Buckler's Hard

Buckler's Hard is a maritime museum housed in a village beside the Beaulieu River, preserving the shipbuilding trade through original worker cottages, workshops, and displays. The site shows the physical layout where vessels were constructed and how the riverfront workspace connected to living quarters.

This riverside village became a major shipbuilding center in the 1700s, where hundreds of warships were constructed for the Navy. Three vessels built here later saw action at the Battle of Trafalgar.

The period cottages reveal how shipyard workers and their families lived in separate social conditions along the river. You can see how the waterside location shaped daily routines and family life.

You can walk along riverside paths to explore on your own or join guided tours of the village. The site is compact enough to visit in a few hours without needing to rush.

The collection includes artifacts from the SS Persia, a passenger liner that sank after being struck by a German submarine, linking the site to the Montagu family legacy. This unexpected addition connects two distinct periods of maritime history.

Location: New Forest

Address: Bucklers Hard, Beaulieu, Brockenhurst SO42 7XB

Phone: 01590616203

Website: https://bucklershard.co.uk

GPS coordinates: 50.79865,-1.42115

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21