East Weare Rifle Range
East Weare Rifle Range is a disused rifle range of early 20th century origin at East Weare, in the north-east region of the island. Built in the 1900s, the range saw continued use by service personnel until the early 1980s. It is also known as the Admiralty or Naval Rifle Range.
The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This protected status applies to the stop butt, marker's gallery and target housing, and the 100 yard firing position.
History
Original rifle ranges at Portland (1870-1900)
In the mid-19th century, Portland Roads was transformed into a harbour of refuge with the building of two breakwater arms, along with various fortifications and other related works. The commissioning of the harbour was prompted by concerns over the security of the English Channel, fears of a French invasion and the development of Cherbourg Harbour. With the new harbour at Portland being used extensively by the Royal Navy, a naval station was established there, which continued to increase in importance and expand into the 20th century.
With Portland being the home of the Channel Fleet, the construction of a naval rifle range was first requested by the fleet's commander, Vice Admiral Sir George Wellesley, in November 1870. Built at King's Pier Hollow in 1871, the site was levelled by convicts of Portland Prison and its construction was overseen by John Coode, the resident engineer of the breakwater works. A second range was built in the area in 1875, and by the mid-1880s, there were three rifle ranges operating adjacent to one another at East Weare/King's Pier Hollow. Depicted on an OS map of 1889, one had a range of 400 yards, another 500 yards and the third 600 yards. In 1885, the Western Morning News reported the rifle ranges were in "constant daily use by the seamen and Marines of the squadron".
However, by the 1890s, the ranges were no longer able to meet the requirements of modern weapons or the needs of the naval station as it continued to rise in importance. Furthermore, they were affected by the construction of the Easton and Church Hope Railway in the 1890s. The line extended the Weymouth and Portland Railway to Easton, and opened to goods traffic in 1900 and to passengers in 1902. As it ran through East Weare, the danger zones of the ranges needed to be modified accordingly. The Admiralty also felt that amendments were necessary for the safety of the public and local fishermen. They established a Board of Officers in 1898 to find a solution, who in their report recommended that a new range of 800 yards be constructed for the practice of the magazine rifle. Meanwhile, the existing ranges would be improved and modified as required.
Plans for and construction of a new rifle range (1900-03)
In 1900, the Admiralty announced their plans to purchase four acres of land at East Weare for the new range through the creation of a Provisional Order. An inquiry was held that July on Portland by Mr. Donald Calder Leitch, Assistant Director of Works for the Admiralty, to hear of any objections. Local authorities raised no issues, with the Portland Urban District Council believing the range was of vital importance to maintain the island's naval presence. However, other local parties were concerned of the danger to local fishermen operating in the area, its impact on the fishing industry, the loss of common land and public right-of-ways, and the general danger to the public, including those using the railway line. Of those who spoke in opposition at the inquiry were Mr. J. Merrick Head, Mr. F. J. Barnes and Mr. Henry Sansom. The Southern Sea Fisheries Board opposed the plans and quickly formed a petition against it.
The Admiralty, however, felt the range did not pose a great danger. Leitch confirmed that red flags would be hoisted during use of the range, all firing practices would be suspended to allow trains to pass, and a signalman would be posted at the range to communicate with train operators. Furthermore, "careful observations" had been taken over passing fishing vessels. The Admiralty proceeded with a Naval Works Provisional Order which, despite further petitions by fishermen and the Southern Sea Fisheries Board, was passed on 3 July 1901 by a House of Commons select committee, chaired by Sir James Kitson. It was believed the new range was of national importance, while Col. Raban, Director of Works to the Board of Admiralty, confirmed that all active ranges at Portland would have sufficient stop butts and marked danger zones to provide ample safety to fishermen and the public. It was expected that the ranges would be used by 10,000 naval personnel per year, including those of the Channel Fleet.
Messrs Jesty and Baker of Weymouth were contracted to build the new rifle range and modify the existing ones, and work quickly commenced in 1901. It was estimated that the overall work would cost around £7,000. Although £1,000 of the total expenditure was authorised to be spent in 1901 by the Lord Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, a further £662 was authorised in August to continue the progress already made. A further £270 was granted to meet additional work in November, including turfing costs and the establishment of a telephone system. In November 1902, an extra £1,196 was authorised, raising the total costs to £8,500. This allowed for additional works to be carried out, including the construction of a target storeroom and cooking galley for the new range, along with a target house for the 300 yard range at King's Pier Hollow.
