The two concrete remnants are all that survives of a rifle range butts that was established in the 19th century, first appearing on the second edition Ordnance Survey maps of 1894-1899 (1). The range is shown as extending at least 900 yards from the River Wear, southwest towards Kepier Hospital. The 900 yard range is still marked on the fourth epoch OS maps (2) but it seems to be shortened to just the first 400 yards on fifth epoch maps of the 1950's (3). The range is still marked on maps of the 1970's (4) but without the 100 yard interval markers suggesting that the range was no longer active by this time. The lifespan of the range suggests that it would have been in use during the First World War and WW2, perhaps associated with the military barracks at Gilesgate, now the Vane-Tempest Community Centre.

NEHL - This was also Durham City's home ground for a few years in the 1920s, which required part of the rifle range to be dismantled. There was a small wooden seated stand here, which was taken to Holiday Park on relocation. Because of the distance away from the town centre, the ground had very few in attendance - a victory against Barrow in 1923 saw only 1000 spectators when previously there would have been over 7000.