Taunton Stopline – Chard Joint to Peasmarsh – September 2010

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Munchh

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The arsehole of the Cosmos
All quoted text is from the Somerset Historic Enviroment Record. The main HER site is at

http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/Environment/Conservation/archaeology/HER.htm

Thanks to Krela (you know why) and cptpies (so do you).

Info and History

“A World War 2 anti-invasion stop line, facing west, built between July and November 1940.
The stop line runs for approximately 50 miles from the mouth of River Brue to the mouth of the River Axe in Devon (with some infrastructure in Dorset). Some rear positions were prepared to the E of line. It connected to the ‘GHQ Line Green’ running East along River Brue.

The line followed the River Parrett to Bridgwater where it joined the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal. From Creech St Michael it followed the old Chard Canal until SW of Ilton where it joined the Great Western Railway. The line left the GWR to the north of Chard Junction from where it followed the Southern Railway and River Axe running south into Devon.

The planned infrastructure (most of which was built) included 233 pillboxes, 61 medium machine gun emplacements, 21 anti-tank gun emplacements, 83 road blocks, 22 railway blocks and 46 demolitions.

The anti-tank obstacle consisted of about 24 miles of waterways, 7 miles of improved water obstacles, 11 miles of anti-tank ditches and 8 miles of artificial obstacles (eg cubes).

From autumn 1940, twelve locations were prepared for all-round defence as ‘anti-tank islands’ of which 9 were in Somerset - Bridgwater, Durston, Creech St Michael, Wrantage and Crimson Hill, Ilton, Ilminster, Chard, Forton and Perry Street.”

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15410

I’ve split this into 3 sections, Chard Joint railway station, Chard Reservoir north to Knowle St Giles and Knowle St Giles to Peasmarsh.

Chard Joint Railway Station

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55455

Chard Joint had defences forming the NW corner of the Chard Anti-Tank Island as well as being part of the Taunton Stopline proper. If you look on cptpies GE overlay you can see how they converged with the AT island around Chard. The labels given in my GE map shots are the original 1940 Stopline/ATI serial numbers for each site. I haven’t visited all of them yet so updates will follow.

ChardJointstation.jpg


The Anti Tank wall at the southern end of the goods yard on the west side of the trackbed (included in a previous report and shown for context).

100_0865.jpg


A concrete base or platform approx 20 feet x 15 feet is apparent although partially buried by landscaping. Of unknown origin but probably connected to Stopline or AT island as it's immediately adjacent to the old route of the trackbed.

The station building

100_0856.jpg


Pillbox M 66 – Type 24 - LMG emplacement

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55292

100_1073.jpg


100_1075.jpg


100_1079.jpg


Pillbox M 65 (Type unknown) and AT cubes

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15943

The cubes are there but I couldn’t find the PB which is annoying as it’s described as a rectangular LMG emplacement on the original records. Will be taking another look.

100_1087.jpg


From North of Chard Reservoir to Knowle St Giles (TSL)

ChardResevoirnorthtoKnowleStGiles.jpg


Pillbox M 20 – Type 24 – LMG Emplacement

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55187

It’s buried in here

100_1025.jpg


100_1072.jpg


There was also a roadblock (M RD 39) at this location.

Rail Block M RL 17

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=16098

100_1070.jpg


100_1068.jpg


AT Posts and Cubes

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=16099

These run every 3 feet on the west side of the trackbed from just after M RL 17 to just before MAT 609 at the bridge.

100_1040.jpg


100_1042.jpg


100_1044.jpg


100_1037.jpg


The bridge

100_1047.jpg


Pillbox MAT 609 – drg. no. LT 55 – Gun Emplacement

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55177

100_1057.jpg


100_1053.jpg


100_1052.jpg


100_1055.jpg


This was lying nearby

100_1049.jpg


Pillbox M 19 – Type 24 – LMG Emplacement

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55190

Originally disguised as a chicken hut. Pretty good description for a pillbox.

100_1064.jpg


Knowle St Giles to Peasmarsh

KnowleStGilestoPeasmarsh.jpg


Railblock M RL 16

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15978

100_1063.jpg


100_1062.jpg


Pillbox M 63 – Type 24 – LMG Emplacement

http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=55188

Definitely there but totally overgrown and only accessible from inside the Sewage works compound. Will come back to it.

