Monument record MDO44661 - World War Two rail block,Wadbrook, Thorncombe

A World War II rail block located where the railway line from Chard Junction to Axminster crosses the River Axe. The rail block is of concrete and was constructed in 1940-41, forming part of the Taunton Stop Line. A field visit in 1996 found the structure to be in a good condition.

Rail block of the Taunton Stop Line. Sited where the railway line from Chard Junction to Axminster crosses the River Axe.Railblock in good condition.North of Broom Bridge, Holditch Lane, on NW side of River Axe. <1> <2>

A World War II rail block located where the railway line from Chard Junction to Axminster crosses the River Axe. The rail block is of concrete and was constructed in 1940-41, forming part of the Taunton Stop Line. A field visit in 1996 found the structure to be in a good condition. 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, 1416315 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 11 2022 3:00PM