STEYNING MUSEUM collection

The earliest images we have of the rifle range come from the Steyning Museum and we are very grateful to them for allowing us to post them here.

Imperial Sussex Yeomanry at the 200 yard firing point, in the early 1900s. The quality of the image is unfortunately very poor, the original photograph has not been located.

Imperial Sussex Yeomanry at the 500 yard firing point, early 1900s. The distinctive raised platform is clearly evident here. Some of the caps worn in this image are peakless Broderick Hats – these were issued only between 1902-1907, before
being replaced by the Service Dress Cap of the Territorial Force. The quality of the image is unfortunately very poor, the original photograph has not been located.

Rifle Volunteers at the 600 yard firing point, early 1900s. The poor quality of the image is unfortunate, original image has not been located.

Another view of the 600 yard firing point, with Rifle Volunteers firing prone using Lee Metford or Lee Enfield rifles, early 1900s. Note they are not using the firing bank.

A small shooting party at the 600 yard firing point, early 1900s. One man is possibly in uniform.

This image is noted on the rear as being taken on the Steyning rifle range and appears to be in the region of the 800 yard firing point, early 1900s. As none of the men are in unform, it would seem they are the local rifle club, many of whom could also serve in the Volunteer or Territorial Force.

Another view taken on the same day as the image above.

The men of the previous two images, posing for a group photograph, somewhere in the region of the 800 yard firing point.

Charles Ambrose Woolgar (private 1892, corporal in 1898, sergeant in 1906), with his numerous trophies for shooting. Resident of Steyning and member of the Volunteer Force, he is visible in some of the photographs above.

postcards

Looking across one of the mill ponds to the 800 yard firing point, just beyond the gate visible between the trees. The structure is possibly range related (located east of the furthest firing point) and there are two danger signs visible to the right of it. Circa First World War.

The 800 yard firing point is near the gate on the right. The target area is visible with two white marks, indicating bullet strike areas in the backstop. Circa First World War. With thanks to Paul Day for this image.

‘The Rifle Butts, Steyning’. Looking west towards the targets, from the 800 yard firing point, the 700 and 600 yard firing points visible above the sheep. Early 1900s.

STEVE HANDERER collection

Steve has generously supplied these images from his own collection and we are very grateful to him for allowing them to be shown here.

This image shows the Steyning Home Guard at the 300 yard firing point (noted the stepped lower firing platform). Steve’s grandfather is front right.

The 300 yard firing point, showing the upper platform in the 1980s. Just visible in the far left bottom is the edge of a fire trench.

300 yard firing point, looking west towards the targets, early 1980s.

300 yard firing point looking towards the targets showing the relaxed nature of the event. The stepped firing point is just visible. 1980s

300 yards, prone firing, 1980s.

The track from Mouse Lane, known locally as Nightingale Lane, showing the site of the former structure just east of 800 yards and a danger sign, 1980s.

500 yard firing point, freshly reconstructed using telegraph poles, 1980s.

Steve shooting with a Luger into the backstop, 1980s.

Revolver shooting, at 25 yards, 1980s.

The markers’ gallery, target store and workshop, after being tidied up in the 1980s. One of the few photographs showing the workshop extant. Note the bench in the markers’ gallery wall.

The markers’ gallery looking back towards the firing points, 1980s.

guy and leonard a-r-west collection

Guy and Leonard, prominent shooters at Steyning back in the 1970s and 1980s kindly provided the following images.

This photographs show Guy and Leonard’s father, R. West, sitting (with his legs crossed) between Steyning’s famous residents, Doris and Elsie Waters, after a training shoot in the Second World War, at the rifle range. The location of the brick and flint building and the wooden structure has yet to be identified.

This is Guy shooting with a Russian Mosin-Nagant 91/30 sniper rifle.

This picture is a bit blurry, but shows Leonard firing a .44 cap and ball revolver, disappearing behind a cloud of smoke. The workshop building is just in the background, covered in corrugated tin sheets.

Guy and Phillip A-R-West about to shoot a P.53.

Guy A-R-West shooting a Dreyse M.57 Karabiner needle-ignition.

Group examining Leo’s Dreyse M.60 needle-ignition fusilier rifle.

Guy A-R-West, Steve Vincent and partner, and Frank Windsor.

Anna A-R-West shooting a revolver.

Guy A-R-West shooting a 9 mm Lang P08 Artillery Luger.

Guy A-R-West shooting a 9 mm P08.

Documents

This flyer for the annual 18th Sussex shooting competition, on 23rd and 24th October 1874, marks the return to major shooting events at Steyning, after the rise of the Knepp range as the favoured shooting location for the 18th. The first and probably second annual events were held at Steyning, but Knepp range, being within the grounds of Percy Burrell’s home, dominated the events between 1863 and 1873. A final shooting match was held at Knepp in 1877 and for that, see below.

