Friday 24 April 2026 06:30pm
Romans in the New Forest  ::  Meetings

Location : Beaulieu Village Hall

Presented by Tony King

The occupation of Britain by the Romans (43 to 410 AD) created many changes, including the introduction of Roman law, culture, and infrastructure. Archaeology has revealed much information about these times.
Tony King, professor of archaeology, describes recent research and settlements discovered in the New Forest and the significant contribution they make to understanding the Roman presence.

Friday 22 May 2026 06:30pm
Beaulieu Abbey  ::  Meetings

Location : Beaulieu Village Hall

Presented by Robert Amis

Robert makes a surprising yet realistic assessment of the early life of the abbey in the 13 ^th century and onwards:

Beaulieu was not just an Abbey. It was also a 1,200 ton agribusiness with 7,000 livestock. How did 85 monks live and what about the hundreds of men and
women who really did the work?

Unexpected history of the abbey is revealed.

Friday 25 September 2026 06:30pm
Heywood Sumner  ::  Meetings

Location : Beaulieu Village Hall

Presented by Adrian Green
Director Salisbury Museum

Heywood Sumner was a talented artist involved in the Arts and Crafts movement (c.1880-1920) inspired by John Ruskin and William Morris.

In his later years he became popular for his archaeological fieldwork and his drawings of it in publications on the New Forest and Cranborne Chase which he elegantly self-illustrated. He lived near Fordingbridge and died in 1940.

Friday 30 October 2026 06:30pm
Buckler’s Hard Ancient Shipyard and Slipways  ::  Meetings

Location : Beaulieu Village Hall

Presented by Mary Montagu-Scott

Mary, director of the Buckler’s Hard maritime Museum and chair of its Shipyard Trust, narrates the shipyard’s history. She uses new evidence from recent excavations into the slipways where wooden naval warships were constructed and launched in the 18th and 19th centuries, including Lord Nelson’s favourite warship Agamemnon.

A depiction is given of the arduous lives of those who built the ships and often lived in Buckler’s Hard village. Excavation has also uncovered where in the 20 ^th century naval vessels deployed in WW2 were constructed.

Saturday 28 November 2026 06:30pm
Lymington- Yarmouth Passage  ::  Meetings

Location : Beaulieu Village Hall

Presented by Dr Alan Doe

Alan’s engaging talk is about the Lymington-Yarmouth Ferry from the first steam paddle boat introduced in 1830 up until the introduction of the new ferries in 2009. It’s with a very personal twist as many generations of his family, including Alan himself, have worked on the ferries. Illustrated with fascinating pictures and stories from the family treasure trove.