Bucklers Hard

Bucklers Hard

Bucklers Hard is a hamlet situated on the banks of the Beaulieu River in the English county of Hampshire. With its Georgian cottages running down to the river, Bucklers Hard is part of the 9000 acre (36 km²) Beaulieu Estate. The hamlet is located some 2½ miles (4 km) south of the village of Beaulieu.

The hamlet, originally called Montagu Town, was built by the second Duke of Montagu, and was intended to be a free port for trade with the West Indies^[1].

Bucklers Hard was the birthplace of many British naval vessels, including many of Admiral Nelson's fleet, using the timber of the New Forest. The Hard, under the control of Master shipbuilder Henry Adams was responsible for building many famous ships during the late 18th century and early 19th centuries. These included HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure and HMS Agamemnon, all of which fought at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.^[2] The industry declined in the nineteenth-century and today the hamlet is given over to tourism, with a small maritime museum, and a modern yachting marina. During World War II the village was used to build motor torpedo boats and the river was a base for hundreds of landing craft for the Normandy invasion, Operation Overlord. Bucklers Hard was where Sir Francis Chichester began and finished his single-handed voyage around the world in Gipsy Moth IV.

Gallery

The northern terrace	The southern terrace	The Beaulieu River at Bucklers Hard	Bucklers Hard marina
Lord Nelson's first command and favourite ship, HMS Agamemnon was launched on this slip.	The building slips at Buckler's Hard	A World War II slipway	Bucklers Hard Maritime Museum

See also

• Media related to Bucklers Hard at Wikimedia Commons

References

External links

• Map sources for Bucklers Hard.
• New Forest Community Media - A not-for-profit media site serving the National Park

Coordinates: 50°47′57″N 1°25′21″W / 50.79903°N 1.42243°W / 50.79903; -1.42243