East Weare Rifle Range

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Stop butt structure of the East Weares Rifle Range. East Weares Rifle Range, Portland, Dorset 3.JPG
Stop butt structure of the East Weares Rifle Range.

East Weare Rifle Range is a disused naval rifle range on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located within the area of East Weares, overlooking Portland Harbour. [1] The range became a scheduled monument in October 2015, which included the stop butt of Portland stone, the marker's gallery and 100-yard firing position. [2] It remains on the private property of Portland Port Ltd, and has not been opened to the public, however can be seen from surrounding coastal paths.

Contents

The range was not the only one of its kind on the island. A rifle and revolver range was once located near King's Pier, [3] while a late 20th-century light automatic range was also located nearby. [4]

History

Stop butt structure, including a disused telegraph pole and part of sentry lookout post. East Weares Rifle Range, Portland, Dorset 5.JPG
Stop butt structure, including a disused telegraph pole and part of sentry lookout post.

The East Weare Rifle Range was built at the beginning of the 20th century on land the war department purchased. [5] It was built as part of the general development of the naval base and its training provisions, where it was used to train naval and other military service personnel. [6] Due to its close proximity to the railway line of the Portland Branch Railway, red flags would be hoisted whenever the range was in use. [7]

The range ceased operating during the 1980s after the government reviewed all active firing ranges in the UK and classed Portland's range as dangerous due to the public footpaths surrounding it. Today, the range remains a reminder of the military presence at Portland. The surrounding area is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In 2007, ten British Primitive goats were released into the area to control the scrub. [8]

Design

The large stop butt is located at the south-east end of the range, and measures approximately 100 metres in length and 30 metres wide. The marker's gallery, situated on the opposite side, survives in reasonable condition. It held the Hythe pattern target frame which was used to raise and lower the targets. [9] The range had firing points, earth and stone-built mounds, at 100 yard intervals from 100 yards to 600 yards, with an additional lane of fire to the north-east, firing from 800 yards. Today, only the 100 and 200 yard positions survive. [10]

Within proximity of the rifle range are two remaining sentry posts, where lookouts would warn away walkers when shooting was taking place. [10] An observation post also remains above the range on the clifftop. There are also two World War II pillboxes within the range's perimeter. [11] [12]

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RAF Portland

RAF Portland is a former Royal Air Force and ROTOR radar station on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Located close to the Verne Citadel and East Cliff, the station was established in the 1950s as part of a nationwide air defence radar system built by the British Government during the Cold War. The station became a scheduled monument in 2004 and is now the site of the community farm, Fancy's Family Farm.

Salt Pans, Portland

The Salt Pans are two salt pans on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. Both pans sit next to one another, and are situated on the coastline of East Weares, the east side of Portland. The pans sit directly below the Young Offenders Institution HM Prison Portland, and are found close to various old historic relics such as the East Weare Rifle Range, Folly Pier, King's Pier and the remains of the Folly Pier Waterworks. The East Weares area, including the Salt Pans, has been labelled a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), largely due to the scrub and wildlife being of high nature conservation value.

East Weare Camp

East Weare Camp is a former 19th-century detention barracks on the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. It is located at East Weares, overlooking Portland Harbour and East Weare Battery. The camp became Grade II Listed in 1978. Both East Weare Battery and East Weare Camp remain on the private property of Portland Port Ltd, and have not been opened to the public.

Folly Pier

Folly Pier is a disused stone shipping quay, located on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England; part of the Jurassic Coast. It is found on the east side of the island within the area of East Weares. Other piers within the area include King's Pier and Durdle Pier respectively. Folly Pier dates from the 17th century.

Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery

Verne Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery is a World War II anti-aircraft battery on the Isle of Portland, Dorset, England. It is located on private property in the north-east area of the island, south of the Verne Citadel. The battery became a scheduled monument in March 2019.

Victoria Square, Portland

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References

  1. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1413248". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Historic England (28 October 2015). "East Weare rifle range, Portland (1428958)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  3. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1413245". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  4. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1413247". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Appraisal of the Conservation Areas of Portland as amended 2017". dorsetcouncil.gov.uk. 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "myADS" (PDF). Archaeology Data Service. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  7. ↑ Maggs, Colin (15 January 2012). The Branch Lines of Dorset - Colin Maggs - Google Books. ISBN   9781445612348 . Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  8. ↑ "File:East Weares - Portland Goats Sign - Portland, Dorset.JPG - Wikimedia Commons". Commons.wikimedia.org. Archived from the original on 12 November 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  9. ↑ "Heritage Gateway - Results".
  10. 1 2 "East Weares Rifle Range and Waterworks, Portland, Dorset". Geoffkirby.co.uk. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  11. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420395". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Historic England. "Monument No. 1420394". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 15 April 2014.

Coordinates: 50°33′12″N2°25′16″W / 50.5532°N 2.4210°W / 50.5532; -2.4210

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