14th May 2026 • The HERALD • Page 31 v SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES v PW Bathroom Installations Call 07778 345 124 Email: petewilliams21@hotmail.co.uk Design, Supply & Fit High Quality Bathrooms in Southampton and surrounding areas Over 20 years experience Fully Insured - Free Quotation For more pictures of our work visit: @pw_bathroom_installations PW Bathroom Installations The next Herald is out on 4th June Gilbury Hard and Ferry by Robin Somes, Fawley and Blackfield Memories e riverbanks and woodlands around the New Forest coast o en contain deposits of yellowy clay, and so it’s not surprising that brickworks have emerged, ourished a while, and then disappeared, as the clay deposits were exhausted, or the economics of the business changed. Around the Fawley area there have been several, including at White elds Farm, on the Langley to Lepe road, and at Brickyard Creek, on the Beaulieu River. On the other side of the river, there was one at Bailey’s Hard, a mile or so up-river from Buckler’s Hard, while back on “our” side, there was apparently one at Gilbury. e brickworks probably deserve their own article, another day. I’ve written previously about salterns at Fawley and Ashlett, and again it’s no surprise that similar industry ourished on the Beaulieu River, most notably at Lower Exbury, not far from Brickyard Creek, where the structure of the brine ponds can still be seen, and at various other points between there and Gilbury. Given the many trades ourishing on both sides of the river, it’s little wonder that a ferry once existed – perhaps 200 years ago, and probably much longer ago than that – between Gilbury Hard and Buckler’s Hard. e existence of both the quay and the hard at Gilbury suggests it was once a thriving hub, rather than the quiet location it now is. Probably another local stopping-o point for barges and other trading vessels in and around the Solent waters. It’s said, moreover, that when royalty came to visit Exbury, they alighted rst at Gilbury Hard, whence they were driven up to the house. In 1927, F.J. Penny (from whom we’ve previously heard views on the local pubs), wrote about the ferry: “… which from time immemorial has existed between Gilbury Hard and Buckler’s Hard on the opposite side of the ‘Exe; or Beaulieu River. The ancient tradition is that it originated with the Beaulieu Abbey monks, who constantly made use of it in relation to their ministrations – prior to the Dissolution – at old Exbury Church, the foundations of which are still traceable at Lower Exbury”. More recently, I’ve long found it a delightful place to seek out the rarities - narrow-leaved lungwort, marsh mallow, and wild madder, once or twice an osprey, War 2, or simply nd some peace and solitude. No longer; currently it’s all fenced o securely. Perhaps one day it’ll be open again. The author, a while ago at Gilbury Quay and to my great excitement when such things really were rarities, my rst sight of an egret. Other times, I’d go to watch mullet cruising lazily around the saltmarsh creeks, look at the debris of landing cra and the Mulberry Harbour construction le over from World Dancing in Hythe If you enjoy dancing, go along to Hythe and Dibden Parish Hall in West Street, Hythe, on Wednesday afternoons, 1pm–3pm for Ballroom, Latin and Sequence dancing. Admission £5. Refreshments provided.
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