Haven Cliff, Axmouth Harbour near Seaton in the neighbouring county of Devonshire. The southern end of the Taunton Stop Line fortifications of World War Two.

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.

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.

The remains of the most southerly fortification on the Taunton Stop Line situated below Haven Cliff at the entrance to Axmouth Harbour in Devonshire.

The Prow (on the left of the photo) atop the artillery emplacement below Haven Cliff overlooks the entrance to Axmouth Harbour.

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 café tucked away in one of the harbour-side buildings!