This is the story of a disused rifle range, from its inception in the 19^th century, through two world wars, to closure in the 1980s, dereliction and decay in the 2000s and ultimately to its rebirth as a historical asset. The rifle range is located to the west of the town of Steyning, in West Sussex, at the base of the South Downs National Park (NGR 516700,111300).

Map showing the rifle range in relation to Steyning.

This website contains much of the information gathered over ten years of research, from historic photographs, newspaper articles, archaeology and interviews with people who used the range.

The range itself can be visited on foot, being on land given over to public access by the Wiston Estate. The Steyning Downland Scheme organises the volunteer effort to maintain the land and their website can be found below:

https://steyningdownland.org

While the rifle range is free to visit, please respect the site, observe the signs regarding cattle and take any rubbish away. Metal detecting is, of course, prohibited.

All material on this website, unless otherwise stated, is copyright to J. Russell/Steyning Rifle Range.

If you wish to use any of the information, please get in touch via the contact form.