Monument record MDO44660 - World War Two type 26 pillbox, Thorncombe

A World War II, square pillbox constructed of breeze blocks covering a railway crossing and Broom Bridge over the River Axe, with its road block, to the west. The pillbox was constructed in 1940-41 and formed part of the Taunton Stop Line. According to Mr. Harris of Gardners Farm this pillbox was originally brick clad, presumably as camouflage to merge with the adjoining house. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be extant.

Square pillbox constructed of breeze blocks covering railway crossing and Broom Bridge over River Axe, with its road block, to the W. Part of Taunton Stop Line. [ According to Mr. Harris of Gardners Farm this pillbox was originally brick clad, presumably as camouflage to merge with the adjoining house. Visible on 1947 RAF AP.Situation on N side of 'Broom Gates' on Holditch Lane, nr. Tytherleigh, NE of Axminster. <1> <2>

A World War II, square pillbox constructed of breeze blocks covering a railway crossing and Broom Bridge over the River Axe, with its road block, to the west. The pillbox was constructed in 1940-41 and formed part of the Taunton Stop Line. According to Mr. Harris of Gardners Farm this pillbox was originally brick clad, presumably as camouflage to merge with the adjoining house. A field visit in 1995 found the structure to be extant. 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, 1416320 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 11 2022 2:51PM