Cley Hill

Cley Hill (grid reference ST838449) is a prominent hill to the west of Warminster in Wiltshire, England. Its summit has a commanding view of the Wiltshire / Somerset county boundary, at 244 metres (801 ft) elevation. The land is in Corsley parish and is owned by the National Trust. A 26.6-hectare (66-acre) area of chalk grassland at Cley Hill was notified as a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1975. The land is managed by the National Trust, having been donated to the charity in 1954 by the 6th Marquess of Bath. Archaeological features include a large univallate Iron Age hill fort, two bowl barrows and medieval strip lynchets. In 1812, local antiquarian Sir Richard Hoare attempted to excavate the mound at the top of the hill – leaving a hole which is still visible – but found that it had been looted by grave robbers. The south west side of the hill was quarried significantly in the 19th century.