By the end of 1901, much work on the new range had been achieved. An OS map surveyed in 1901 depicts aligned firing positions from 200 to 600 yards, an additional 800 yard position set at a different angle to the east, the marker's gallery and the caretaker's cottage. The stop butt, still under construction, is shown in outline only. Meanwhile, the existing ranges had been successfully modified. The 500 yard range was completely abandoned due to the railway line's obstruction of its line of fire, the 400 yard range became 300 yards and had a new stop butt constructed, and the 600 yard range became limited to revolver practice.
Use of the range and eventual closure (1903-1980s)
The new range's stop butt was soon completed, along with the construction of a 100 yard firing position. From 1903, the range was in regular use by naval personnel for rifle practice. To warn any members of the public or trains approaching the area, red flags were hoisted during firing exercises. Upon seeing a hoisted flag, all trains stopped and waited until instructed to pass through the range's danger zones. The gunner-in-charge was kept updated with train timetables and made aware of any special trains due to run. During the 1910s, the original 800 yard firing position was replaced by a new 800 yard position, which was aligned with the rest. The original position later saw brief use as a machine gunner's post. Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, arrived at Portland on board the Admiralty yacht Enchantress in November 1913 and during his visit he inspected the rifle ranges. On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the range area accommodated men of the Royal Naval Division in canvas tents while they underwent training in the area.
The new range continued to be used extensively throughout the 20th century, primarily for rifle practice, but also for other weapons including machine guns and even hand grenades. A target workshop, dining room and lecture room were constructed to the north of the warden's cottage in the 1930s, thereby reducing the range's firing positions to 500 yards. The range, along with the short range at King's Pier Hollow, was in frequent use during World War II. As part of the area's anti-invasion defences, two pillboxes were constructed in 1940, close to the stop butt, while a trench was dug to the east of the range. American soldiers were billeted in canvas tents on the land alongside the range as part of D-Day preparations in 1944. In the 1960s, the range at King's Pier Hollow ceased use and was eventually demolished in the late 20th century. Around the same period, a light automatic range was constructed overlapping the East Weare Rifle Range, close to its 300 yard position. It was later rebuilt on empty land next to the range warden's cottage in the 1980s. In addition, an indoor range was provided on the upper floor of HMS Osprey's Flying Fish Club within the Upper Osprey complex.
The East Weare Rifle Range closed in the early 1980s, following a government review of the safety of all active ranges in the UK. The range's danger zone extended over land and sea, and there was particular concern over the public footpaths surrounding it. After its closure, the range was used for shotgun and clay pigeon shooting for a limited time, as well as firework displays on bonfire night. The only outdoor range at Portland to remain active into the 1990s was the nearby light automatic range. The indoor range at Upper Osprey was relocated into a purpose-built building in 1984.
Portland Port Ltd became the new owners of the East Weare Rifle Range in 1996, following the closure of HM Naval Base Portland. As part of the port's development work, some of the firing points from 300 yards onwards were soon destroyed. The caretaker's cottage and light automatic range were demolished in 2014, along with the buildings to the north, including the former target workshop. Meanwhile, in 2007, ten British Primitive goats were released within the range area in an attempt to control the growing scrub. These goats are still kept in the area to date and are sometimes seen sitting on the stop butt.
Design
The range has a south-east to north-west axis. From the stop butt and marker's gallery to the south-east, firing positions were spaced out at 100 yard intervals, from 100 to 600 yards, to the north-west. An 800 yard position was also constructed, but at a different angle to the others. This position was later replaced in the 1910s with an aligned one. The large stop butt of Portland stone and earth was designed to protect the surrounding area of stray bullets and prevent ricochets. The east and south sides are faced with stone and feature buttresses. The western end is extended into the hillside at an angle. The butt is approximately 64 metres in length, 34 metres in width and 20 metres in height. On the northern side, facing the firing positions, is the back stop, which was the receiving end for shots.
