History

Heston and Hounslow Rifle Club History

1912

The first club was founded in 1912 by one Major A.H.Pain, an officer with the Gordon Highlanders, who was resident in Heston Hall, Heston. At that time the club was part of the Westbrook Memorial Institute and was called“The Heston Rifle Club”  using the ranges within the Institutes grounds.

Major Pain continued to be the club President until 1922 when he moved away from the area.

1926

In this year “The Hounslow & Spring Grove Rifle Club”,a club founded in 1907 by the officers of the Royal Fusiliers based at

Hounslow Barracks, merged with “The Heston Rifle Club” at the Westbrook Memorial.

The Club then became known as “The Hounslow, Heston & Spring Grove Rifle Club”.

This Merging had come about due to the land that Hounslow & Spring Grove Rifle Club had used as ranges, being sold to the Middlesex Education Committee).

 

1962 – 1965

During these years, it became known that the Memorial Institute Trusties would close the Institute and sell the land once the last of its tenants either died or moved on. ( The latter not really being an option as the tenant had nowhere else to go .)

The Club had a long battle with the council and Heston Parochial Trusties concerning relocation, with the outcome that Hounslow Borough Council provided the land in Green Lane Hounslow for the new range and clubhouse site.

 

Although most of the building was now in very poor condition, the club continued to shoot at the Memorial Grounds until late 1967 when the new range buildings had been completed in Green Lane.

1967

On moving to their new site in Green Lane, the club shortened its name to “Heston And Hounslow

Rifle Club” and is still situated on this land to date.