Historic Building Returns To Buckler's Hard

Shipwright's tools

Shipwrightry Workshop - May 2013

Buckler’s Hard, on the banks of the Beaulieu River, could soon become a centre for the teaching and study of traditional shipbuilding with students able to work with large timbers under the supervision of a shipwright. This will soon be a reality thanks to a £3.75m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant to Portsmouth Naval Base Property Trust (PNBPT) for its Boatbuilding & Heritage Skills Training Centre project, which includes a Shipwright’s School to be established at Buckler’s Hard.

Mary Montagu-Scott, Director at Buckler’s Hard & Trustee of the IBTC Portsmouth, said: “We are very excited to be working with PNBPT on this project and that our long held wish to revive traditional shipbuilding training at Buckler’s Hard, on the very site where Admiral Lord Nelson’s favourite ship Agamemnon was built, is now close to fruition.”

Plans have been drawn up to build a replica 18th century shipwrights’ workshop in an area at the bottom of the village street, near to the eastern slipways and by an existing display of timber workings.

The timber framed building will be used as a base for the school, which will be run in partnership with the IBTC Portsmouth, based in Boathouse 4 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. The training provided will help to ensure the continuation of much needed skills at both a local and national level for the restoration of historic ships and support the traditional boatbuilding industry.  It is hoped that the first student intake will be in April 2015.

The close proximity of woodland with standing timber will present an important opportunity to teach arboriculture techniques and theory, and allow students to learn about the felling, conversion and storage of timber. The first stage of this exciting project will be to construct the workshop using local timber; this build will be a learning exercise in its own right, with students using traditional tools and methods.

Visitors to Buckler’s Hard will also be encouraged to visit the workshop.  By seeing a practical demonstration of shipbuilding methods, it is hoped that everyone will gain a better understanding of the industry which gave the village a place in British naval history.

Buckler’s Hard Announced As One Of Visitengland’s ‘101 Things To Do Before You Go Abroad

Buckler's Hard Village Street View

River Cruise Boat

The picturesque 18th century shipbuilding village of Buckler’s Hard, nestling on the banks of the Beaulieu River in the New Forest, has been revealed as one of VisitEngland’s ‘101 Things To Do Before You Go Abroad’.

The list, announced on St. George’s Day, aims to remind people of the fabulous range of experiences they can enjoy right on their doorstep. It covers the very best of English experiences as selected by a panel of experts, with Buckler’s Hard appearing in the History and Heritage sector.

The Buckler’s Hard visitor attraction is this year celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Maritime Museum, which tells the story of the village and its inhabitants. During the 18th century, Buckler’s Hard was a centre for shipbuilding and was the unlikely birthplace of some of the most fearsome warships to ever set sail, including three ships built for Nelson’s Traflagar fleet, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Euryalus, and ‘Nelson’s favourite’, HMS Agamemnon.
During World War II, Buckler’s Hard again became a strategically important area, where sections of the floating Mulberry Harbour were built. Hundreds of landing craft also used the Beaulieu River as a departure point during the D-Day Landings.

Today, this beautiful village is a peaceful haven where visitors can learn about its history and enjoy a tranquil cruise along the river.

For more information about Buckler’s Hard, please visit www.bucklershard.co.uk

Shipwrightry At Buckler’s Hard 4th – 6th May 2013

Fashioning a medieval futtock

Fashioning parts of a keel from a Beaulieu oak

Students at work

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, 4th – 6th May, archaeology students from the University of Southampton will take a step back in time to the days of Britain’s most famous Royal Navy flag officer, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson.  They will spend the weekend at the historic village of Buckler’s Hard, where ships for Nelson’s Trafalgar fleet were built, getting hands-on experience of using tools and shipbuilding techniques from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Visitors can watch as the students convert oak timbers from the Beaulieu Estate, into the main components of the framework of a ship, discovering the challenges faced by shipbuilders of the time, and how they overcame them.

Living History Guides will be on hand to tell visitors what life was like, living and working in the village during its shipbuilding years.

The Maritime Museum, this year celebrating its 50th anniversary, reveals the story of this unique village, bringing to life the characters that lived here at the time of Henry Adams, the Master Shipbuilder at Buckler’s Hard between 1744 and 1805. New displays explore smuggling and village life at Buckler’s Hard.