The marker's gallery is contained within a structure made of earthwork and stone, approximately 30 metres from the stop butt. It retains the Hythe pattern target frame and mechanisms that raised and lowered the targets. The north side of the earthwork is turfed, while the east side features stone facing similar to that of the stop butt. The west and south sides also have traces of stonework, but have since been obscured by infilling and vegetation. Within the gallery, a brick wall is set into the earthwork to the north, and attached are seven surviving wooden seats, which were installed for the personnel tasked with handling the target mechanisms. Two wooden huts were once located within the gallery, at the centre and the east end, though only the west wall of the centre one survives, complete with a rack for ten rifles and a nearby telephone shelf. The gallery's original roof was supported by thirteen cast-iron posts made by W.H. Baker of Jesty and Baker, though some were later replaced with steel ones. The surviving, non-original roof is made of corrugated iron with a concrete top. Adjacent to the gallery's concrete floor is a concrete ditch containing seven surviving target frames running along the length of the gallery. The frames and mechanisms for moving the targets are made of tubular steel. The gallery's south side has a screen made up of wooden planks, while the west end has traces of a former target store.
The 100 yard firing position measures approximately 39 metres in length, 23 metres in width and 4 metres in height. It has an earth core with sloping stonework on all four sides. Access was provided by concrete steps to the west. The position was later extended east, possibly in the mid-20th century. Although intact, the east end has seen some collapse in its stonework. The 200 to 600 yard firing positions were smaller and more ramp-like in nature than the 100 yard one. The 200 yard position, which is the only other position to survive today, is approximately 28 metres in length. It has a gravel top and was built using a mixture of mortared limestone, concrete and breeze blocks.
In connection with the range, two sentry posts of mid-20th century origin survive, one being located a short distance south-east of the stop butt and the other further south below Grove Point. Both are identical in design and were built with concrete. They remain intact but have suffered from graffiti and vandalism in recent years. The primary role for these posts was to prevent trains and walkers from entering the danger area during exercises, as well as keeping watch over vessels passing along the coast nearby. After Portland's railway line closed in 1965, the line passing through East Weare began being used as a footpath, so the posts became mainly concerned with walkers. Both had telephone communications to contact the range and some telegraph poles still survive.
Scheduled monument status
The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, based on the stop butt, marker's gallery and 100 yard firing position. It was designated for four primary reasons: its survival as a good and "substantially intact" range of its period, the increasing rarity of a military training feature of its kind, its potential in helping understand military training provisions of the time, as well as its group value with other military sites on Portland, at a time when the island was an important strategic location.
Historic England described the surviving features as "impressive feats of engineering, particularly the stop butt, which is monumental in scale, with a solid and imposing form. The use of good quality materials demonstrates that there was a significant investment in its creation." The stop butt was recorded as comparing well with the designated examples at Staddon Heights in Plymouth and Burton Meadows in East Staffordshire.
In 2022, the range was added to Historic England's "Heritage at Risk" register. The organisation has recorded "extensive significant problems" at the site and notes that the condition continues to decline, with scrub and tree growth as the main issue.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Exploring Portland - East Weares Rifle Range and Portland Waterworks - Geoff Kirby - website page
2) Free Portland News - Home, home on the Range - Jeff Obermaier - 2004 issue
3) Google Books - The Branch Lines of Dorset - Colin G. Maggs - Amberley Publishing - 2012 - ISBN: 978-1848683525 - book
4) Google Books - various contemporary reports and sessional papers - website page
5) Hansard - Coastal Defence Establishments - 12 March 1982 - website page
6) Heritage Gateway - East Weare Rifle Range - 1423228 - website page
7) Historic England - East Weare Rifle Range - Notification of Designation Decision - October 2015 - document
8) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - East Weare rifle range - website page
9) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1889, 1903 and 1975
10) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420394 - website page
11) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420395 - website page
12) Portland Harbour and its Defences Report - anonymous author - undated - page 21
13) Thanks to various members of the Facebook group RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) who provided some useful details
14) The British Newspaper Archive - various contemporary newspaper articles - website page
The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. This protected status applies to the stop butt, marker's gallery and target housing, and the 100 yard firing position.
