At Purdey, shooting is very much part of our foundations, a way of life that’s shaped our heritage from the start and still informs our purpose and what we create today. There’s nothing quite like a team of Guns coming together for a well-orchestrated Purdey shoot – whether for game or simulated days, these experiences have, in a way, been more than 200 years in the making.
A Legacy That Takes Aim In 1820
We are far from newcomers when it comes to running shooting grounds. In fact, our first grounds are thought to date back to around 1820; with the first documented grounds appearing in our records in 1842. At this spot, Norland Shooting Ground in Notting Hill, clients could test their Purdey guns on an iron target. It was several decades before the invention of clay targets (in 1880), so testing often took place at live pigeon clubs too – with a renowned one located not far from Norland in Shepherd’s Bush.
By 1857, Purdey leased a six-acre site in Harrow, ‘Foxholes’, serving both as a test ground and a shooting facility. Harrow continued to play a pivotal role in our story. In 1926, we purchased 36 acres in Eastcote, South Harrow, which then became the official Purdey Shooting Ground. With grouse butts, a very early high pheasant tower, and according to our records, ‘special terms for young gentlemen learning’, it offered a taste of the commitment to excellence that remains our hallmark.
A History Of Innovation And Expansion
When the Eastcote ground was sold in 1936, Purdey continued to evolve, leasing the West London Shooting Grounds; the same year that Tom and Jim Purdey published The Shot Gun. More recently, in 2018, we entered a new chapter with our current Purdey Shooting Grounds in Royal Berkshire, widely regarded as one of the finest in the world.
Just an hour from central London, these Grounds sit in a beautiful chalk valley, surrounded by woods and spinneys that allow us to simulate every kind of bird you might encounter in the British field — or indeed abroad. Whether you're preparing for an invitation to shoot woodcock, snipe or duck in the UK’s wildest peripheries, or brushing up before partridge in Spain or doves in Argentina (our Sporting Agency are the ones to call to organise these special trips), there’s no better place to get your eye in.
Our commitment to continual improvement has led to a recent, extensive refurbishment of the Shooting Grounds, which will continue to take shape in the coming months. This includes a new lodge, reimagined clay stands, and ecological enhancements like pond restoration and tree planting to support local wildlife. Offering a world-class experience, ours is not a static ground – we regularly adjust our targets to ensure fresh, challenging, and rewarding sport each time you visit.
Instruction Rooted In Experience
Our team of Purdey instructors – including Steve Turner, Nigel Muir, and Matt Smith – bring decades of expertise and an intuitive understanding of the sport. Whether you're a seasoned shot looking to fine-tune your form (read more about a first-hand experience of a lesson at the Shooting Grounds, here), newer to the sport or seeking a confidence boost before the season begins, you’ll be in the best possible hands.
We believe we are one of the few, if not the only, shooting grounds to maintain detailed, personalised records for each client. This means that regardless of which Purdey instructor you work with, they’ll know exactly where you are on your shooting journey. Our use of cutting-edge shot camera technology also allows real-time review and refinement of technique – another example of our future-focused initiative, and the spirit of innovation instilled by Purdey founders that continues today.
From traditional game shoots to immersive simulated days, from expert instruction to bespoke international sporting adventures, our commitment remains the same as it did way back in the early 1800s: to offer peerless experiences that are as refined and storied as the guns we craft.
Find out more about the Purdey Shooting Grounds and book your visit, here.