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Rifles were in use from the 16th century onwards, but were fairly uncommon until the 18th century, and only became really possible as mass-produced weapons with the creation of modern machinery in the Industrial Revolution. 'Rifle' seems to be first recorded as a verb for cutting the grooves in a gun barrel, in 1635. My suspicion is that 'rifle range' is a modern term for a phenomenon that goes back long before the rifle, or even (probably) guns. The term which is probably more likely to reflect target ranges is 'butts', and certainly it is still in use for open-air gun (and archery?) ranges. I assume that many of these older archery ranges were simply developed further as gun ranges, and that it is in the period from the Boer War to the first World War that there is a real upsurge in rifle ranges, when adults were actively encouraged to use fire-arms as a means of developing a skilled pool for purposes of warfare. It might be worth contacting the NSRA and the NRA. The Queen's Cup at Bisley began in 1860, so there must have been lots of users and ranges already in existence then. So it may be worth looking into 'butts' (or 'butt'?) to find early examples of shooting ranges. > Malcolm J Watkins, BA, AMA, MIFA > Strategic Cultural Manager > Culture, Learning and Leisure > > > Gloucester City Council T 01452 396650 > Herbert Warehouse F 01452 396622 > The Docks E [log in to unmask] > Gloucester, GL1 2EQ www.gloucester.gov.uk > > > ---------- > From: CARLISLE, Phil[SMTP:[log in to unmask]] > Reply To: CARLISLE, Phil > Sent: 19 August 2004 10:14 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: Rifle Ranges > > Sent this a couple of days ago but I think I only sent it to John > > Dear John > > I've done a quick trawl of the National Monuments Record Database and the > earliest I can find is a circular mound on Roundway Down in Wiltshire > which is marked as a Rifle Range on the 1st edition OS map which dates to > about 1810-1815 (according to my man in the know). This obviously only > proves that the range is earlier than the map. > > > > All the other records indexed as Rifle Range only give a period of POST > MEDIEVAL, with most appearing in the mid-late 19th century. > > > > Interestingly there was a rifle range on Maiden Castle but I would suggest > that a prehistoric date for a rifle range may be stretching it a bit! > > > > Another thought. Rifle ranges can't predate the use of rifles so when did > we start using rifles? My guess is sometime after the American War of > Independence. The Experimental Corps of Riflemen was formed about 1800 so > it's unlikely that we'd have a rifle range before then. > > > > Phil Carlisle > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: John Wood [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 17 August 2004 10:39 > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Rifle Ranges > > > > Does anyone know of the earliest surviving or recorded rifle range in the > UK? > > > > I am particularly interested in non-military sites, though any military > sites would be useful. > > > > Regards, > > > > John Wood of Lowland > > > > > > ========================================================================= DISCLAIMER This message is intended for the recipient only and may contain privileged information. If you are not the addressee, or you have received it in error, you may not copy, disclose, print, or deliver this message to anyone. Should this be the case, please delete this message, and inform the sender of your action by reply e-mail. Gloucester City Council does not guarantee the accuracy or reliability of information in this message, and any views expressed are not necessarily the views of Gloucester City Council. Gloucester City Council does not accept any responsibility for any disruption or loss to your data or computer systems that may occur whilst using any program or document attached to this message. You are advised not to send confidential or sensitive information by e-mail, as the security of the site cannot be guaranteed.