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Somerset Historic Environment Record

15410

Public access:

(Please see the indivudual components for any details of public access). [Information last updated on 09 October 2003]

Details:

A World War 2 anti-invasion stop line, facing west, built between July and November 1940. {1}

The stop line runs for approximately 50 miles from the mouth of River Brue at ST 30 47 to the mouth of the River Axe in Devon at SY 898 256 (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 (PRN 15450).

The line followed the River Parrett to Bridgwater where it joined the Bridgwater to Taunton Canal (PRN 43826) at ST304362. From Creech St Michael at ST 271 256 if followed the old Chard Canal (PRN 53321) until at ST3416, SW of Ilton it joined the Great Western Railway (PRN 55451). The line left the GWR to the north of Chard Junction (PRN 55435) at ST338049 from where it followed the Southern Railway (PRN 57006) and River Axe running south into Devon at ST329028.

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 (PRN 16380), Durston (PRN 16340), Creech St Michael (PRN 16381), Wrantage and Crimson Hill (PRN 16382) , Ilton (PRN 16383), Ilminster (PRN 16384), Chard (PRN 16385), Forton and Perry Street (PRN 16386). {2}

Listing of infrastructure in October 1940. {3}

References:

Record created on 02 May 2002

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