Change Register - The Marilyns of England

Change Register

The Marilyns of England

In June 1997 TACit Tables published a booklet entitled The Hewitts and Marilyns of England, with a sister booklet to The Hewitts and Marilyns of Wales being published in February of the same year.  These booklets are two in a series of many that the list author; Alan Dawson, compiled and had published by TACit Tables mainly taking in P30 hills throughout Britain that are 2,000ft (609.6m) and above in height. 

The Marilyns originally appeared as all hills in Britain that have a drop of at least 150m, irrespective of their height.  Accompanying the main list is a sub-list entitled Submarilyns, with the criteria being all hills in Britain that have 140m or more and below 150m of drop. 

The listing of Marilyns was originally published in book format by Cicerone Press in 1992 and entitled The Relative Hills of Britain, its author; Alan Dawson then separated the Welsh and English component parts and published each in the TACit Tables booklets as detailed above.

For those people who have completed an ascent of each listed hill they would have visited all summits in England that have a minimum drop of 150m on all sides.  These hills take in the majority of upland areas in England from the wilderness of the Cheviot in the north, to the openness of the Pennines and the compact beauty of the Lake District, to the rock tors of Dartmoor in the south.  However, Marilyns can also be found in the North York Moors, the Shropshire Hills and parts of central and southern England, each and every hill can leave memories that refresh the soul and body, and for many it is the TACit Table booklet that has taken them on a journey through some of the most beautiful landscape that Britain has to offer.

When the booklet was first published England was listed with 178 Marilyns and 39 Submarilyns.  Since these early days the influx of independent surveyors, LIDAR analysis and the diligence of map study have added, deleted and reclassified a number of hills either to Marilyn or Submarilyn status.  But what hills have changed status in this list and who was responsible for their inclusion / exclusion?

The Change Register to The Marilyns of England since the TACit Tables publication appears below in receding order under the hill name used by Alan Dawson:

Change Register

The Marilyns of England

Lype Hill    423.8m at SS 95037 37109 

LIDAR summit image of Lype Hill (SS 950 371)

The drop value of this hill was listed as an estimated c 141m in the 2^nd edition of The Fours – The 400m Hills of England published by Mapping Mountains Publications in April 2018, with an accompanying note stating; Triangulation pillar with 424.168m flush bracket height situated on the summit area.  As the trig pillar sits atop an approximate 30cm high concrete plinth, natural ground at the base of the trig will probably be just over 423.5m, resulting in an approximate 140.6m of drop.  Inferring Submarilyn status as it was then listed with 139m of drop, based on a 423m summit height and a 284m col height.  Its eventual inclusion as a Submarilyn was prompted by Joe Nuttall who produced a summit analysis programme using LIDAR and then by the DoBIH team, resulting in a 423.8m summit height and a 283.4m col height, with these values giving this hill 140.4m of drop, with this announced on the 30^th September 2022.  English Marilyn total confirmed as 174 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 48.

The Verne    152.3m at SY 69148 73862 

This hill was known to be a potential Submarilyn and its revised drop was proposed a number of years ago by the DoBIH team.  However, it was not until LIDAR became available that an accurate height and drop could be given this hill.  LIDAR analysis resulted in a 152.3m summit height and an 8.7m col height, with these values giving this hill 143.6m of drop, with its inclusion as a Submarilyn announced by the list author; Alan Dawson, in January 2021.    English Marilyn total confirmed as 174 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 47. 

 

 

Hen Comb    506.2m at NY 13214 18118 

LIDAR image of Hen Comb (NY 132 181)

This hill was listed in the TACit Tables booklet as a Submarilyn with 140m of drop based on the 509m summit spot height that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and a 369m col height.  Its deletion from Submarilyn status is due to Joe Nuttall’s summit analysis programme which uses LIDAR to ascertain heights and drops of hills, and subsequent LIDAR analysis conducted by the DoBIH team, resulting in a 506.2m summit height and a 367.4m col height, with these values giving this hill 138.8m of drop, with its deletion announced by the list author; Alan Dawson, in January 2021.    English Marilyn total confirmed as 174 and English Submarilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 46.

