Wills Neck

Wills Neck is the highest summit on the Quantock Hills and one of the highest points in Somerset, England. Although only 1261 ft (384 m) high, it qualifies as one of England's Marilyns. It is situated about 8 miles (13 km) north west of the historic market town of Taunton.

Wills Neck
Trig point on top of Will's Neck
Highest point
Elevation1,261 ft (384 m)
Prominence863 ft (263 m)
Parent peakDunkery Beacon
ListingMarilyn, Hardy
Geography
LocationQuantock Hills, England
OS gridST165352
Topo mapOS Landranger 181

The name 'Wills Neck' is derived from the Saxon word for 'stranger' or 'foreigner'.[1] It relates to a local tribe the Wealas which according to legend fought the Romans at the site.[2]

On a clear day it is possible to see Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Brecon Beacons, the Mendips and Blackdown Hills.[3] It is sometimes even possible to see Pilsdon Pen, the second highest point in Dorset, the highest, Lewesdon Hill, is also visible.

The hill is formed from Hangman Grits laid down during the Devonian a geologic period of the Paleozoic Era spanning from the end of the Silurian Period, about 419.2 Mya (million years ago), to the beginning of the Carboniferous Period.[4]

Wills Neck was surveyed by schoolboys from Clifton College from 1922 and 1945, led by teacher William Cornish Badcock. They built a cairn at the highest point which has now been replaced, on exactly the same spot, by a modern Trig point.[5]

A beer brewed by the Quantock Brewery has been named Wills Neck after the hill.[6]

References
  1. "The Quantock Hills". OpenCastMind. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  2. "Ancient and Beautiful Hills — The Quantocks". Somerset Life. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
  3. Roberts, James (1997). Walking in Somerset. Cicerone Press. p. 57. ISBN 9781852842536.
  4. Waite, Vincent (1969). Portrait of the Quantocks. Robert Hale. pp. 16–17. ISBN 0709111584.
  5. Byford, Enid (1987). Somerset Curiosities. Dovecote Press. p. 31. ISBN 0946159483.
  6. "Wills Neck Bottle Case". Quantock Brewery. Retrieved 23 March 2014.

51°06′36″N 3°11′37″W

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