Since moving to Somerset I have come upon many
remains of the World War Two era Taunton Stop Line, a line of over 400
fortifications stretching around 50 miles from Burnham-on-Sea across Somerset
to Haven Cliff which overlooks Axmouth Harbour in Devonshire. Completed in only 5 weeks during the
dangerous summer of 1940, its purpose was to impede any German advance from the
south west should they have made a landing in Devonshire or Cornwall. The Stop Line makes use of canals and
railways, as well as rivers and other natural obstacles including, of course,
the Somerset Levels.
I have often travelled along the B3172 to Axmouth
and Seaton, passing the pillboxes dotted along the banks of the River Axe as it
makes its way to the sea, but it was not until I purchased a copy of Andrew
Powell-Thomas’ The West Country’s Last
Line of Defence (Amberley Publishing, 2017) that I learned that the most
southerly fortification on the Taunton Stop Line was an artillery position
beneath Haven Cliff at the entrance to Axmouth harbour. I thought I would go and have a look!
Parking is free on Seaton seafront at this time of
year so I left the car there and walked back to the B3172 and Axmouth Old
Bridge. A blue plaque on the parapet
states that the bridge is a scheduled ancient monument in use from 1877 until
closed to road traffic in1990 and is the oldest standing concrete bridge in
England. The bridge was defended by pill
boxes on the hillside east of the River Axe; one is visible beside the private
drive leading to Haven House.
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Axmouth Old Bridge in Devonshire. |
I crossed the bridge and went on along the road and
track between the harbour wall and a row of buildings. It was pleasantly busy with people working on
their boats, happy dogs taking their owners for an early afternoon walk as well
as people, like me, just enjoying a peaceful stroll in the autumn sunshine.
Below Haven Cliff, overlooking the harbour entrance
was the fortification I was looking for.
What remains of the brick and concrete structure has been used as the
foundation for an elevated seating and picnic area known as The Prow. The artillery piece emplaced there would have
had a field of fire out into Seaton Bay and along Seaton’s pebble beach. From Seaton seafront, on a clear day, it is
possible to distinguish Portland Bill to the east, so the emplacement at Haven
Cliff could have observed enemy activity in Lyme Bay and possibly engaged any
targets if equipped with a gun of suitable range.
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The remains of the most southerly fortification on the Taunton Stop Line situated below Haven Cliff at the entrance to Axmouth Harbour in Devonshire. |
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The Prow (on the left of the photo) atop the artillery emplacement below Haven Cliff overlooks the entrance to Axmouth Harbour. |
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The view west from beneath Haven Cliff. Seaton seafront is to the left, Axmouth Harbour to the right. |
It was an interesting
afternoon and I will no doubt do the walk again – and check out the small cafĂ©
tucked away in one of the harbour-side buildings!
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