BUCKLER'S HARD

Buckler's Hard is a picturesque 18th century village on the banks of the Beaulieu River in the heart of the New Forest. Historically, it is famed as the place where some of the ships of Nelson's fleet were built, but whether your interest is as a visitor - as an individual, family, group or educational party - or as a sailor wishing to moor in the River, the things to see and enjoy are as varied as the history of the area itself.
There is the Buckler's Hard Story and cottage displays to be seen. Visitors can stay in the village at the Master Builders House Hotel, or you can just enjoy the natural beauty of this historic village and soak up the atmosphere as the local ducks waddle past. A river cruise or a walk through the woodlands nearby can only add to your pleasure. Check our events page for information about our regular special events.



Buckler's Hard is a little over two miles from its sister attraction of Beaulieu, where visitors can tour the National Motor Museum as well as Palace House and Beaulieu Abbey.


HISTORY OF BUCKLER'S HARD AND THE BEAULIEU RIVER
Buckler’s Hard, on the Beaulieu River, is the centre of boating. In addition to offering facilities for yachtsmen, the natural beauty and history of the Beaulieu River contains much of interest for the visitor that we hope you will enjoy during your stay.



Traffic is nothing new on the Beaulieu River. In medieval times when the Cistercian monastery at Beaulieu was flourishing, the river was the monks' 'main road'. It provided easy access for produce and goods from the Continent and from other parts of England, as well as an outward route for wool and timber from the Estate.
There was a wharf at Beaulieu on the Abbey side of the bridge from the early 13th century. Bailey’s Hard was used from the late 17th century, whilst Buckler’s Hard was established in the early 18th century and is one of England’s most attractive and unusual villages. It was created in the early 18th century by the 2nd Duke of Montagu, who planned to build a free port on the banks of the Beaulieu River for the import and export of sugar from the West Indies. The idea failed to get off the ground when the French captured the islands, but from the 1740’s the site was used for the building of over 50 wooden ships for the Royal Navy..



The Master Shipbuilder, Henry Adams, and his sons built ships like the Agamemnon, the Euryalus and the Swiftsure, all of which fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Agamemnon was said to be Nelson’s favourite ship; he was serving as her captain when he met Lady Hamilton in Naples. Later, while still in command, he lost the sight of his right eye at the siege of Calvi. The dispatch containing news of Nelson’s death was written on the Euryalus.

The advent of iron ships saw the demise of shipbuilding at Buckler’s Hard and it became a sleepy rural village, but in the early years of the 20th century the Beaulieu River became popular with yachtsman and this popularity increased between the two World Wars.


The Labourer's Cottage

During the 2nd World War, the village and surrounding area became a hive of activity and access was restricted, when the Admiralty requisitioned the River. Just up stream from Buckler’s Hard, an experimental concrete floating dock was constructed and sections of the Mulberry harbours were built in the old oyster beds. Hundreds of landing craft and their crews gathered on the River before leaving for Normandy and the D-Day Landings. Clandestine operations took place to test the catapult trolley needed to launch a smoke-laying pilotless aircraft called the Swallow, which had been designed by Nevil Shute. In more recent times, Buckler’s Hard has been the home port of Sir Francis Chichester, the famous yachtsman, who circumnavigated the globe in his yacht, Gipsy Moth IV in 1966-7.
 

The New Inn

A coastguard station was built at Need’s Ore at the mouth of the Beaulieu River around 1859-1860, which remained in operation until 1922. Today, a Millennium Beacon has been built by the community of Beaulieu to guide yachtsman safely through the mouth of the Beaulieu River

Pictures and text copyright Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd