Buckler's Hard

Step back in time on the banks of the Beaulieu River at the peaceful haven of Buckler's Hard. Discover what it was like to live and work in an 18th century shipbuilding village; home to the ships built for Nelson's fleet at Trafalgar.

Today, the village continues to thrive, unspoilt by the passage of time; As you stroll along the nearby Woodland Walk you will discover how the local timber at Buckler's Hard was used in the 18th and 19th centuries to construct ships for the British Navy.

Visit the Maritime Museum which tells 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. Historic displays in the Labourer's and Shipwright's cottages show how the village would have looked in the early 1800s, and inside the New Inn, hear residents from the time gossiping about local matters.

The SS Persia exhibition tells the remarkable story of this P&O liner, and its links with Rolls Royce and the Montagu family. In December 1915, the ship was torpedoed by a German U-Boat in the Mediterranean. On board were Lord John Montagu and his personal assistant Eleanor Thornton, the model for the iconic Rolls Royce mascot, the Spirit of Ecstasy.

Learn about the Beaulieu River's important role during WWll; where sections of the 'Mulberry Harbour' were made and where hundreds of craft sailed from in the D-Day landings. Stroll along the pathways beside, or join the River Cruise which transports you on a tranquil journey along the River, revealing the abundant wildlife that inhabits its riverbanks.

Buckler's Hard is a place for relaxation as well as exploration. Refreshments are to hand at the Captain's Cabin Café and The Master Builder's House Hotel, overlooking the River.