1. The History
Opening on 15th September 1900, the rifle range at Totley was renowned as being one of the very best in the country. At the time members of rifle battalions were required to pass a course on rifle training and practice regularly in order to receive their grant of 35 shillings a year. The standard issue rifle back then was the classic Lee Enfield .303 rifle with a range of over a 1,000 yards. Hence firing ranges needed to be long and in Sheffield the only suitable site was Totley, just to the south of the city. This explains why it was chosen Colonel Hughes of the 1st Hallamshire Rifles Volunteer Battalion who set up the sit. He acquired the land and after months of hard work and an expenditure of £4,000, the rifle range was finished. The range and out-building were as mentioned earlier constructed initially for military use but public usage began soon after in January 1901 when some of the residents of Dore decided to form a rifle club, affiliated with the National Rifle Association.
The aforementioned Hallamshires fought in World War One at the infamous battles of Ypres, Somme Messine and Passendale, losing 45 officers and 1,325 NCO men. All these men will most likely have practiced at Totley range.
Old OS Map of the range showing the stop butts (A), target line (B) and the various range firing points from 100 up to 600 yards (C):
The range finally closed in 1997, apparently because of the “right to roam” brigade trespassing within red flag exclusion zones every time the T/A or Army Cadets were shooting, and then complaining to the police that they were being shot at by the army.
Civilian shooters, early 1900s:
Lewis machine gun practice, 1929:
The Hallamshire Rifles, Totley Rifle Range, 1932:
2. The Explore
I can't believe it’s been over seven years since I last reported on this place. Nothing much has changed apart from the graff. It’s not a spectacular place by any means, but it remains somewhat of a curio as there aren’t too many wartime ranges still in as good a condition as here. It makes for a nice and relaxed visit, especially when the weather is as nice as it was when we popped in on the spur of the moment. So nothing amazing architecturally, although the Colorquix graff certainly adds another level of interest.
3. The Pictures
First thing you see is this air shaft to the Totley Railway Tunnel:
On to the rifle range. How did this old cooker get down here?
This was a bit unexpected and touching:
Looks like someone has been doing some metal detecting:
This part of the target trenches is definitely the older bit:
Some sort of target lever?
On to the more modern part:
Nice bit of Colorquix:
More Colorquix:
At the end, there’s a stores area:
Behind the target trenches are the butts:
Probably some fruitful metal detection could go on here:
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!!
Opening on 15th September 1900, the rifle range at Totley was renowned as being one of the very best in the country. At the time members of rifle battalions were required to pass a course on rifle training and practice regularly in order to receive their grant of 35 shillings a year. The standard issue rifle back then was the classic Lee Enfield .303 rifle with a range of over a 1,000 yards. Hence firing ranges needed to be long and in Sheffield the only suitable site was Totley, just to the south of the city. This explains why it was chosen Colonel Hughes of the 1st Hallamshire Rifles Volunteer Battalion who set up the sit. He acquired the land and after months of hard work and an expenditure of £4,000, the rifle range was finished. The range and out-building were as mentioned earlier constructed initially for military use but public usage began soon after in January 1901 when some of the residents of Dore decided to form a rifle club, affiliated with the National Rifle Association.
The aforementioned Hallamshires fought in World War One at the infamous battles of Ypres, Somme Messine and Passendale, losing 45 officers and 1,325 NCO men. All these men will most likely have practiced at Totley range.
Old OS Map of the range showing the stop butts (A), target line (B) and the various range firing points from 100 up to 600 yards (C):
The range finally closed in 1997, apparently because of the “right to roam” brigade trespassing within red flag exclusion zones every time the T/A or Army Cadets were shooting, and then complaining to the police that they were being shot at by the army.
Civilian shooters, early 1900s:
Lewis machine gun practice, 1929:
The Hallamshire Rifles, Totley Rifle Range, 1932:
2. The Explore
I can't believe it’s been over seven years since I last reported on this place. Nothing much has changed apart from the graff. It’s not a spectacular place by any means, but it remains somewhat of a curio as there aren’t too many wartime ranges still in as good a condition as here. It makes for a nice and relaxed visit, especially when the weather is as nice as it was when we popped in on the spur of the moment. So nothing amazing architecturally, although the Colorquix graff certainly adds another level of interest.
3. The Pictures
First thing you see is this air shaft to the Totley Railway Tunnel:
On to the rifle range. How did this old cooker get down here?
This was a bit unexpected and touching:
Looks like someone has been doing some metal detecting:
This part of the target trenches is definitely the older bit:
Some sort of target lever?
On to the more modern part:
Nice bit of Colorquix:
More Colorquix:
At the end, there’s a stores area:
Behind the target trenches are the butts:
Probably some fruitful metal detection could go on here:
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!!
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