Second phase of Buckler’s Hard shipyard excavation gets underway
Image courtesy of Beaulieu Enterprises Ltd
The Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust has partnered with the Maritime Archaeology Trust and local volunteers to launch the next phase of its historic village slipway and shipyard survey. Running from 20 July to 7 August, the project builds on last year’s excavations, which uncovered significant structural remains and artefacts.
This year, the team hopes to find more in the lower intertidal area of Slipway 2, as well as the locations of a building and shipyard capstan positions.
The initiative will feature a collaborative diving operation in the Beaulieu River at the lowest section of the slipway. Alongside a team of volunteer land-diggers, army divers from the 17 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) based in Marchwood, Southampton, will join the archaeologists to assist with the project whilst undertaking river diving training.
Public engagement and exhibition
Throughout the excavation, a free exhibition will be hosted in the dedicated ‘Dig Tent’ situated by the slipways. The display will showcase the story of the shipyard, featuring both the artefacts recovered during the previous dig and newly discovered items as they are unearthed.
A free family archaeology day is scheduled for 31 July (10am-4pm), featuring specialised activities, object identification workshops and interactive displays.
The dig is being funded through the Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust through donations and with help from the Beaulieu Estate and contractors Pete and John Niccolls. A large number of enthusiastic volunteers from local history and archaeology groups, the nearby community and students will join to work on the excavation of the site. Last year the dig featured on the BBC’s Digging for Britain series 13, episode 3, which is still available on BBC iPlayer to see what was revealed last year.
It is hoped that the remaining structures will shine new light on our understanding of the historic shipyard where 55 ships were built for the Royal Navy between 1744 and 1815.
The Maritime Archaeology Trust, along with volunteers from the Southampton Archaeological Society, recently carried out a ground-penetrating radar survey to try to establish the area most likely to have structures in the ground.
Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust chairman Mary Montagu-Scott says: “There is so much to learn about this historic shipyard that remains buried under the ground. We hope that we will find evidence of our industrial past, both on land and in the river mud.”
Lauren Tisbury from the Maritime Archaeology Trust adds: “No other private yard built as many ships for the Royal Navy during this period, and this makes it uniquely suited for learning about traditional shipbuilding due to its remarkable survival. At Buckler’s Hard you can actually see the whole of the infrastructure needed to build ships of that size, all set in the perfectly preserved 18th-century village. This has been a wonderful opportunity for students and volunteers to take part and expose the structures, revealing them for all to see and from which we have increased our understanding of the shipyard site.”
Following the dig, the area will be backfilled to protect the structure and work will be done to record and conserve the artefacts.
For more information on the dig, readers can follow @bucklershardshipyardtrust on social media.
Buckler’s Hard is open seven days a week in the heart of the New Forest National Park, with its beautiful riverside historic setting and maritime museum telling its story.
For more details see bucklershard.co.uk or call 01590 616203.
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