Collection: Henry Wills Collection relating to pillboxes and the Taunton Stop Line

Description

This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.

The collection contains photographs, negatives, maps, correspondence and drawings relating to pillboxes and other World War 2 defence structures in the United Kingdom. The collection was compiled by Henry Wills (1930-1997) from the 1960s until his death and almost all of the contents date from this period.

The most significant series in the collection is Will's card index of pillboxes and other defence structures which constitute a comprehensive survey of these buildings in the United Kingdom. The cards give the location and details about the shape and construction of each building. Some cards are accompanied by a negative, a photograph, a sketch or further written details. Details on the cards have been used to compile the 'Pillboxes and WW2 Defences Survey' (1994), a typescript survey available in the Public Search Room which is an invaluable finding aid to this part of the collection. The collection contains correspondence, maps, photographs and notes used by Wills to compile his survey.

Also present in the collection are 4 binders containing annotated maps showing the position of the defensive Taunton Stop Line in Somerset, Devon and Dorset and the structures and 'anti-tank islands' along the route.

The collection contains a miscellany of printed items, primarily on the subject of pillboxes, World War 2, and the D-Day invasions.

Archival History

Henry Wills (1930-1997), was a photographer for the 'Salisbury Journal' from 1947 to 1995. He was a local historian with a keen interest in aviation and military history. He is best known for his research on pillboxes and his authoritative book: 'Pillboxes: A Study of UK Defences' (Leo Cooper; Secker and Warburg, 1985).

The collection was given to the NMR in 1997.

Content