 

 

Cheriton Hill    187.7m at TR 19713 39687 

This hill was known to be a potential reclassification from Marilyn to Submarilyn status as Alan Dawson had surveyed it in 2016 resulting in 149.7m of drop.  However, due to the margin of error at both the summit and col the hill was left with a listed 150m of drop until further evidence was available.  The details for this hill were subsequently analysed via LIDAR by the DoBIH team, which was prompted by the result produced by Joe Nuttall’s summit analysis programme which uses LIDAR to ascertain heights and drops of hills.  LIDAR analysis resulted in a 187.7m summit height and a 38.0m col height, with the previously listed col position now swapped with that for Detling Hill (TQ 803 586), with these values giving this hill 149.7m of drop, with its new classification announced by the list author; Alan Dawson, in January 2021.    English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 174 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 47.

Barns Cliff End    222m at SE 93929 94641 

This hill was known to be a potential Submarilyn and its revised drop was proposed in January 2019 with a Change Log request on DoBIH submitted by Chris Crocker, with the values given in DoBIH being a 222m summit height and an estimated c 81m col height, with these values giving this hill c 141m of drop.  However, with two uppermost 225m ring contours on the OS Maps website, a 224m spot height outside of these ring contours on the Ordnance Survey non-contour Vector Map Local hosted on the Geograph website and a 226m spot height on the WalkLakes website that compliments the position of the westerly of the two 225m OS Maps contours, this hill’s listed drop value may increase in the future.  English Marilyn total confirmed as 175 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 46.

Overmoor    288.8m at SJ 96517 47725 

LIDAR image of Overmoor (SJ 965 477)

This hill was known to be a potential Submarilyn and its revised drop was ascertained from LIDAR analysis initially conducted by Chris Crocker, with LIDAR giving a 288.8m summit height and a 148.2m col height, with these values sufficient for the hill to be classified as a Submarilyn, and its new classification was accepted by the list author; Alan Dawson, in January 2017.  English Marilyn total confirmed as 175 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 45.

Swyre Head    206.6m at SY 93411 78457 

LIDAR image of Swyre Head (SY 934 784)

Having been reclassified to Marilyn status in late 1998 and listed with 150m of drop based on an increased summit height from 203m to 208m and the col height of 58m, this hill was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard and Jenny Barnard on the 17^th May 2015 using a Leica GS15, resulting in a 206.6m summit height and a 58.4m col height, with these values giving this hill 148.2m of drop, which upon acceptance by Alan Dawson as list compiler reclassified this hill back to Submarilyn status.  The details for this hill were subsequently analysed via LIDAR by Myrddyn Phillips resulting in a 206.6m summit height positioned at SY 93411 78457 and a 58.3m col height positioned at SY 85696 81843, with these values giving this hill 148.3m of drop.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 175 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 44.

Great How    333.1m at NY 31377 18720 

LIDAR image of Great How (NY 313 187)

This hill was known to be a potential Submarilyn and its status was confirmed due to a GNSS survey conducted by Alan Dawson on the 7^th March 2015 using a Leica RX1250, resulting in a 333.1m summit height and a 192.3m col height, with these values giving this hill 140.8m of drop.  English Marilyn total confirmed as 176 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 43.

Moneylaws Hill    246.3m at NT 87258 34723 

This hill was proposed as a Submarilyn in January 2013 with a Change Log request on DoBIH submitted by Chris Crocker, and its new classification was accepted by the list author; Alan Dawson, who subsequently surveyed the hill on the 15^th August 2013 using a Leica RX1250, resulting in a 246.3m summit height and a 106.3m col height, with these values giving this hill 140.0m of drop, which confirmed its status as a Submarilyn.  English Marilyn total confirmed as 176 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 42.

Lovely Seat    674.8m at SD 87904 95043 

The Leica 530 gathering data at the summit of Lovely Seat (SD 879 950)

This hill was listed in the TACit Tables booklet as a Marilyn with an estimated c 150m of drop based on the 675m summit height that appears as a spot height on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger map and an estimated col height of c 525m based on interpolation of 10m contouring between 520m – 530m.  The hill was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips on the 13^th May 2010 using a Leica 530, with Stephen Edwards and Llion Iwan also in attendance, resulting in a 674.8m summit height and a 525.7m col height, with these values giving this hill 149.1m of drop, which confirmed its status as a Submarilyn, with a retrospective Hill Reclassification post published on Mapping Mountains.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 176 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 41.

