WWII & Defence Background
This searchlight position was built around 1940 as part of the Taunton Stop Line, a coastal defence network established post-Dunkirk to guard against German invasion. It functioned as a searchlight post to sweep beaches and sea lanes, supporting artillery and pillboxes atop the cliff, designed to spot enemy vessels or aircraft approaching by sea
The searchlight emplacement worked in tandem with anti-invasion measures like tank traps, mines, barbed-wire, pillboxes, and a 6‑pounder gun emplacement positioned on the cliff above West Walk promenade overlooking the south coast which was operated by the Royal Artillery and Defence Home Guard.
Before radar became widespread, coastal searchlights were vital for night-time target spotting, enabling AA guns and fighter aircraft to locate enemy craft. As part of the wider Anti-Aircraft Command, these sites helped create a line of illumination to deter or detect potential seaborne or aerial threats.
Remaining Structure
Today, what remains is a shell of the emplacement—white-washed walls, rusting support beams, and the concrete pit and rangefinder aperture embedded into the cliffside. The layout is typical of WWII searchlight batteries, featuring a concrete pit, rangefinder, and gun position.
Visit
The site is freely accessible 24/7 from the promenade and includes interpretation boards that explain its wartime role. It’s a curious historical stop for those walking the seafront or interested in Britain’s Home Front defences.