As you can see from the GE map shots, I haven’t got to everything on this section yet but I will. Hope you enjoyed what I was able to photograph. Thanks for looking.
 
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wow sounds like alot of hard work has paid off, interesting read cheers for that :mrgreen:
 
To all above, thanks for your comments. :)

Yes it is growing into a big project which requires a lot of time and research which is why I haven't posted a report for a while. The info is all out there but fragmented. I'm gradually bringing it together for a fuller picture.

I'm pleased to see other stopline reports on this forum which can only help in improving the overlay database, cptpies pute must be overheating with all the field info coming in. We're also identifying quite a few previously unknown sites (to the overlay database that is).

BTW cptpies, let me know if you want my confirmed GE placemarks and I'll ping you the file and links. :)
 
Cracking post Munchh, more please. Hate to be pedantic but MAT609 is a field gun emplacement not a type 28. The holdfast looks like it has too many bolts for a 6Pdr so maybe some other type of AT gun was emplaced here.
 
Yet again another great and intriguing report, up to your usual high standard of information.

Many Thanks Munchh
 
Thanks for this thoroughly researched report on a part of the countryside which is forgotten until people like your good self provide these photographs of what remains after, what, 70 odd years of neglect.

It also goes to show that, for fellow Urbexers (or should I say Rurexers :)) that, in some cases, areas to explorer are hiding in plain site.

The link to the Somerset HER site should have been -> http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15410. You wouldn;t by any chance know whether the Devon County Council provide a similar HER service would you?
 
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cycled along the cycle path between chard and ilminster just the other day and took some snaps of the pillboxes! great pictures :)
 
You wouldn;t by any chance know whether the Devon County Council provide a similar HER service would you?

They don't but you can access the HER through Heritage Gateway.

http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/chr/Region-South-West.aspx

In my opinion The Somerset HER access portal is the one of the best out there and is the way other counties need to do it, compare it to Hampshire and you'll see what I mean. If your county council isn't online with a GIS based portal yet write them a sharply worded letter!
 
Cracking post Munchh, more please. Hate to be pedantic but MAT609 is a field gun emplacement not a type 28. The holdfast looks like it has too many bolts for a 6Pdr so maybe some other type of AT gun was emplaced here.

Thanks for this and for filling in the gaps re the heritage gateway C'pn. And yep, I mis-labelled the LT 55 as a type 28, must have been a senior moment. I'm looking at the Maiden Newton to Poole Borough Stopline as well at the moment so the brains a bit addled.:)

The original 'Schedule of Completed Works' has the gun as a 6pdr although this may not be definitive. As you know, it wasn't uncommon for the engineers to adapt/ modify the PB designs, weapons and mounts almost ad hoc.

Thanks for this throughly researched report on a part of the countryside which is forgotten until people like your good self provide these photographs of what remains after, what, 70 odd years of neglect.

It also goes to show that, for fellow Urbexers (or should I say Rurexers :)) that, in some cases, areas to explorer are hiding in plain site.

The link to the Somerset HER site should have been -> http://webapp1.somerset.gov.uk/her/details.asp?prn=15410. You wouldn;t by any chance know whether the Devon County Council provide a similar HER service would you?

Thanks for your comments devonian42. That link, for anyone not in the know, is the SHER index page for the TSL. With a little effort, you will also find the AT islands should you wish. :) Oh and if you haven't already got it, get cptpies Defence of Britain GE overlay. Goldmine :mrgreen:

Krela deserves a lot of credit for his research of the TSL which enabled me to post this report. If he wasn't so busy keeping an eye on us lot he'd be doing it himself. :)
 
Nice one mate.

I've just got back home from a few days in Yeovil (on a course associated with my job) and managed to get to Donyatt yesterday evening with the main intention of visiting the 4 pillboxes overlooking Donyatt Halt and also the 2 Vickers MG emplacements on the hill: twas a bit of a success, will get a report up (I hope) probably early next week 'cos I'm working over the weekend.
 
Nice one mate.

I've just got back home from a few days in Yeovil (on a course associated with my job) and managed to get to Donyatt yesterday evening with the main intention of visiting the 4 pillboxes overlooking Donyatt Halt and also the 2 Vickers MG emplacements on the hill: twas a bit of a success, will get a report up (I hope) probably early next week 'cos I'm working over the weekend.

Excellent, looking forward to that :)

Thanks Walrus
 

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