Baystones    486.9m at NY 40312 05143 

The Leica 530 gathering data at the summit of Baystones (NY 403 051)

Having been reclassified to Marilyn status in May 2001 with 150m of drop with a 488m summit height and a 338m col height based on information Alan Dawson received from Ordnance Survey, this hill was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips on the 18^th September 2009 using a Leica 530, resulting in a 486.9m summit height and a 339.2m col height, with these values giving this hill 147.7m of drop, which upon acceptance by Alan Dawson as list compiler reclassified this hill back to Submarilyn status, with a retrospective Hill Reclassification post published on Mapping Mountains.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 177 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 40.

Raw Head    227.1m at SJ 50844 54841 

The Leica 530 gathering data at the summit of Raw Head (SJ 508 548)

This hill was listed as a Marilyn in the TACit Tables booklet with 150m of drop, based on the 227m summit spot height adjoined to a triangulation pillar and the 77m col height.  The hill was subsequently surveyed with the col survey taking place on the 9^th January 2009 and conducted by John Barnard, Graham Jackson, Janet Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips and the summit survey taking place on the 16^th January 2009 and conducted by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips, using a Leica 530 and resulting in a 227.1m summit height and a 78.7m col height, with these values giving this hill 148.4m of drop, confirming its reclassification to Submarilyn status, with a retrospective Hill Reclassification post published on Mapping Mountains.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 178 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 39.

Black Mountain    703.7m at SO 25520 35383  

Black Mountain is now listed as just a Welsh Marilyn

When The Hewitts and Marilyns of England booklet was published this hill was included in both the English and the preceding Welsh Marilyn list as its summit was considered to be positioned on the border between each country.  This dual listing status was reassessed by Alan Dawson and its Welsh Marilyn listing retained and its English Marilyn listing relinquished when the Update to The Relative Hills of Britain was published in April 2006, with an accompanying note stating; Black Mountain is on the border but counted in Wales.  The hill was subsequently surveyed on the 28^th September 2017 with a repeat summit survey taking place on the 12^th July 2018 by Myrddyn Phillips using a Trimble GeoXH 6000 to determine the summit height and its position relating to the border between England and Wales, with assistance from Mark Trengove on the second survey.  Subsequent consultation with Ordnance Survey and the Boundary Commission for Wales resulted in confirmation that the border between England and Wales as given on the Ordnance Survey MasterMap is positioned 12 metres east from the grid coordinates for the summit of this hill, and even though evidence supports the border follows the watershed the summit for now is considered to be positioned in Wales.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 179 and English Submarilyn total confirmed as 38.

Arnside Knott    159.1m at SD 45612 77479 

The Leica 530 gathering data at the summit of Arnside Knott (SD 456 774)

This hill was promoted directly to Marilyn status in May 2005 and listed with 150m of drop based on the 159m summit height adjoined to a triangulation pillar that appears on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer maps and a col height of 9m, and was dependent upon assessment of Ordnance Survey data on larger scaled maps conducted by Jonathan de Ferranti.  Its promotion to Marilyn status is dependent upon a rail cutting at the col and its classification bi-passed the Submarilyns as it was never listed in this sub category.  The hill has subsequently been surveyed by John Barnard, Jim Bloomer, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips on the 11^th October 2010 using a Leica 530, resulting in a 159.1m summit height and an 8.3m col height, with these values giving this hill 150.8m of drop and confirming its Marilyn status.  The details for this hill were subsequently analysed via LIDAR by Myrddyn Phillips resulting in its col position being relocated approximately 1-1km further south and its drop value decreasing to 150.7m.  English Marilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 180 and English Submarilyn total confirmed as 38.

Baystones    486.9m at NY 40312 05143 

Gathering data with the Leica 530 during the col survey of Baystones (see above)

The classification of this hill has a convoluted history as it was originally listed as a Marilyn in the 1992 publication of The Relative Hills of Britain; it was subsequently reclassified to Submarilyn status in 1995 with 149m of drop and then re-instated as a Marilyn in May 2001 with 150m of drop with a 488m summit height and a 338m col height based on information Alan Dawson received from Ordnance Survey.  Baystones was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips using a Leica 530 which resulted in its reclassification back to Submarilyn status (see above).  English Marilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 179 and English Submarilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 38.

