Marina Projects Ltd SUPPORTS PIONEERING ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATION AT Buckler's Hard Yacht Harbour
Marina Projects Ltd. is proud to announce its instrumental role in supporting the 2025 archaeological excavation at the historic shipbuilding village of Buckler’s Hard on the Beaulieu River, by helping secure the necessary licenses required for the project to proceed. The dig, led by Mary Montagu-Scott, Chair of the Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust, working in partnership with the University of Southampton’s Centre for Maritime Archaeology, headed by Professor Jon Adams and Dr. Rodrigo Ortiz-Vazquez, has brought new insight into Britain’s remarkable naval heritage. The project was further supported by students and volunteers from the New Forest National Park Authority and the Maritime Archaeology Trust, along with local community members.
The excavation of No. 2 slipway was particularly insightful, an 18th century structure from which Royal Navy warships, including those associated with Admiral Lord Nelson, were once constructed and launched. ‘The Dig’ has revealed surviving oak shipbuilding timbers, together with pottery, glassware, metal artefacts and structural remains that illustrate the scale and craftsmanship of historic shipyard operations. The project uncovered what is believed to be the first fully exposed slipway of its kind in the UK, offering an unparalleled opportunity to study shipyard infrastructure from this era.
Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust chairman Mary Montagu-Scott said: “The dig exceeded all expectations as so much of the structure has survived preserved under the mud and soil. This will give a greater understanding of how the largest 64 and 74-gun ships were built and launched across the bend in the river. I really enjoyed digging with the team and was amazed how much we found and uncovered each day but there is still so much more to excavate in the future to aid our understanding.”
Marina Projects Ltd.’s Role
As part of its longstanding commitment to the responsible development and preservation of marine environments, Marina Projects Ltd. assisted in securing the range of licenses and regulatory approvals required to undertake the excavation as a charitable act. This included coordinating with environmental and heritage bodies to ensure the dig progressed efficiently, responsibly and in full compliance with statutory protections surrounding the site.
“Our team is delighted to have supported such a significant heritage project,” said Mike Ward, Managing Director of Marina Projects “Buckler’s Hard is an irreplaceable part of Britain’s maritime story, and helping to unlock new understanding of its shipbuilding past aligns closely with our values of sustainable, historically aware marine development.”