History
Original rifle ranges at Portland (1870-1900)
In the mid-19th century, Portland Roads was transformed into a harbour of refuge with the building of two breakwater arms, along with various fortifications and other related works. The commissioning of the harbour was prompted by concerns over the security of the English Channel, fears of a French invasion and the development of Cherbourg Harbour. With the new harbour at Portland being used extensively by the Royal Navy, a naval station was established there, which continued to increase in importance and expand into the 20th century.
With Portland being the home of the Channel Fleet, the construction of a naval rifle range was first requested by the fleet's commander, Vice Admiral Sir George Wellesley, in November 1870. Built at King's Pier Hollow in 1871, the site was levelled by convicts of Portland Prison and its construction was overseen by John Coode, the resident engineer of the breakwater works. A second range was built in the area in 1875, and by the mid-1880s, there were three rifle ranges operating adjacent to one another at East Weare/King's Pier Hollow. Depicted on an OS map of 1889, one had a range of 400 yards, another 500 yards and the third 600 yards. In 1885, the Western Morning News reported the rifle ranges were in "constant daily use by the seamen and Marines of the squadron".
However, by the 1890s, the ranges were no longer able to meet the requirements of modern weapons or the needs of the naval station as it continued to rise in importance. Furthermore, they were affected by the construction of the Easton and Church Hope Railway in the 1890s. The line extended the Weymouth and Portland Railway to Easton, and opened to goods traffic in 1900 and to passengers in 1902. As it ran through East Weare, the danger zones of the ranges needed to be modified accordingly. The Admiralty also felt that amendments were necessary for the safety of the public and local fishermen. They established a Board of Officers in 1898 to find a solution, who in their report recommended that a new range of 800 yards be constructed for the practice of the magazine rifle. Meanwhile, the existing ranges would be improved and modified as required.
Plans for and construction of a new rifle range (1900-03)
In 1900, the Admiralty announced their plans to purchase four acres of land at East Weare for the new range through the creation of a Provisional Order. An inquiry was held that July on Portland by Mr. Donald Calder Leitch, Assistant Director of Works for the Admiralty, to hear of any objections. Local authorities raised no issues, with the Portland Urban District Council believing the range was of vital importance to maintain the island's naval presence. However, other local parties were concerned of the danger to local fishermen operating in the area, its impact on the fishing industry, the loss of common land and public right-of-ways, and the general danger to the public, including those using the railway line. Of those who spoke in opposition at the inquiry were Mr. J. Merrick Head, Mr. F. J. Barnes and Mr. Henry Sansom. The Southern Sea Fisheries Board opposed the plans and quickly formed a petition against it.
The Admiralty, however, felt the range did not pose a great danger. Leitch confirmed that red flags would be hoisted during use of the range, all firing practices would be suspended to allow trains to pass, and a signalman would be posted at the range to communicate with train operators. Furthermore, "careful observations" had been taken over passing fishing vessels. The Admiralty proceeded with a Naval Works Provisional Order which, despite further petitions by fishermen and the Southern Sea Fisheries Board, was passed on 3 July 1901 by a House of Commons select committee, chaired by Sir James Kitson. It was believed the new range was of national importance, while Col. Raban, Director of Works to the Board of Admiralty, confirmed that all active ranges at Portland would have sufficient stop butts and marked danger zones to provide ample safety to fishermen and the public. It was expected that the ranges would be used by 10,000 naval personnel per year, including those of the Channel Fleet.
Messrs Jesty and Baker of Weymouth were contracted to build the new rifle range and modify the existing ones, and work quickly commenced in 1901. It was estimated that the overall work would cost around £7,000. Although £1,000 of the total expenditure was authorised to be spent in 1901 by the Lord Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, a further £662 was authorised in August to continue the progress already made. A further £270 was granted to meet additional work in November, including turfing costs and the establishment of a telephone system. In November 1902, an extra £1,196 was authorised, raising the total costs to £8,500. This allowed for additional works to be carried out, including the construction of a target storeroom and cooking galley for the new range, along with a target house for the 300 yard range at King's Pier Hollow.
By the end of 1901, much work on the new range had been achieved. An OS map surveyed in 1901 depicts aligned firing positions from 200 to 600 yards, an additional 800 yard position set at a different angle to the east, the marker's gallery and the caretaker's cottage. The stop butt, still under construction, is shown in outline only. Meanwhile, the existing ranges had been successfully modified. The 500 yard range was completely abandoned due to the railway line's obstruction of its line of fire, the 400 yard range became 300 yards and had a new stop butt constructed, and the 600 yard range became limited to revolver practice.
