Monument record MDO44655 - World War Two type 24 pillbox, Thorncombe

A World War II type 24 pillbox forming part of the Taunton Stop Line, covering the River Axe. It is located north of Gardners Farm, beside the River Axe in Holditch, near Axminster. It faces west-south-west and appears to be of concrete and breeze block construction. A field visit in 1995 found the pillbox to be in good condition.

Type 24 pillbox beside hedgerow. Part of Taunton Stop Line, covering River Axe. Faces W/SW. [Recorder unable to inspect site closely]. Appears to be of concrete and breeze block construction. Site shown on RAF 1947 aerial photographs.N of Gardners Farm, beside River Axe, Holditch, nr. Axminster. <1> <2>

A World War II type 24 pillbox forming part of the Taunton Stop Line, covering the River Axe. It is located north of Gardners Farm, beside the River Axe in Holditch, near Axminster. It faces west-south-west and appears to be of concrete and breeze block construction. A field visit in 1995 found the pillbox to be in good condition. The Taunton Stop Line ran from Seaton on the Devon coast to Highbridge on the Bristol Channel. The Line which primarily followed natural waterways such as the River Axe and River Parrett was put in place to stop enemy advance from the west and the Devon, Somerset or Cornish coasts. Construction was by the 551st and 552nd Army Troops Company Royal Engineers and manned in 1940 and 1941 by the 48th Division of VIII Corps. Later the Wadbrook sector of the Line was manned by the Axminster Company of the Seaton Battalion Home Guard. The main anti tank obstacle at Wadbrook was the River Axe, the banks of which were cut and steepened. This line was strengthened with a variety of concrete man made obstacles, pillboxes and artificial ditches. <4>

<1> Council for British Archaeology, 1995, Defence of Britain Project (Digital archive). SWX5.

<2> Council for British Archaeology, 2003, Defence of Britain Project Database (Machine readable data file). SDO128.

<3> Council for British Archaeology, 2006, Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01 (Excavation archive). SDO17227.

<4> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1416277 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 11 2022 1:48PM