- Bucklers Hard
Bucklers Hard is a picturesque hamlet situated on the banks of the
Beaulieu river in the English county ofHampshire . With its Georgian cottages running down to the river, Bucklers Hard is part of the 9000 acre (36 km²) Beaulieu Estate. The hamlet is located some 2½ miles (4 km) south of the village of Beaulieu.The hamlet was built by the second Duke of Montagu, originally called Montagu Town, intended to be a free port for trade with the West Indies [ [http://www.bucklershard.co.uk/yourvisit-maritimemuseum.cfm Bucklers Hard Maritime Museum.] ] . Bucklers Hard was the birthplace of many British naval vessels, including many of
Admiral Nelson 's fleet, using the timber of theNew Forest . The industry declined in the nineteenth-century and today the hamlet is given over to tourism, with a small maritime museum, and a modern yachtingmarina . During World War II the village was used to build motor torpedo boats and the river was a base for hundreds of landing craft for the Normandy invasion,Operation Overlord . Bucklers Hard was whereSir Francis Chichester began and finished his single-handed voyage around the world inGipsy Moth IV .Gallery
References
External links
*oscoor|SU408001_region:GB_scale:100000|Map sources for Bucklers Hard.
* [http://www.thenewforest.net New Forest Community Media] - A not-for-profit media site serving the National Park
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