Following the Woodland Walk, children can learn how the local timber at Buckler’s Hard was used to construct ships in the 18th & 19th centuries and the whole family can enjoy a tranquil River Cruise, which transports you on a journey along the river with a commentary revealing the history of the Beaulieu River and the abundant wildlife that inhabits its riverbanks.
Buckler’s Hard is a place for relaxation, as well as exploration. The Captain’s Cabin Tea Rooms serves a range of light refreshments and drinks, including delicious cream teas, throughout the day.  The Master Builder’s House Hotel, situated at the bottom of the street, offers a bar and restaurant with river views.

Buckler’s Hard is open every day from 10am.
For more information visit www.bucklershard.co.uk

Buckler's Hard Maritime Museum Celebrates 50 Years

Buckler's Hard Street

Mary Montagu-Scott presenting picture to
Lord Ivar Mountbatten

On the 6th April, 1963, Admiral of the Fleet, Earl Mountbatten of Burma sailed up the Beaulieu River with Lord and Lady Montagu to perform the opening ceremony of the newly created Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum. On the 50th anniversary of that opening, Earl Mountbatten’s great-nephew, Lord Ivar Mountbatten performed a re-dedication of the museum.

Lord Mountbatten echoed the words of his great uncle from the 1963 opening who on that occasion had said: “Buckler’s Hard is famous the world over as a hamlet, unchanged since the 18th century, that has made an invaluable contribution to the history of our country in its production of over 50 warships for the British Navy, three of which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar including Admiral Lord Nelson’s favourite, Agamemnon.”

Mary Montagu-Scott, who has project managed the recent refurbishment of the Maritime Museum, presented Lord Mountbatten with a limited edition David Bell print of Agamemnon.

Over 200 local accommodation providers attended the event along with special guests including former residents of the village.  A new display in the Maritime Museum chronicles life in this unique village during the1920s and 30s and the families who lived in its picturesque cottages.

When Lord Montagu opened the Maritime Museum in 1963, it was “to serve as a memorial to the men of Buckler’s Hard who built men-of-war”. The museum was housed in what had been the New Inn and displayed a collection of models, prints and documents gathered by his father, John Montagu, some forty years earlier.  These were supplemented by loans and gifts, including some original documents belonging to Master Builder, Henry Adams, donated by one of his descendants.

Fifty years since its opening, the Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum has been updated with new displays including the important role played by the village during WWII and its involvement in the D-Day landings, while the recreated interiors of a labourer’s and shipwright’s cottages and the New Inn show how the village would have looked in the early 1800s.
The Beaulieu River was believed to be a major landing point for smuggled goods from the late 18th century with the cottage that is now the Chapel of St Mary’s a centre of operations. A viewing window in the floor beside the altar reveals a recently discovered cellar below, probably used as a store for smuggled contraband. Another new display in the museum tells this fascinating story along with artefacts recovered during excavations of the cellar.

Also joining the 50th anniversary celebrations was Gipsy Moth IV, the yacht in which Sir Francis Chichester became the first person to complete a true solo circumnavigation of the earth in 1967. Trials for the voyage took place on the Beaulieu River and after the completion of the record breaking voyage Sir Francis returned to receive the Freedom of the River.

On the 6th and 7th April, in celebration of the 50th anniversary, KIDS GO FREE* at Buckler’s Hard, as the village comes alive with fun activities including Victorian games, a fun quiz trail with lots of prizes to be won and swashbuckling pirate tales. Learn about village life from Living History characters, hear rousing sea shanties from the strolling Shantymen and watch traditional craft demonstrations.

*To claim KIDS GO FREE admission on the 6th & 7th April 2013, visit: www.bucklershard.co.uk/familyfun T&Cs apply.

Digging Up The Dirt at Bucklers Hard

From Saturday 14th July to Sunday 22nd July an archaeological excavation will be taking place at Buckler’s Hard as part of the Festival of British Archaeology 2012.
The dig, managed by Wessex Archaeology in partnership with the New Forest National Park Authority, will focus on exploring World War II activity on the Buckler’s Hard waterfront, and will be undertaken by volunteers under the supervision of the New Forest National Park Authority Archaeologist.

