The following information is a photographic tour of the features that remain on the site. None of the earliest Victorian elements survive, only those constructed in the the 1910s and 1930s with additions from the 1950s and 1980s.

Flagstaffs

There are five of these surviving, the easiest to spot being the ones in the immediate vicinity of the range: one on the track from Mouse Lane and the two on either side of the valley, at the top of the ridge slope. These were used for displaying red flags, during times of shooting. Two others remain, but are not shown on this map.

The first photograph shows the flagstaff on the track from Mouse Lane, while the second photograph shows the flagstaff to the north of the 100 yard firing point.

600, 700 and 800 yard firing points

Nothing remains of these, unfortunately, the field having been returned to agriculture many years ago.

The first of these two photographs shows the site of the 800 yard firing point, looking west towards the targets. The second photograph shows the same field boundary looking south east. The 500 yard firing point is just visible on the far right.

500 yard firing point and turning circle

The 500 yard firing point still exists, if you know where to look (on the western side of the community orchard), but is quite overgrown. It was built in the early 20^th century and repaired significantly in the 1980s, with the addition of a wall made of telegraph poles lain horizontally. The platform was necessary for shooters to be able to see the targets, when firing prone, as between here and the 300 yard firing point the ground rises (and subsequently falls again) just enough to obscure the targets at ground level. The turning circle forms the end of the former metalled track, from Mouse Lane, installed in the 1940s, and is visible is some places to the south of the community orchard.

The 500 yard firing point, built as a raised platform, (taken in 2017).

400 yard firing point

400 yards, looking west to the targets

There is no sign of a firing point bank in this area and map evidence suggests that there may never have been anything other than a distance marker.

300 yard firing point

The bank of the 300 yard firing point is formed on a slope of the valley side and as a result it has been created as two stepped and level platforms.

The fist photograph shows the stepped nature of the 300 yard firing point bank (looking east) while the second shows the view looking west, towards the targets (the information board has recently been removed). From this position the rifle range layout becomes a lot clearer.

100 and 200 yard firing points

These survive as long and thin earthworks, covering most of the valley floor. They were built in the late 1930s when the range was expanded to 8 targets. In the 1980s they were lengthened, to accomodate a greater number of people.

Both the 200 and 100 yard firing points (linear banks) are visible in this photo, on the valley bottom.

Markers’ gallery

The first photo shows the protected entrance, the wall angled to prevent bullets entering the workshop area. The second photo shows the markers’ gallery (the flag and targets are from an open day).

A protected entrance provides access to the markers’ gallery, which survives virtually as it was in the Second World War. Eight Hythe pattern target frames are placed along the gallery, each with two carriages, for supporting wooden targets. A cable connected the front and rear carriage, passing over the wheel on the axel at the top of the frame. This enabled one target to be lowered, while the other rises, balanced so that it can be operated with ease.

One of the eight Hythe pattern target frames, showing the front and rear carriages. These would have been connected to each other by a cable, running over the pulley wheel, so that they move in together in opposite directions.

Target store

The target store was the secure lock-up far all wooden target frames and paper targets. The original steel door disappeared a few years ago.

Workshop platform

This platform housed the workshop, where all wooden target frames could be repaired and canvas or paper coverings reapplied. The workshop was constructed of timber and corrugated tin and although it was left intact on closure of the range, it deteriorated in the 30 years of abandonment.

BACKSTOP

Behind the targets and markers’ gallery is the backstop, where the fired bullets end their journey, having passed through the targets. There are unusual banks and furrows here, each furrow lining up nicely with a target. It has been said that the furrows were excavated by repeated bullet strikes, the banks formed from earth thrown up by the impact. While this is a good story, it does not explain the cross furrows running north to south, which truncate the banks and lie deeper than the furrows. The original Rifle Volunteers target and mantlet was in this area, but all evidence of these were removed by later remodelling of the ground.

These two photographs show the east to west banks and furrows in the backstop, aligned with the targets. Where the banks are seen to end is the location of the cross furrow, running north to south.