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An archaeological discovery has brought to light a slipway from the 18th Century where ships for Lord Nelson’s fleet were built and launched. Located in Buckler’s Hard, a small hamlet in the New Forest, this slipway is said to be the first of its kind to be completely uncovered in the UK. Buckler’s Hard was once home to one of the busiest private shipyards of the 1700s, making this find extremely significant in understanding shipbuilding techniques and infrastructure from that era.
The excavation was carried out by a team from the University of Southampton, with support from the Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust, a newly formed conservation charity. The site is historically significant, having seen the construction of 55 wooden warships for the Royal Navy in the 1700s, with some ships rivaling the size of HMS Victory. Professor Jon Adams, director of the university’s Centre for Maritime Archaeology, emphasized the importance of this discovery in shedding light on the shipbuilding practices of the time.
Unlike most slipways from the 18th Century, which are now buried under concrete, the Buckler’s Hard find offers a rare glimpse into traditional shipbuilding methods. Professor Adams highlighted the importance of being able to observe the entire infrastructure and logistical structures needed to construct ships of that magnitude. The site also yielded some historical artifacts, including musket balls and fastening nails from the 1700s, providing further insight into the daily life at Buckler’s Hard during this period.
One of the most notable ships built at Buckler’s Hard was HMS Agamemnon, which played a significant role in the Battle of Trafalgar and was famously known as Lord Nelson’s “favorite” ship. Plans are underway to erect a replica of the vessel at the end of the slipway to showcase how it would have looked under construction. Additionally, a 3D model of the slipway has been created for research purposes, and the site will be covered with a new layer of soil and timbers to recreate the ambiance of the 1700s shipyard. Professor Adams expressed the hope that visitors would be able to visualize the historical significance of Buckler’s Hard and gain a deeper understanding of the shipbuilding heritage that thrived there
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