New trust to lead archaeologial dig at historic Buckler’s Hard
A new charitable organisation, Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust, has been established to support education, research, and heritage projects focused on the historic shipbuilding village of Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River.
The launch follows the recent redevelopment project at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, where the revitalised boatshed now offers new waterfront offices, meeting rooms, and workshops.
Chaired by Mary Montagu-Scott, the trust will mark its first project this month with an archaeological dig excavation of the No. 2 slipway. This location was once the site of construction for some of Nelson’s warships during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
The project is a partnership between the University of Southampton’s Centre for Maritime Archaeology and the Maritime Archaeology Trust, with additional support from the New Forest National Park Authority and Bournemouth University.
Running from 21 July to 8 August, the excavation aims to document the remains of the slipway structure using modern survey technology, including georeferenced mapping and digital modelling. It will build on findings from a 1990s excavation, which uncovered significant shipyard timbers and artefacts now on display at the Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum.
The trust has also outlined future projects, including a survey of the wreck of HMS Agamemnon – one of Nelson’s favoured ships, which sank off Uruguay in 1809 – and a long-term plan to install a replica keel at Buckler’s Hard to showcase the scale of the original wooden warships built on site.
Alongside these heritage projects, the charity aims to deliver educational courses, skills workshops, talks, and community events, with a focus on preserving traditional knowledge of wooden shipbuilding. The Beaulieu Estate has provided facilities for the trust’s base, and local donors have supported the charity’s initial development.
Joining Montagu-Scott as trustees are naval architect Colin Cain and lawyer Iain Rawlinson. The trust is currently seeking additional trustees and volunteers with a range of skills and expertise to join its team. Montagu-Scott comments: “I have been wanting to do this for ages, and at long last it has become a reality. There is so much we can do at Buckler’s Hard to keep the legacy and skills of wooden shipbuilding alive, and I am so passionate about preserving and celebrating this part of our local and maritime history.
“We have many exciting projects ahead and are looking for people to join our voluntary team. We need all sorts of skills, of course, shipwrights and carpenters, but also IT, web, media, accounting, project management, fundraising and are looking for more trustees for the board to steer the charity in the future.”
Hannah Cunliffe, director of National Historic Ships UK, comments on the opportunities the trust will bring: “Buckler’s Hard is one of my favourite places to visit, whether by boat or car and I can’t wait to see these projects progress to better tell the amazing story of wooden ship building in this little New Forest village.
“Buckler’s Hard is already part of the Shipshape Network, a UK-wide initiative which connects individuals and projects from across the maritime heritage sector, raising awareness of critically endangered skills. It’s great to see the site evolving in this way as we work together to inspire audiences, keeping alive the knowledge to help historic vessels survive.”
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