Buckler's Hard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buckler's Hard |
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 Buckler's Hard
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| OS grid reference | SU408001 |
| Civil parish | |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Brockenhurst |
| Postcode district | SO42 |
| Dialling code | 01592 |
| Police | Hampshire |
| Fire | Hampshire |
| Ambulance | South Central |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Buckler's Hard is a small village, also called a hamlet, located in Hampshire, England. It sits right on the banks of the Beaulieu River. This historic place is part of the large Beaulieu Estate, which covers about 9,000 acres (3,600 hectares). You can find Buckler's Hard about 2.5 miles (4 km) south of the main village of Beaulieu. It is famous for its two rows of old Georgian style cottages that lead down to the river.
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The Story of Buckler's Hard
Buckler's Hard was first known as Montagu Town. It was built by the second Duke of Montagu. He wanted it to be a special port where ships could trade freely with the West Indies. The location was perfect for building ships. It had a calm river that ships could easily sail on. There were also gravel banks that were great for building and launching ships. Plus, lots of wood for making ship hulls was available from the nearby New Forest.
Shipbuilding Begins
Shipbuilding started at Buckler's Hard in the early 1700s. A man named James Wyatt, who was a local business owner and sold timber, set up a private shipyard next to the hamlet. His company, Wyatt & Co., won a contract to build a Navy ship called HMS Surprise in 1744. They also built another ship, HMS Scorpion, there.
The British Navy sent a skilled shipbuilder named Henry Adams from Deptford Dockyard to Buckler's Hard in 1744. His job was to watch over the building of these ships by Wyatt & Co. After Wyatt finished these first ships, Buckler's Hard became very important for shipbuilding across the country, thanks to Henry Adams. They continued to win more contracts from the Royal Navy.
Famous Ships Built Here
Over the next 60 years, Henry Adams oversaw the building of 43 Royal Navy ships at Buckler's Hard. Some of these ships were very famous! Three of them even fought in the important Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. These ships were HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure, and HMS Agamemnon. In 1783, Henry Adams' son, Balthazar Adams, took over the shipbuilding business.
Later Years and Today
Shipbuilding at Buckler's Hard became less common in the 1800s. However, during World War II, the village was used again to build fast motor torpedo boats. The river also became a base for hundreds of landing craft that were used for the D-Day invasion, known as Operation Overlord, in Normandy.
Today, Buckler's Hard is a popular place for visitors. It has a small museum about its maritime history and a modern marina for yachts. It's also famous as the place where Sir Francis Chichester started and finished his amazing solo trip around the world in his sailboat, the Gipsy Moth IV.
See also
- Hard (nautical)
