In Which I visit the Steyning Downland Scheme and the Old Rifle Range
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- Today I am in the company of Matthew Thomas and Justin Russell exploring part of the Steyning Downland Scheme, near Steyning in West Sussex. One of the fascinating piece of heritage on this site is the old rifle range set up in the mid 19th century and only closed on in the 1980s.
The Steyning Downland Scheme was launched in 2007 when the Goring family decided to set aside 67 hectares (165 acres) of the Wiston Estate in the South Downs National Park for the benefit of the community, the land and its wildlife.
Check out the website where more information can be sought: steyningdownla...
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Whilst in the Army Cadets in my teens (mid 1960's) we visited a similar range in Shoreham, Kent many times where we shot Lee Enfield 303 bolt action rifles and Bren guns, the area you were standing in is called the butts where the targets are raised and lowered and we took turns shooting and working the targets on our visits, once the targets had been shot at it was the job of the men/boys in the butts to lower the targets and paste patches of canvas over the holes in the targets, whenever the range was in use, red flags would fly as a warning that live rounds were being fired on the range that day.
I'm really glad to have found your channel a long time ago, all of your content a really interesting notably your videos where you interview people about their hobbies and where they live thanks for everything.
Welcome aboard!
The Steyning Downland Scheme, of which I am a member, is a fantastic project that works hard to protect and improve the local wildlife and countryside. Their Dawn Chorus guided walk, held a few years ago, was an amazing experience and their Butterfly Safari was equally fascinating. I look forward to learning more. Those who wish to join the scheme can easily do so via their website 💚🦊🦉🦋🐞🐝🦇🍄🦔🍀
Thanks for your hard work. I think an important legacy for Sussex will be to plant more trees. Much was removed for agriculture etc and some areas are void of them now. ❤🌳
Thanks Richard interesting video, I had to like it because I didd'nt want to get shot haha.
So interesting. Great to learn new stuff about Sussex.
That reminds me of when I was an ATC cadet and we used to go shooting at Rainham.
That is now an RSPB Nature reserve.
I would like to see more, that is a fascinating place. Great video
Cool, thanks
Been up there on a number of occasions to see the Brown Hairstreak butterfly and knew the rifle range was there but didn’t really know what it was. So a very interesting video.
That was very interesting; you’d never know it was there but that’s an important bit of WWII heritage.
Like Sid Bonkers I was in the (school) cadets in the 60s in Brighton. Think I remember an outing here, and also at Bisley. I was a definite 2nd class with a 303. I don't remember their being a 3rd class.
It wasn't a private school but we had indoor and outdoor ranges, which along with the fantastic playing field is an extension of Hove park now.
Those were the days.
Wow most beautiful and intresting the English countryside be happy.
There is/was a rifle range in Petworth Park starting near the Lower Pond 1000yds. And the Butte is heading up towards the Monument, it can be seen on the old-maps dating back to 1874. When I was a young lad we used to go up there and dig around and find the old bullets and cases.
Fascinating to see. I look forward to your return visits. I expect there are thousands of bullet heads in the area behind the range. I was also interested in the fruit orchard.
"we have 170 odd volunteers." Today, I learned a new way to use "odd".
thanks
You're welcome!
I wonder what you would find with a metal detector.
Nice that such a huge area was set aside for the welfare of the community & wildlife. Very interesting about the history of the rifle range!
Btw...got a real chuckle out of the fly coming up & landing on your head at the end!😆
Cheeky fly!
@@RichardVobes just trying to get his 1 second of fame!😆
The maximum effective range of the standard Lee Enfield rifle, for an aimed shot by a good marksman, was about 1000 yards, but a bullet could 'carry' further than that, hence the need for a wide safety margin.
As a cadet in 1957/8/9 I used to use that range.
What a wonderful and inspiring project, pity the mindless graffiti idiots have nothing to contribute. Do go back, Richard, I’d love to see more.
Hi Richard do you happen to know much about the rifle range below the Chattri Memorial just outside of Hollingbury, Brighton?
Also there is a local historian who has a theory that bullet (and possibly 20mm cannon) holes on Chattri Memorial are from Luftwaffe planes who used it as a landmark. Previously it was assumed the damage came from infantry troops training in the area in WWII.
I did a walk that pass that rifle range the other day actually. The bullets holes are a mystery to me. I do suspect the ME109s myself.
Rifle range very interested one
In parts of German society there was a connection between being a rifle club member and society. I think up to the 1930s period. Being a member made a person eligible to vote. Going back further it was a legal requirement for English citizens to practice archery which is quite well known. So it can be said that ranges have formed a significant part of Anglo Saxon history.
The rifle range is interesting. Brings back “My Dad’s Army” characters.
Interesting Thanks. "Hythe" Pattern Target Mechanisms. Hythe was the World's First Military ranges and holds many First records. The School of Musketry was established in Hythe which became the "Small Arms School" in 1919 The Ranges are still in operation at Hythe and at Lydd and seemingly very busy although the School and Barracks all closed and moved to Warminster in1969. "Hythe Trained" generally meant a Marksman of exceptional Skill. The School had a big private Museum containing examples of every type and make of Firearm imaginable. 3 of us were taken around it one Saturday Morning as a treat (just us, the place was locked and not open to the Public) "You'll like these said the guy showing us around as he showed us a huge cabinet full of "Cowboy" Pistols like Colts, and Remington Navy Model Black powder pistols. We saw hand made rifles from (I think) Afghanistan, A rifle that had had a bullet travel up it whilst being fired and the Barrel had burst. We operated an empty Naval Gatling Gun (Big calibre, lots of Brass, large mounting base for bolting it to deck). What a day, one you never forget as long as you live (hopefully). Sorry I rattled on, memories come flooding back and away I go.
Thanks for the info, Dan.
Talk about class system separation in action.
You might be interested in the memorial wall at Lancing College, which lists the hundred of former pupils killed in WW1. Every man Jack of them a commissioned officer. There is another section for tradesman employed by the college., all NCOs. Now that's a slice of Edwardian society.