Members of the public are invited to watch and can even join in and try their hand at archaeological excavation. All the necessary equipment will be provided, and there will be professional guidance and onsite training available for those who haven’t done any excavation work before.

It is hoped that the dig will establish the presence of World War II activity through the digging of several trenches, survey work on the concrete slipway and waterfront, finds processing and recording work.
Buckler’s Hard is an 18th century shipbuilding village on the banks of the Beaulieu River, where ships for Nelson’s fleet at Trafalgar were built. It is well-documented that during World War II the village played a strategically important role. Initially, the concrete slipway was installed so Buckler’s Hard could be used as a repair and service centre for motor torpedo boats. However, as the war progressed, the village became the base for ‘Operation Quicksilver’ – a deception plan in which dummy landing craft were built for mooring on rivers and harbours in the south-east to fool the Germans into thinking any invasion would take place in the area around Calais. Segments of ‘Mulberry Harbour’ were also built there, and Buckler’s Hard was used as a major departure point during the D-Day landings.

The excavation activities will run daily from 9am – 4pm, with refreshments available to purchase from the Captain’s Cabin Tearooms and the Yachtsman’s Bar at the Master Builder’s House Hotel. Members of the public who wish to watch or join in with the dig will be required to pay admission to the Buckler’s Hard visitor attraction and can park for free in the Visitor Car Park.

Admission to Buckler’s Hard includes entry to the Maritime Museum, which tells the story of Buckler’s Hard from its early beginnings as a failed sugar port, through its heyday as an 18th century shipbuilding centre, to its role during the war years. For more information, please visit www.bucklershard.co.uk

SHIPWRIGHTRY AT BUCKLER’S HARD 5TH – 7TH MAY 2012

Over the Bank Holiday weekend, 5th – 7th May, archaeology students from the University of Southampton will take a step back in time to the days of Britain’s most famous Royal Navy flag officer, Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson.  They will spend the weekend at the historic village of Buckler’s Hard, where ships for Nelson’s Trafalgar fleet were built, getting hands-on experience of using tools and shipbuilding techniques from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Visitors can watch as the students convert oak timbers from the Beaulieu Estate, into the main components of the framework of a ship, discovering the challenges faced by shipbuilders of the time, and how they overcame them.

Living History Guides will be on hand to tell visitors what life was like, living and working in the village during its shipbuilding years.

Originally called ‘Montagu Town’ by John, 2nd Duke of Montagu, Buckler’s Hard nestles on the banks of the Beaulieu River, in the heart of the New Forest National Park. A visit to the Maritime Museum reveals the story of this unique village, bringing to life the characters who lived here at the time of Henry Adams, the Master Shipbuilder at Buckler’s Hard between 1744 and 1805. The redisplayed museum offers a new interpretation of Buckler’s Hard and the Beaulieu River, focusing on its ships, which have been the inspiration for a wealth of art, literature and films.

Historic displays in the Labourer’s and Shipwright’s cottages show how the village would have looked in the early 1800s and in the New Inn, you can hear residents from the time gossiping about local matters.

Following the Woodland Walk, children can learn how the local timber at Buckler’s Hard was used to construct ships in the 18th & 19th centuries and the whole family can enjoy a tranquil River Cruise, which transports you on a journey along the river with a commentary revealing the history of the Beaulieu River and the abundant wildlife that inhabits its riverbanks.

Don’t miss the most recent addition to Buckler’s Hard; the indigenous boat used by Daniel Craig’s Bond in Quantum Of Solace. Now displayed on the river bank close to the shipwrightry display area, the boat was used in a daring stunt sequence in which Bond landed on the boat on a motorcycle and took part in a gunfight at high speeds on choppy water, followed by a dramatic water chase. The boat has been put on display as part of the celebrations to mark the 50th year of James Bond films, and complements an exhibition of 50 James Bond vehicles being hosted by sister attraction, Beaulieu, during 2012.

Buckler’s Hard is a place for relaxation, as well as exploration. The Captain’s Cabin Tea Rooms serves a range of light refreshments and drinks, including delicious cream teas, throughout the day.  The Master Builder’s House Hotel, situated at the bottom of the street, offers a bar and restaurant with river views.

Buckler’s Hard is open every day from 10am.

For more information visit www.bucklershard.co.uk