 An accidental explosion in February 1885 killed seven Royal Artillery personnel including the Commandant and his deputy.After 1889, experimentation and testing was progressively moved on to 'New Ranges' to the north-east, but the 'Old Ranges' remained in active use as a training area.As early as 1865 the Ordnance Select Committee was recommending purchase of additional land at Shoeburyness, to accommodate the increasing power and range of artillery then in development.