OUR HISTORY
A House Built on History: The Story of The Master Builder’s
Set on the banks of the Beaulieu River within the historic village of Buckler’s Hard, The Master Builder’s House Hotel is no ordinary country retreat. This Grade II listed building is steeped in centuries of shipbuilding heritage and was once the home of one of Britain’s most important maritime craftsmen: Henry Adams.
The hotel takes its name from Adams himself — the Master Shipbuilder who lived and worked here in the 18th century. His arrival in 1744 marked the beginning of a golden age for Buckler’s Hard. At the time, the village was envisioned as a hub for shipbuilding thanks to its access to New Forest oak, deep water channel, and sheltered riverfront. Within a few short years, Adams had become the resident shipbuilding contractor, leasing the yard from the Beaulieu Estate and overseeing the construction of over 40 Royal Navy ships.
From what is now The Master Builder’s, Adams planned and directed the building of vessels that would become crucial to British naval supremacy — including HMS Euryalus, HMS Swiftsure, and HMS Agamemnon, all of which played roles in Lord Nelson’s fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.
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His legacy lives on in the very fabric of this building. The house you stay in today once served as both home and office to Adams and his family — where designs were drawn, contracts signed, and ships of war conceived. It remains one of the finest surviving examples of a shipbuilder’s residence in England, with period features and river views that would have witnessed the birth of some of the navy’s most storied vessels.The surrounding village, still part of the Beaulieu Estate, preserves this rich maritime heritage. Just steps from the hotel, the Buckler’s Hard Museum brings the shipbuilding story to life, while the working boatyard continues the tradition of craftsmanship that first defined the area.
Today, The Master Builder’s balances the charm of the past with the comforts of the present. Whether dining in Henry’s Pub, relaxing in one of our elegant bedrooms, or enjoying the peaceful view from our garden, guests are immersed in a place where history isn’t just remembered — it’s part of the everyday.
To stay at The Master Builder’s is to walk in the footsteps of shipwrights, seafarers, and admirals. It’s a place of stories — told not just in books or displays, but in the walls themselves.
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