The Longside Firing Range

The recent book by Elizabeth Mcormick, "Chapel en le Frith Takes Aim" makes several references to our local firing range on Whaley Moor.  This was sited in the field below the Dipping Stone and was used by the Whaley Bridge branch of rifle volunteers until at least 1905. The range was regularly used for firing practice and for rifle competitions. Longside was one of hundreds of such ranges throughout the country that were in use during the 19th century. They were mostly closed in the late 1900s for safety reasons. As can be seen on the map below, the range was marked out at 500 and 600 yards from the target, near which was located a magazine.

Our member, Hugh Wheeler recently braved the winter weather to explore Whaley Moor and despite the range having been out of use for more than 100 years, he was able to photograph the remains of the stone built structures. The line of the range can still be traced and Hugh was able to pinpoint the firing marks.

There had been other firing ranges in our neighbourhood, particularly at Taxal and Eccles Pike.

Copies of "Chapel en le Frith Takes Aim" are on sale at Reading Matters Booksho in Chapel and fron the History Society.

A Dangerous Road

William Wood

The murder of William Wood in July 1823 is well recorded. He was killed at a lonely spot on Buxton Old Road at Longside on Whaley Moor. This is the old roman road between Disley and Whaley Bridge and at that time was in Cheshire. The spot is marked by a commemorative "Murder Stone".  

Wood, a cotton weaver from Eyam, was returning home from Manchester where he had sold his cloth and had received about £100 in payment. He travelled on foot and at Disley, called at a pub for refreshment. He got into conversation with three men and later continued on his way. After about ten minutes, the three left the pub and followed in Wood's direction catching up with him after a mile or two. Wood was beaten to death with stones and left at the roadside where his partly concealed body was later discovered. Wood's body was taken to the Cock Inn in Whaley Bridge where the coroners inquest was held a few days later.