Nine Barrow Down    199.8m at SZ 00846 81200 

LIDAR image of Nine Barrow Down (SZ 008 812)

This hill was listed in the TACit Tables booklet as a Submarilyn with an estimated c 146m of drop based on the 199m summit height and an estimated col height of c 53m.  This hill was subsequently reclassified to Marilyn status in late 1998 and listed with an estimated c 152m of drop based on the 199m summit height and an estimated col height of c 47m, with this reclassification dependent upon the depth of the rail cutting at the col.  The hill has subsequently been surveyed by Alan Dawson on the 29^th October 2016 using a Leica RX1250, resulting in a 199.8m summit height and a 47.8m col height, with these values giving this hill 152.1m of drop and confirming its Marilyn status.  English Marilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 178 and English Submarilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 39.

Swyre Head    206.6m at SY 93411 78457 

LIDAR image of Swyre Head (SY 934 784)

This hill was listed in the TACit Tables booklet as a Submarilyn with 145m of drop based on the 203m summit height that appears as a spot height on the Ordnance Survey 1:50,000 Landranger and 1:25,000 Explorer map and the 58m col height which appears as a spot height on the Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Explorer map.  This hill was subsequently reclassified to Marilyn status in late 1998 and listed with 150m of drop based on an increased summit height from 203m to 208m and the col height of 58m.  Swyre Head was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard and Jenny Barnard using a Leica GS15 which resulted in its reclassification back to Submarilyn status (see above).  English Marilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 177 and English Submarilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 40.

Milk Hill    294.3m at SU 10427 64314 

Ordnance Survey field surveyor (no pun intended) gathering data at the summit of Milk Hill (SU 104 643)

When the TACit Tables booklet was published this hill was listed as a Marilyn with an estimated c 151m of drop based on a 295m summit height and an estimated col height of c 144m.  Its inclusion as a Marilyn was dependent upon a railway cutting and the misleading representation of contours on the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 map, the hill having been promoted to this status in April 1997 after Charles Everett visited the col on the 12^th March 1997 and conducted an on-site plumb line survey from the road surface to the rail line, with the resulting details forwarded to the list author.  The newly appointed Marilyn status of this hill was queried by David Purchase who conducted a detailed on-site visit to the area of the col and forwarded his findings to the list author in August 1997.  Its reclassification to Submarilyn status was announced in the Update to The Relative Hills of Britain sheet in April 1999.  The hill was subsequently surveyed by John Barnard, Graham Jackson and Myrddyn Phillips on the 20^th April 2009 using a Leica 530, resulting in a 294.3m summit height and a 148.0m col height, with these values giving this hill 146.3m of drop, confirming its status as a Submarilyn.  A later survey of Milk Hill and the adjacent twin map heighted summit of Tan Hill (SU 082 647) was conducted by Ordnance Survey with the three aforementioned surveyors present and filmed for the BBC’s Countryfile with the question of what is the highest hill in Wiltshire being answered.  It is Milk Hill.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 176 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 41.

Abberley Hill    283m at SO 75192 67222 

The col of Abberley Hill prior to the disused rail cutting being filled in.  Photo: Charles Everett

This hill was originally listed in the TACit Tables booklet as a Marilyn with an estimated c 157m of drop based on a 285m summit height and an estimated col height of c 128m.  Its inclusion as a Marilyn was dependent upon a disused railway cutting, the hill having been promoted to this status in April 1997 after Charles Everett visited the col on the 12^th March 1997 and conducted an on-site plumb line survey, with the details of the resulting 18m depth from the road surface to the disused rail cutting being forwarded to the list author.  Its reclassification to Submarilyn status was announced in the Update to The Relative Hills of Britain sheet in April 1999 and this was due to the railway cutting having been filled in at the critical col.  English Marilyn total decreases by one and confirmed as 177 and English Submarilyn total increases by one and confirmed as 40.

 

1997 (June) – TACit Tables publishes The Hewitts and Marilyns of England. 

English Marilyn total confirmed as 178 and English Submarilyn total confirmed as 39.