SPTA: A Landscape In Service - SPTA East: Bulford and Tidworth Ranges

In the eastern part of the Salisbury Plain Training Area, the landscape takes on a distinct character, shaped by a different set of military activities. The Tidworth Ranges cover a region that, while still part of the broader military zone, is less dominated by live firing exercises than other sections of the Plain. Designated as “dry” by the military, they are primarily used for manoeuvre and tactical training, without the live ammunition that characterises the central and western parts of the SPTA.

In contrast, the smallest of the SPTA’s ranges, the Bulford Ranges, located further south, are an active live-fire zone, with a series of firing ranges.

The contrast between the controlled stillness of the Tidworth Ranges and the raw intensity of Bulford highlights the complex nature of the land, which serves both as a site of military activity and a place of ecological interest.

Nine Mile River, Milston Down, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Despite what its name suggests, Nine Mile River is four and a half miles long. The name appears to derive from the knowledge of the carters who once used the Old Marlborough Road or the drove roads. Who knew they were just nine miles from Salisbury when travelling south and fording the river.

Green Smoke Screen Grenade, L132A1, Warren Hill, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Barrow Clump, east of Ablington, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Salisbury Plain holds the largest concentration of archaeological sites in the UK, with Barrow Clump being one of its most significant. This Scheduled Ancient Monument has been a focal point of human activity for over 5,000 years, offering a rare window into the past.

At its heart is an Early Bronze Age burial mound, or bowl barrow, which holds considerable historical importance. Beneath this mound, archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a Neolithic settlement, while above it lies a sixth-century Anglo-Saxon cemetery.

A partial excavation of the site in the 19th century produced an inhumation with a beaker and flint knife and three possible subsequent interments.

In recent years, Barrow Clump has been the focus of renewed archaeological interest through Operation Nightingale, a project that uses archaeology as a therapeutic tool for veterans. Launched by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in 2011, the initiative gives soldiers recovering from injury or trauma the opportunity to engage in field archaeology.

Operation Nightingale’s involvement at Barrow Clump began in 2015, when a team of veterans joined professional archaeologists to explore the site. The project aimed to uncover new insights into the history of the mound and its surroundings, while offering the veterans a chance to participate in active fieldwork. Their contributions led to the discovery of key artefacts and fresh archaeological findings.

Finger post, Sun Plantation, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Long Barrow, The Belt, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Listed as a scheduled monument on 16 March 1966. The long barrow, one of 26 to be found on the SPTA, is orientated east/west with a berm and side ditches. In total, it measures 48 metres in length by 42 metres in width. All scheduled monuments on Salisbury Plain are marked with signs carrying a star symbol. To identify them as protected. With exercising troops under orders to avoid any damage.

The original three-dimensional star sign was designed by Chemical Warfare Experimental Station (Porton Down) chemist, turned archaeologist, J.F.S. Stone (1899–1957). Or Marcus Stone as he was more widely known. Originally used exclusively on the SPTA. The star sign has since been adopted across other areas of the UK military training estate.

MOD Cable Marker, UT LC5, Milston Down, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Target store, c.1930s, Lambdown Furze, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2022.

Transit Road/Byway (FIGH6) running west towards Figheldean, Bourne Bottom, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

To the left of the road are the Bulford Ranges, and to the right the Tidworth Ranges.

Remnants of wooden shooting points (200 yards) early 20th-century rifle range, Lambdown Furze, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2022.

This 1000-yard range appears to have been in active use until at least the end of World War II.

19th Century Milestone, Salisbury XIII Miles, To Marlboro XIV, The Old Marlborough Road, Figheldean Down, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Tank Obstacle Course, West of Chalkpit Hill, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Ford, The Old Marlborough Road crossing Nine Mile River, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Byeway – Subject to Flag, Milston Down, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

When red flags are flying or red lamps are illuminated at night, the public rights of way are closed.

Chalkpit Hill, above the Tank Obstacle Course, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Flooded Pit, Bourne Bottom, west of the Old Marlborough Road, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Water is scarce on Salisbury Plain, with its few rivers often little more than winterbournes. This posed a concern for the War Office Salisbury Plain Committee (WOSP) as they began acquiring land in the late 19th century, with plans for training camps to operate only between May and September each year.

Writing in Salisbury Plain: Home of Britain’s Military Training, historian Henry Buckton notes that the Committee discussed the availability of clean drinking water at length. However, the Inspector General of Fortifications pointed out that soldiers on manoeuvres would almost certainly drink river water, as they would on active service. "Thirsty soldiers in the field would probably drink from any natural freshwater source available to them, so this shouldn’t pose a hindrance," he said.

Milston Drove passing through Down Barn Plantation (south towards Durrington), Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

In his book, Droving in Wiltshire: The Trade and its Routes (Wiltshire Life Society, 1990). K. G. Watts states that there are two sets of drovers’ roads in Wiltshire. In the north of the county, they carry traffic from Wales via Bristol. And in the south from Exeter and further west. With both sets connecting with the Salisbury to Marlborough Road. The Milston Drove crosses the Old Salisbury to Marlborough Road north of Bulford, on the Bulford Ranges.

CG/23B/V054, Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) Outer Protective Glove, James North & Sons Limited, 1990, Tidworth Ranges, 2002.

Tumuli, Brigmerston Field, Bulford Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.

Salisbury Plain is one of the richest archaeological landscapes in Britain. There are approximately 2,400 monuments, 550 of which are protected by law. It also holds one of the densest concentrations of ancient long and round barrows anywhere in Britain.

Archaeological sites within the training area are marked and protected from damage. Which may be caused by troops digging or military vehicles.

Syrencot Penning, north of the Transit Road, Tidworth Ranges, Wiltshire, 2024.