TEG DOWN RIFLE RANGE

The Teg Down Rifle Range was established in the early 1850's. The first reference to it is in a report in the Sept 1853 Hampshire Chronicle, which records damage being done to a bank on Teg Down, on land occupied by the Board of Ordnance and used for soldiers of the Winchester Garrison for firing practice.

Other references to the use of the Rifle Range in the Hampshire Chronicle include:

D troop of the Hampshire Regiment of Yeomanry Cavalry, for "ball practice with new rifled carbines" 1855
Garrison Foot races and games, "a large concourse of civilians were present to witness the proceedings"; 7 June 1856
Gymnastic and pedestrian sports, "the sports were classified in good taste; in some the competition was open to officers, others to particular corps, and others open to the whole of the garrison". May 1858
Practice rifle-firing ground for the newly formed Winchester Volunteer Rifle Corps. 1859
Review and inspection of garrison troops - by General Sir Frederick Love, 1860.
Rifle Club competitions - Hants and Isle of Wight Counties Rifle Association annual competition, April 1873
Military competitions - Hants Yeomanry Cavalry competition Sept 1886
Inter-unit competitions, Rifle Depot v. Royal Marine Artillery; teams made up of sergeants from the Rifle Depot, known as the English Eight v. The Irish Nine.
Regulars against volunteers - sergeants of the Hampshire Rifle Depot v. 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Hampshire Regiment. Sept 1888
Manoeuvre practises - London Rifle Brigade and the 2nd and 3rd London battalions March 1894.

Military activity was reducing during the 1890's and by 1900 discussions were underway between the Ecclesiastical Commissioners and the Royal Winchester Golf Club to take over Teg Down.

In 1903, it was reported that a new rifle range for Winchester had been set up on land in Chilcomb and Morested, the first rifle range in Winchester since "the discontinuance of the Teg Down Range some half-a -dozen years ago".

Teg Down Rifle Range: About