooved for a cross-rail barrier, to form a railblock.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Concrete Anti-Tank Obstacles, Weycroft (Worksheet). SDV356730.

Concrete anti-tank obstacles on the east bank of the River Axe close to the railway line near P6 88 and public crossing point of railway line. Lies between Sisterhood Farm and Weycroft Manor Farm. Seven, at least, concrete obstacles each approximately 4' x 4' x 4'. These appear to be now placed to strengthen the river bank (it is very close to the railway line) or have slipped over when the river has flooded.

Hayne, D. + Weston, H., 1996, Railblock and Obstacles, Weycroft (Worksheet). SDV356731.

Five concrete anti-tank obstacles with slots across the railway, between Sisterhood Farm and Weycroft Manor Farm.

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

S.Rl.27.a, railblock at Weycroft.

Foot, W., 2005, Defence Areas. A National Study of Second World War Anti-Invasion Landscapes in England, DA03-Weycroft-S0016430, S0001242, p6, Fig. 8 (Report - Survey). SDV360266.

Site visit 14th January 2003. Weycroft defence area. Railblock and anti-tank cubes by the railway line to the south-west of Weycroft, near a public crossing point.
The railblock survives as two plinths each side of the line with slots for horizontal rails. In good condition.
Two 4 feet by 4 feet by 5 feet high cone-topped anti-tank blocks adjoin the rail block on its its side with another block also still in situ on the west side. Other blocks, about nine, lie in the river or are tumbled on its bank. In fair condition.

Next Perspectives, 2010, Aerial Photography for Great Britain - Digital Elevation Data, Next Perspectives APGB Imagery SY3099 23-MAY-2010 (Cartographic). SDV359481.

Three small rectangular structures are visible. Map object partly based on this source.

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

A row of small rectangular or square structures, just over a metre in width, are visible either side of the railway line on aerial photographs taken from 1947. Their location corresponds to the record of a railblock on a Royal Engineer’s Plan and the structures are interpreted as part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line. Three are visible on aerial photographs taken in 2010; two rectangular structures either side of the track may have held a railblock barrier. Several structures are likely to survive, and they may be obscured by vegetation growth.

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

Pair of concrete blocks, one either side of the railway line. Access restricted.

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.
SDV325677	Site Visit: Horner, W.. 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: #99921 ]
SDV356730	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Concrete Anti-Tank Obstacles, Weycroft. Defence of Britain Project. Worksheet + Digital.
SDV356731	Worksheet: Hayne, D. + Weston, H.. 1996. Railblock and Obstacles, 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
SDV359481	Cartographic: Next Perspectives. 2010. Aerial Photography for Great Britain - Digital Elevation Data. Aerial Photography for Great Britain Aerial Photographs. 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-S0016430, S0001242, p6, Fig. 8.
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.
SDV99101	Un-published: Hellis, J.. 1990. List of Defensive Sites. Manuscript.

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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