See important guidance on the use of this record.

If you have any comments or new information about this record, please email us.

Summary

Pair of concrete road block posts flanking northwest end of small road bridge over the River Axe, visible on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1948. Part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line constructed in 1940.

Location

Protected Status: none recorded

Other References/Statuses

• Old DCC SMR Ref: SY29NE/291

Monument Type(s) and Dates

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

Full description

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

Roadblock marked on Royal Engineer's plan as S.RD.57.

Royal Air Force, 1947, RAF/CPE/UK/1974, RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1424-1425 11-APR-1947 (Aerial Photograph). SDV356127.

Royal Air Force, 1948, RAF/CPE/UK/2431, RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3199-3200 22-JAN-1948 (Aerial Photograph). SDV359315.

Two small structures are visible on the RAF 1948 aerial photograph flanking the northwest end of a small road bridge over river Axe. Short stretches of concrete anti tank obstacles appear to run along river banks flanking southeast side of bridge, one set linking with anti-tank ditch.

Dobinson, C. S., 1998, The Taunton Stop Line. Component Listing, 13 (Report - non-specific). SDV109230.

Roadblock of type RB No2 R with 12 Tetrahedra and 13 mines.

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

Two small pale structures, just over 1 metre wide, are visible one either side of the west end of the bridge on aerial photographs taken in 1947 and 1948. They are interpreted as part of the previously recorded 1940-1941 roadblock SRD.57 that forms part of the Second World War Taunton Stop Line.
The 1940s RAF prints held by Historic England have been recorded here as additional sources because there is a possibility that the prints may have been processed differently to those held by Devon County Council. This would potentially result in images on which archaeological features show slightly differently.
The structures are not visible on later available aerial photographs, suggesting that they had been removed soon after the war ended.

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. 13.
SDV325259	Cartographic: Royal Engineers. 1940. Plans of Taunton Stop Line. Royal Engineers Survey Plan circa July 1940. Unknown. Axminster Union & RD.
SDV356127	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1947. RAF/CPE/UK/1974. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/1974 FP 1424-1425 11-APR-1947. [Mapped feature: #93826 ]
SDV359315	Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 1948. RAF/CPE/UK/2431. Royal Air Force Aerial Photograph. Photograph (Paper). RAF/CPE/UK/2431 RP 3199-3200 22-JAN-1948.
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

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)

Search results generated by the HBSMR Gateway from exeGesIS SDM Ltd.