History of Bisley Camp

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The history of Bisley camp

Bisley Camp has been the home of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and numerous other Rifle and Clay Shooting clubs for over 128 years.

This rich and intriguing history has evolved over time with Queen Victoria opening the first annual rifle meeting at Wimbledon back in 1860. She fired the inaugural shot at the first rifle meeting on 2nd July that year and this event is still very much alive in the form of the annual Prize Meeting (the Imperial) which includes the King's Prize.

Bisley Camp itself is an historic location with many fine examples of Colonial style architecture and a plethora of traditional lodge buildings taking the visitor back to a long-gone era. The estate has over 3000 acres with an abundance of natural woodland, which is home to many protected species on a site of special scientific interest.

Here's a more detailed look at Bisley's history.

  • Early Days (1860-1890)
    The NRA was founded in 1859 to promote marksmanship. The first annual rifle meeting was held on Wimbledon Common in 1860, with Queen Victoria firing the inaugural shot. The ranges remained on Wimbledon Common until 1889. 
  • Bisley's Arrival (1890)
    The NRA chose Bisley Camp as its new location for the Imperial Meeting and moved its headquarters there in 1890. The Princess of Wales, later Queen Alexandra, fired the first shot at the 1890 Imperial Meeting. 
  • Growth and Events
    Bisley hosted most of the shooting events in the 1908 Olympic Games and all the shooting in the 2002 Commonwealth Games. The Bisley Imperial Meeting, a premier shooting competition, continues to be an internationally famous event. 
  • World War I and Beyond
    During World War I, Bisley Camp was used for military training, and the station serving the camp was taken over by the War Office. The station was eventually returned to the London and South Western Railway after the war. 
  • Continued Significance
    Bisley remains a significant centre for rifle and clay shooting, with the National Shooting Centre being a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRA. The camp has a long tradition of hosting events and competitions, and it continues to be a centre of excellence for rifle and Clay Shooting in the UK.