Monument record MDO44658 - World War Two type 28 pillbox, Thorncombe

A World War II pillbox facing west towards the railway at Broom Bridge and located on Gardners Farm, north of Holditch Lane in Holditch. It was constructed in 1940-41 and was built of concrete.

Site of pillbox (part of Taunton stop line). faced W towards Broom Bridge. Destroyed at some point in the 60s or 70s [information from Mr. Harris of Gardners Farm]. This pillbox may have been a type 28.N side of Holditch Lane at the entrance of Gardners Farm, Holditch, nr. Axminster. <1> <2>

Site of a World War II, possible type 28, pillbox located on the north side of Holditch Lane at the entrance of Gardners Farm, Holditch, near Axminster. The pillbox formed part of the Taunton stop line, which faced west towards Broom Bridge and was constructed in 1940-41 and was of concrete. The pillbox was destroyed during the 1960s-70s. The anti invasion defence works at Wadbrook formed part of the Taunton Stop Line which 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. The line was constructed by 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, 1416313 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 11 2022 1:52PM