The results of the competition can be found in the following article, from the Southern Weekly News, September 15th 1877.

15^th September 1877

 Southern Weekly News

 18^th SUSSEX RIFLES’ PRIZE MEETING

The annual prize competition of the 18^th Sussex Rifles took place at their excellent range at Knepp, West Grinstead, last week. The weather was exceptionally fine, but there was a varying wind, which accounted for the bad shooting. Sir W. W. Burrell M.P., and Captain Raymond Burrell were present, while a considerable number of ladies graced the scene by their presence. The Beeding band attended, and played some favourite tunes. Captain Woodward very kindly provided dinner on the ground, to which about 40 sat down. All the competitions were not concluded and the seventh was not begun. Results; –

First Competition. -For recruits only. 150 and 200 yards; 5 shots at each range. 1^st prize, £1 10s, given by Lieutenant Huddart; 2^nd prize, 10s; 3^rd prize, 7s – 1^st, Private Willaim Woolgar, 58 points; 2^nd, Private Witten, 44 points; 3^rd, Private Jenkins, 43 points.

Second Competition, Prizes given by Sir Walter W. Burrell, Bart, M.P. 7 shots at 500 yards. Any position. 1^st prize, £2.; 2^nd, £1 10s; 3^rd, 15s; 4^th, 10s; 5^th, 5s.-1^st Private Chalcraft, 33 points; 2^nd, Corporal Woolgar, 30; 3^rd, Private Blann, 30; 4^th, Captain Woodard, 27; 5^th, Private G. Brockhurst, 25. –

Third Competition, -Given by Captain C. Raymond Burrell, 200, 500 and 600 yards; 5 shots at each range; any position.-1^st prize, £2; 2^nd prize, £1; 3^rd prize, 15s; 4^th prize, 10s; 5^th prize, 7s. 6d; 6^th prize, 5s; 7^th prize, 2s. 6d.-1^st Chalcraft, 53; 2^nd, Bugl. Chowne, 48; 3^rd, Corporal Woolgar, 47; 4^th, Corporal Roberts, 47; 5^th, Sergeant Penfold, 41; 6^th, Captain Woodard, 40; 7^th, Private A.A.S.Lewis, 39. –

Fourth Competition. – Silver Challenge Cup, presented by Captain Woodard. 5 shots at 200 and 500 yards. Class firing position, to become the property of the competitor who shall win it two years in succession. Prizes of #31, 10s and 5s, added for the highest individual scores. 1^st the cup, Corporal Woolgar, 41; 2^nd, Private W. Woolgar, 39; 3^rd, Private J. Chalcraft, 38. – Fifth Competition. – Prize given by Mr William Borrer, Cowfold. Seven shots at 600 yards; any position. Bulls’-eyes, 2s. 6d. each; centres, 1s. 6d. each; outers, 1s.

Sixth Competition. – Silver Challenge Cup, presented by the Tradesmen of the District. This Cup must be won two years in succession to become the property of the winner. Prizes of £1, 10s., and 5s added for the highest individual scores. 200, 500 and 600 yards. 5 shots at each range. Any position. 1^st and Cup, Corporal J. Woolgar, 52; 2^nd, Private A.A.S.Lewis, 50; 3^rd, R. Chowne, 49. –

Eighth Competition. – Silver Challenge Cup, of the value of 15 guineas, presented by the ladies of the district. Seven shots at 500, and 600 yards. The cup becomes the property of the competitor who shall win it three times or twice in succession. Prizes of £2, £1 and 10s were added for the highest individual scores. Any position. 1^st (the cup), Corporal J. Woolgar, 40 points; 2^nd, Captain Woodard, 36; 3^rd, A.A.S.Lewis, 25. –

Ninth Competition. – Given by Capt. W. Woodard. A teapot for the highest score made in three minutes. Competitors to run around a post 20 yards distant from the firing point after each shot. Range 400 yards. Open to all comers. Corp. Woolgar, 27 points.

TONY BROWN collection

Tony has very kindly presented these two documents for the website. The first is a Certificate of Proficiency for Tony’s father, A. J. W. Brown, listing the training he received while in the 15th Sussex Home Guard. Although it does not state the location of where the training was carried out, the second and fourth subject categories (rifle and Sten) could well have been at Steyning. This is the sort of certificate that every Home Guard member would have owned.

The second document, is a letter confirming that Tony’s father won a prize at the Steyning Rifle Prize Meeting (possibly part of the Stern Cup, held at Steyning on 23^rd August 1944). The prize was to be presented at the Astoria Cinema, Brighton in September 1944, after which, the letter states, ‘A film will be shown’.