Boundless by time, they built these walls for war
The world war one rifle ranges an important part of the dunes. Separating Newton Burrows from Merthyr Mawr dunes they are a direct impact of man’s influence upon this landscape. Nature is attempting to regain control by slowly and evenly breaking down these concrete and metal structures. The dunes will eventually reclaim this area as its own.
Two military shooting ranges operated intermittently in the Newton Burrows area, at the western end of the site from the 1914-18 war until 1967. The concrete target structures are still visible. Williams (2020) says “During the later stages of World War II the range was used by American troops from the 28th Infantry Division who were based in and around Porthcawl. General Dwight D Eisenhower inspected the troops at the range on 1st April 1944 before they headed off to Normandy”.
