2015

NS3678 : View along former rifle range

taken 9 years ago, near to Cardross, Argyll And Bute, Scotland

View along former rifle range
View along former rifle range
The view is from the western extremity of the rifle range; as the 1:25000 map shows, it is near the corner of a field. Close to this position, the second-edition map shows an unnamed structure associated with the rifle range; though that map would place the structure a little to the south-west (and so behind the photographer's location), the former site of the structure may correspond to the dark area in the foreground of the picture.

Just a few yards from this spot, the second-edition map also shows a smaller structure, labelled "600 yds"; this was a shooting position, 600 yards from the targets: NS3678 : Traces of 600-yard shooting position.

The targets themselves were at the north-eastern end of the range, about twice as far away as the nearest trees that are visible just right of centre. For their location, see NS3678 : View over former site of rifle range's targets; note the very similar appearance of the bare ground there; the likely reason for this is also given at that item.

Click on the end-note title for related pictures.
Former site of rifle range (Carman)

The second-edition OS map (revised c.1897) shows a rifle range here, with flagstaff and targets at the NE end; to the SW, small features are labelled "200", "500", and "600" (distance in yards from the targets). The range is not recorded on the first-edition map (surveyed 1860), nor on the revision of c.1914. Though the area is now damp and tick-infested, its topography was very suitable for its former use: it is low, flat, and level, and surrounded by (contrastingly uneven) higher ground on all sides, which would safely contain all but the wildest of stray shots.

According to page 84 of "Cardross: the village in days gone by" (Arthur F Jones, 1985), the 7th (Cardross) Company of the Dumbarton Volunteer Rifles came into being late in 1859, and, for their shooting competitions, "at first a field at Carman was used", before ground was secured near the shore at Cardross in 1864. It is not clear whether the "field at Carman" is the one shown here.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Lairich Rig and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Derelict, Disused Defence, Military
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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NS3678, 137 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Lairich Rig   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Wednesday, 10 June, 2015   (more nearby)
Submitted
Saturday, 20 June, 2015
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 3632 7862 [10m precision]
WGS84: 55:58.3552N 4:37.4650W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! NS 3631 7861
View Direction
Northeast (about 45 degrees)
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SW S SE
Image classification(about): Geograph
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