Use of the range and eventual closure (1903-1980s)
The new range's stop butt was soon completed, along with the construction of a 100 yard firing position. From 1903, the range was in regular use by naval personnel for rifle practice. To warn any members of the public or trains approaching the area, red flags were hoisted during firing exercises. Upon seeing a hoisted flag, all trains stopped and waited until instructed to pass through the range's danger zones. The gunner-in-charge was kept updated with train timetables and made aware of any special trains due to run. During the 1910s, the original 800 yard firing position was replaced by a new 800 yard position, which was aligned with the rest. The original position later saw brief use as a machine gunner's post. Winston Churchill, the First Lord of the Admiralty, arrived at Portland on board the Admiralty yacht Enchantress in November 1913 and during his visit he inspected the rifle ranges. On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the range area accommodated men of the Royal Naval Division in canvas tents while they underwent training in the area.
The new range continued to be used extensively throughout the 20th century, primarily for rifle practice, but also for other weapons including machine guns and even hand grenades. A target workshop, dining room and lecture room were constructed to the north of the warden's cottage in the 1930s, thereby reducing the range's firing positions to 500 yards. The range, along with the short range at King's Pier Hollow, was in frequent use during World War II. As part of the area's anti-invasion defences, two pillboxes were constructed in 1940, close to the stop butt, while a trench was dug to the east of the range. American soldiers were billeted in canvas tents on the land alongside the range as part of D-Day preparations in 1944. In the 1960s, the range at King's Pier Hollow ceased use and was eventually demolished in the late 20th century. Around the same period, a light automatic range was constructed overlapping the East Weare Rifle Range, close to its 300 yard position. It was later rebuilt on empty land next to the range warden's cottage in the 1980s. In addition, an indoor range was provided on the upper floor of HMS Osprey's Flying Fish Club within the Upper Osprey complex.
The East Weare Rifle Range closed in the early 1980s, following a government review of the safety of all active ranges in the UK. The range's danger zone extended over land and sea, and there was particular concern over the public footpaths surrounding it. After its closure, the range was used for shotgun and clay pigeon shooting for a limited time, as well as firework displays on bonfire night. The only outdoor range at Portland to remain active into the 1990s was the nearby light automatic range. The indoor range at Upper Osprey was relocated into a purpose-built building in 1984.
Portland Port Ltd became the new owners of the East Weare Rifle Range in 1996, following the closure of HM Naval Base Portland. As part of the port's development work, some of the firing points from 300 yards onwards were soon destroyed. The caretaker's cottage and light automatic range were demolished in 2014, along with the buildings to the north, including the former target workshop. Meanwhile, in 2007, ten British Primitive goats were released within the range area in an attempt to control the growing scrub. These goats are still kept in the area to date and are sometimes seen sitting on the stop butt.
Design
The range has a south-east to north-west axis. From the stop butt and marker's gallery to the south-east, firing positions were spaced out at 100 yard intervals, from 100 to 600 yards, to the north-west. An 800 yard position was also constructed, but at a different angle to the others. This position was later replaced in the 1910s with an aligned one. The large stop butt of Portland stone and earth was designed to protect the surrounding area of stray bullets and prevent ricochets. The east and south sides are faced with stone and feature buttresses. The western end is extended into the hillside at an angle. The butt is approximately 64 metres in length, 34 metres in width and 20 metres in height. On the northern side, facing the firing positions, is the back stop, which was the receiving end for shots.
The marker's gallery is contained within a structure made of earthwork and stone, approximately 30 metres from the stop butt. It retains the Hythe pattern target frame and mechanisms that raised and lowered the targets. The north side of the earthwork is turfed, while the east side features stone facing similar to that of the stop butt. The west and south sides also have traces of stonework, but have since been obscured by infilling and vegetation. Within the gallery, a brick wall is set into the earthwork to the north, and attached are seven surviving wooden seats, which were installed for the personnel tasked with handling the target mechanisms. Two wooden huts were once located within the gallery, at the centre and the east end, though only the west wall of the centre one survives, complete with a rack for ten rifles and a nearby telephone shelf. The gallery's original roof was supported by thirteen cast-iron posts made by W.H. Baker of Jesty and Baker, though some were later replaced with steel ones. The surviving, non-original roof is made of corrugated iron with a concrete top. Adjacent to the gallery's concrete floor is a concrete ditch containing seven surviving target frames running along the length of the gallery. The frames and mechanisms for moving the targets are made of tubular steel. The gallery's south side has a screen made up of wooden planks, while the west end has traces of a former target store.
