Totley Rifle Range, Sheffield, South Yorks, December 2017

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HughieD

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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 thenwas the classic Lee Enfield .303 rifle with a range of over a 1000 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.

Map of the range showing the stop butts, Target line and the various range firing points (100-900 yrds):

38131827024_3fd49537f7_o.jpgTotley map by HughieDW, on Flickr

The range finally closed in 1997 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:

38131827234_bd55b67688_o.jpgTotley 1 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Lewis machine gun practice, 1929:

37960563635_81a04b1bf0_o.jpgTotley 2 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The Hallamshire Rifles, Totley Rifle Range, 1932:

38817211792_b428b66dd1_o.jpgTotley 3 by HughieDW, on Flickr

For a more detailed account of the range in the aptly named “Short History of the Rifle Range at Totley”, self-published by Stephen Johnson in March 1993.

2. The Explore
Been meaning to head up here for a while as it’s a stone’s throw from where I live. It’s not been reported on much (think this is it's DP debut) but having seen a report on another site, it looked like it was worth a look-see. Nothing spectacular but it ended up as a nice little rural mooch that was a bit different and worth the trip for some on the graff that can be found along the covered area for the target markers.


3. The Pictures


Start of the safe area:

38124818384_e78329a37d_b.jpgimg4080 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The older style target-marker shelters:

38826429151_ab215fc26b_b.jpgTotley Range 01 by HughieDW, on Flickr

38124764774_2ba244a22f_b.jpgimg4082 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27050407429_41594b5836_b.jpgTotley Range 02 by HughieDW, on Flickr

38110570854_55d2fe622e_b.jpgimg4097 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Up, across and down to the newer style target-marker shelters:

24954100228_16a4805dd6_b.jpgimg4101 by HughieDW, on Flickr

38110537164_21829a15d3_b.jpgTotley Range 03 by HughieDW, on Flickr

It's a sort of out-door urban art long gallery:

27050426409_b7c47f80d5_b.jpgimg4114 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27050433389_1637ab9bd8_b.jpgimg4104 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27050418799_ae382c5169_b.jpgimg4122 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Love a bit of Coloquix:

24954097268_147c1a5aa6_b.jpgimg4102 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27050428339_732cb555c6_b.jpgimg4109 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Not too sure what this bit of technology is/was:

27050429959_f8e2c8271a_b.jpgimg4108 by HughieDW, on Flickr

A second Coloquix:

27050423239_04da78b54f_b.jpgimg4117 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Stop butt wall:

38795702852_63fa5753a8_b.jpgimg4127 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The old store room:

38795707582_e52c68ac03_b.jpgimg4123 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Store room roof:

27050411949_e596d56464_b.jpgimg4128 by HughieDW, on Flickr
27050414789_e5252ecc66_b.jpgimg4125 by HughieDW, on Flickr

An old communications socket at the 200 yard firing point:

38795695022_fc86e97079_b.jpgimg4129 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Thanks for looking!
 
Last edited:
There were also other ranges around Shefiield:
Ecclesall - Earlier Volunteers range
There was also an early 200 yard range in the centre.

Stannington - standard 600 yard range (Totley would primarily have been a 600 yard range with civilian sports shooting occasionally at greater distances...the army recognised that 'marksmanship' was pointless for ordinary soldiers...the chances of a soldier hitting something more than 100 yards away in the heat of battle were almost nil despite the Lee-Enfield being one of the best fast acting rifle for a very long time).

Dronfield had an 800 yard range and a slightly later 200 yard one.
 
There were also other ranges around Shefiield:
Ecclesall - Earlier Volunteers range
There was also an early 200 yard range in the centre.

Stannington - standard 600 yard range (Totley would primarily have been a 600 yard range with civilian sports shooting occasionally at greater distances...the army recognised that 'marksmanship' was pointless for ordinary soldiers...the chances of a soldier hitting something more than 100 yards away in the heat of battle were almost nil despite the Lee-Enfield being one of the best fast acting rifle for a very long time).

Dronfield had an 800 yard range and a slightly later 200 yard one.

Thank you for that extra detail Druid. Much appreciated. RE: the range - that would explain why the 700/800/900 firing posts were tucked to one side almost as an after-thought.
 
Nice set hughie and a bit different.shame about the graffiti there
 
That's something different from your usual. But like the previous comment shame about the graffiti, some people like it and some don't.
 
Brilliant history and bw pics, really gives your images some context HD:)

Love that shot of the long gallery, I can see one of the Sheffield's colourful worms at the end:) and thats a great little shot in between the triangular metal joists:encouragement:
 
Love this, great stuff HughieD :)

Cheers Rubex...not much left around sheff so having to search hard!

Brilliant history and bw pics, really gives your images some context HD:)

Love that shot of the long gallery, I can see one of the Sheffield's colourful worms at the end:) and thats a great little shot in between the triangular metal joists:encouragement:

Ha ha...those worms get everywhere. Cheers PV. Will have to go back in better light some time.
 

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