Monument record MWX3418 - East Weare Rifle Range, Portland Port, Portland
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Summary
A 20th century rifle range and pistol range is located at East Weare. The rifle range and pistol range are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s and the butts partially survive as earthworks.
Map
Type and Period (2)
Full Description
FIRING RANGE. From site list with letter. Isle of Portland. Recorder- R. Perry. <1-3>
Rifle range aligned NW-SE along the lower slopes of East Weares, below the cliffs. Construction started at some time between 1889 and 1903. By 1903 the main part of the range had been cleared, the targets were complete and the only building appears to have been the Range Keeper's Cottage. By the 1920s a stop butt had been completed and a target house built behind it. The 100 yard firing position had also been constructed and subsequently extended in length. By 1960 a number of buildings had been built, many of which no longer survive. In the late 1970s and early 1980s more explosive stores were built. <4>
The rifle range and pistol range are visible on aerial photographs of the 1940s <5> and the butts partially survive as earthworks. The structures and buildings associated with the range are visible over an area measuring approximately 625 m by 105 m. This site was digitally plotted during the South West Rapid Coastal Zone Assessment Survey (Dorset).
Sources/Archives (7)
- <1> SWX5 Digital archive: Council for British Archaeology. 1995. Defence of Britain Project. 2577.
- <2> SDO128 Machine readable data file: Council for British Archaeology. 2003. Defence of Britain Project Database. 2577.
- <3> SDO17227 Excavation archive: Council for British Archaeology. 2006. Defence of Britain Project Archive DEB01. 2577.
- <4> SWX8578 Unpublished document: Bellamy, P. 2000. East Weares Rifle Range, Portland port, Portland, Dorset: English Heritage (RCHME) Level 2 Survey.
- <5> SDO13044 Aerial Photograph: Royal Air Force. 04-NOV-1946. RAF/CPE/UK/1824 3228-9.
- <6> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1413247.
- <7> SDO14739 Digital archive: National Record of the Historic Environment. 1413248.
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Location
| Grid reference | Centred SY 701 729 (452m by 567m) (34 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | SY77SW |
| Unitary Authority | Dorset |
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Other Statuses/References
- Defence of Britain database: 2577
- Defence of Britain database: 2578
- Legacy UID: Dorset Sites and Monuments Record: 4 001 270
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: 1413248
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 77 SW 40
- Legacy UID: National Monuments Record: SY 77 SW 41
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1413247
- Legacy UID: National Record of the Historic Environment: 1413248
Record last edited
Feb 26 2024 11:08AM