The 100 yard firing position measures approximately 39 metres in length, 23 metres in width and 4 metres in height. It has an earth core with sloping stonework on all four sides. Access was provided by concrete steps to the west. The position was later extended east, possibly in the mid-20th century. Although intact, the east end has seen some collapse in its stonework. The 200 to 600 yard firing positions were smaller and more ramp-like in nature than the 100 yard one. The 200 yard position, which is the only other position to survive today, is approximately 28 metres in length. It has a gravel top and was built using a mixture of mortared limestone, concrete and breeze blocks.
In connection with the range, two sentry posts of mid-20th century origin survive, one being located a short distance south-east of the stop butt and the other further south below Grove Point. Both are identical in design and were built with concrete. They remain intact but have suffered from graffiti and vandalism in recent years. The primary role for these posts was to prevent trains and walkers from entering the danger area during exercises, as well as keeping watch over vessels passing along the coast nearby. After Portland's railway line closed in 1965, the line passing through East Weare began being used as a footpath, so the posts became mainly concerned with walkers. Both had telephone communications to contact the range and some telegraph poles still survive.
Scheduled monument status
The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, based on the stop butt, marker's gallery and 100 yard firing position. It was designated for four primary reasons: its survival as a good and "substantially intact" range of its period, the increasing rarity of a military training feature of its kind, its potential in helping understand military training provisions of the time, as well as its group value with other military sites on Portland, at a time when the island was an important strategic location.
Historic England described the surviving features as "impressive feats of engineering, particularly the stop butt, which is monumental in scale, with a solid and imposing form. The use of good quality materials demonstrates that there was a significant investment in its creation." The stop butt was recorded as comparing well with the designated examples at Staddon Heights in Plymouth and Burton Meadows in East Staffordshire.
In 2022, the range was added to Historic England's "Heritage at Risk" register. The organisation has recorded "extensive significant problems" at the site and notes that the condition continues to decline, with scrub and tree growth as the main issue.
References
The following is an A-Z list of references for this page.
1) Exploring Portland - East Weares Rifle Range and Portland Waterworks - Geoff Kirby - website page
2) Free Portland News - Home, home on the Range - Jeff Obermaier - 2004 issue
3) Google Books - The Branch Lines of Dorset - Colin G. Maggs - Amberley Publishing - 2012 - ISBN: 978-1848683525 - book
4) Google Books - various contemporary reports and sessional papers - website page
5) Hansard - Coastal Defence Establishments - 12 March 1982 - website page
6) Heritage Gateway - East Weare Rifle Range - 1423228 - website page
7) Historic England - East Weare Rifle Range - Notification of Designation Decision - October 2015 - document
8) Historic England - The National Heritage List for England - East Weare rifle range - website page
9) Ordnance Survey - various maps, including 1889, 1903 and 1975
10) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420394 - website page
11) Pastscape - Monument No. 1420395 - website page
12) Portland Harbour and its Defences Report - anonymous author - undated - page 21
13) Thanks to various members of the Facebook group RNAS Portland (HMS Osprey) who provided some useful details
14) The British Newspaper Archive - various contemporary newspaper articles - website page
Gallery
These images can be enlarged by clicking on them. Some images have information attached to them, and to view this you can either enlarge the image or hover the mouse over each thumbnail.
Excellent photographs of the range can seen at Andrew Blackmore's photography website by clicking here.
Excellent photographs of the range can seen at Andrew Blackmore's photography website by clicking here.
1907 plan of range
A plan of East Weare Rifle Range, based on an Admiralty map of 1907 (National Archives: Ref: ADM 140/1484/34). The plan focuses on the main features of the range and does not include the 800 yard position further north or associated buildings within the wider vicinity such as magazines, lookout posts, a mess shed and latrines. The plan can be enlarged by clicking on it.
