Page 22 • The HERALD • 7th August 2025 v SAY YOU SAW IT IN THE HERALD v New Dig at Shipbuilding Village as Buckler’s New charitable trust Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust has been established to deliver education and heritage projects about the history of shipbuilding at Buckler’s Hard on the banks of the Beaulieu River. e charity trustees, led by Mary Montagu-Scott, are excited to have started the charity and begin their rst project – to work in partnership on an archaeological survey of the No 2 slipway, where large wooden warships for Nelson’s navy were built. e trust’s mission is to bring the story of Buckler’s Hard shipyard alive, with its rich history from medieval times, to shipbuilding in the 18th and 19th centuries, its role in WW2, the global footprint of ships originating from it and its rural village community, in a way that is truly inspiring, sustainable, inclusive to all and preserves it for future generations. Projects include a survey of the wreck of HMS Agamemnon, Nelsons’ favourite ship which sank in 1809 in Uruguay, and an archaeological dig of the historic slipways. e long-term ambition is to lay a replica keel in the slipway to show the huge scale of the wooden warships and for woodworking skills and knowledge to be studied and taught to a new generation of people. e new trust, which is based in the village in a cottage o ce in 75 Buckler’s Hard and in the old shipyard slipways, is an educational and heritage charity and plans to deliver courses, talks, demonstrations and projects to build skills, knowledge and collections relating to its shipbuilding heritage. Alongside Mary Montagu-Scott as trustees are naval architect Colin Cain from Lymington and lawyer Iain Rawlinson, who have volunteered to join the charity to lead the projects forward. e Beaulieu Estate has donated the facilities, and a local donor has generously helped to fund the set up and project development. Chair of the trustees Mary Montagu-Scott said: “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 to preserve and celebrate 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 Cunli e, Director of National Historic Ships UK, is excited about the opportunities the charity will present: “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.” Chair of the Trustees - Mary Montagu-Scott Continued on page 23
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTIyNzI=