Information for record number MWA9259:
Rifle Range near Chesterton Wood

Summary The site of a firing range which was in use during the Imperial period and is marked on the Ordnance Survey map of 1886. It was located 600m west of Chesterton Green.
What Is It?  
Type: Firing Range
Period: Modern (1870 AD - 1950 AD)
Where Is It?  
Parish: Chesterton and Kingston
District: Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire
Grid Reference: SP 34 58
(Data represented on this map shows the current selected record as a single point, this is for illustrative purposes only and does not represent an accurate or complete representation of archaeological sites or features)
Level of Protection National - Old SMR PrefRef (Grade: )
Sites & Monuments Record
Description

  
Source Number  

1 A rifle range is marked on the 1886 6" Ordnance Survey map.
2Part of the firing range is visible as structures on aerial photographs and has been mapped as part of the SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds HLS NMP project. The three firing postions are orientated northwards from the butts (or targets) located at SP 3422 5838 and extend about 270 meters from the targets. An associated firing range building, located at SP3419 5872, is also visble behind the firing positions. The firing range was subsequently removed and levelled by the time aerial photographs were taken in 1970.
3 The range was considerably longer on the 1st Ed OS Map of 1886 (700 yards as compared to the NMP mapped 300 yards) and was presumably shortened at some point after this, possibly due to the dangers of shooting across Windmill Hill Lane, the section mapped on the NMP all being to the south of this, shooting southwards towards the target butts on Barn Hill. On top of Barn Hill a flagstaff marked on the same map is likely to be the range flag (if a red flag flew, firing was taking place). The 1905 OS map suggests the range had fallen out of use as the target butts are shown but no range markers are. In 1925 the target butts are marked as 'Old Rifle Butts.' Presumably part of the range was brought back into use during World War II. The same is marked on the 1925 and 1955 maps.
41887 OS map
51905 OS map
61925 OS Map
71955 OS Map
 
Sources
Source No: 2
Source Type: Desk Top Study
Title: SE Warwickshire and Cotswolds NMP Project
Author/originator: Amanda Dickson
Date: 2010-2012
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 1
Source Type: Map
Title: 32SE 1:10560 1886 2nd edition
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1886
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 4
Source Type: Map
Title: 1st edition 1:2500
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1882-1889
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 5
Source Type: Map
Title: 2nd edition 1:2500
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1900-1905
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 6
Source Type: Map
Title: 3rd edition 1:2500
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1913-1927
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 7
Source Type: Map
Title: 1955 Mapping
Author/originator: Ordnance Survey
Date: 1955
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Source No: 3
Source Type: Verbal communication
Title: Pers. Comm.
Author/originator: B Gethin
Date: 2013 onwards
Page Number:
Volume/Sheet:
   
Images:  
There are no images associated with this record.  
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Glossary

 
Word or Phrase
Description  
technique Aerial Photograph Aerial photographs are taken during an aerial survey, which involves looking at the ground from above. It is usually easier to see cropmarks and earthworks when they are viewed from above. Aerial photographs help archaeologists to record what they see and to identify new sites. There are two kinds of aerial photographs; oblique and vertical. back
period Modern The Modern Period, about 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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period Imperial 1751 AD to 1914 AD (end of the 18th century AD to the beginning of the 20th century AD)

This period comes after the Post Medieval period and before the modern period and starts with beginning of the Industrial Revolution in 1750. It includes the second part of the Hannoverian period (1714 – 1836) and the Victorian period (1837 – 1901). The Imperial period ends with the start of the First World War in 1914.
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period modern About 1915 AD to the present (the 20th and 21st centuries AD)

In recent years archaeologists have realised the importance of recording modern sites. They do this so that in the future people will be able to look at the remains to help them understand the events to which they are related.
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monument YARD * A paved area, generally found at the back of a house. back
monument RIFLE BUTTS * A target range used for rifle and small arms practice and recreational purposes. back
monument SITE * Unclassifiable site with minimal information. Specify site type wherever possible. back
monument WINDMILL * A tower-like structure of wood or brick with a wooden cap and sails which are driven around by the wind producing power to work the internal machinery. Use with product type where known. back
monument BUILDING * A structure with a roof to provide shelter from the weather for occupants or contents. Use specific type where known. back
monument BUTTS * A mound or structure on which an archery, musketry or artillery target is erected. Use specific type where known. back
monument STRUCTURE * A construction of unknown function, either extant or implied by archaeological evidence. If known, use more specific type. back
monument BARN * A building for the storage and processing of grain crops and for housing straw, farm equipment and occasionally livestock and their fodder. Use more specific type where known. back
monument TARGET * Any structure or object, used for the purpose of practice shooting by aerial, seaborne or land mounted weapons. back
monument FIRING RANGE * A piece of ground over which small arms or large artillery may be fired at targets. For rocket and missile firing use ROCKET TEST FACILITY. back

* Copyright of English Heritage (1999)

English Heritage National Monuments Record