Visit to Buckler's Hard Excavations

Excavation Visit & Tour, Buckler’s Hard

The Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust has been excavating at the historic riverside site on the Beaulieu River in the New Forest to uncover the historical slipways where 55 wooden warships for the Royal Navy including Nelson’s favourite, HMS Agamemnon, were built. Buckler’s Hard village is famous as the private shipyard in use from around 1740 until 1971 when the boatyard operations moved upstream, leaving the historic site preserved and undisturbed.

A team from Southampton University, with the national park archaeologists, and Maritime Archaeology Trust will be displaying the special techniques used for this type of site.

The Field Club has been offered an exclusive visit to and tour of the excavations by the chair of the Trust, Mary Montagu-Scott. After the tour, attendees can visit the small museum (for a small charge) or take advantage of the eating, drinking and walking facilities at Buckler’s Hard. A lovely summer’s day out in the National Park.

This exclusive tour is, as usual, free to Field Club members, but we would be most grateful if you could contribute at the dig itself. Proceeds go to the Trust to fund further excavations and research. Note that new New Forest parking charges apply at the site.