Brockenhurst

Brockenhurst's Water Splash

Three Brockenhurst Curiosities

Badgers

Brockenhurst means "badgers home" in Celtic - which explains the appearance of a badger on so many Brockenhurst-related insignia.

No1 New Zealand General Hospital

21,000 wounded members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in France were treated at No1 New Zealand General Hospital, Brockenhurst during the First World War. A commemorative plaque marks the site where the hospital once stood.

Bronze Age

The open heathland and ancient woods which surround the village are dotted with Bronze Age burial mounds called tumuli. These are most visible on the road past Beaulieu Plain.

About Brockenhurst

This large, attractive village lying just a few miles south of Lyndhurst, is one of the outstanding locations of the forest, making an ideal spot to stop and enjoy a walk or picnic, and watch the ponies and other animals graze around you. The North and South Weirs streams join and as one flow through Brockenhurst. In Brookley Road and in the warmer months of the year the stream flows across the road, commonly referred to as The Splash. This is fine in summer and autumn but when the weather is colder, with possibility of the road icing over the pipes under the road are opened to take the flow. There is a second ford in the Waters Green area of the village and this flows continuously throughout the year. From beyond this the Weirs stream meets the river formed by the Blackwater and Ober Water to become the Lymington River.

Brockenhurst, meaning "badgers home" in Celtic, is one of the largest villages in the New Forest, whilst retaining an air of old world charm. It is here that ponies, donkeys and cows roam freely, and drink from the watersplash at the bottom of the main street on their way to graze the open heathland and ancient woods that surround the village.

Easily accessible by road and inter-city rail service, Brockenhurst is within a few miles of the sea and the heart of the forest is only a few minutes walk away.

Things to Do and See in Brockenhurst

• A favourite haunt for both visitors and locals is the riverside car park by the Balmer Lawn Hotel. To the North of the village is New Park which is the annual home of the New Forest Show, a traditional agricultural show, held in late July - well worth a visit.
• The local churchyard contains a 1000 year old Yew which some believe to be the oldest tree in the forest.
• The Rhinefield Ornamental Drive is beautiful all year round, especially when the rhododendrons are in bloom in the spring.
• The village is well known for a diversity of shops, tea rooms, pubs and high quality restaurants. There are also forest tours with wagon and horses, forest walks, of varying lengths, some waymarked with explanatory notes to help visitors. Every year there is a village fête on the Bank Holiday Monday in August.
  
• Many parts of the forest, hidden to the motorist, are easily accessible by bicycle on designated gravel tracks. Horse riding is another activity well catered for by the town and local riding establishments cater for all ages and abilities.

A Little Brockenhurst History

Brockenhurst lies within the Heritage Area of the New Forest which the European Union is funding work to restore and preserve. The manor house of Brochelie was situated on the plot now occupied by the Watersplash Hotel, its manor extending over the lands to the western side of the A337 Lyndhurst-Lymington Road.

The fourth Saxon manor of the area was Broceste which gives the village its name. It was the most important manor, being a grand-serjeanty held by providing accommodation for the King when hunting in the area.

During the First World War, Brockenhurst played host to the Lady Hardinge Hospital for Wounded Indian Soldiers. Meerut Road's name recognises the Indian troops of the Meerut and Lahore Divisions who fought on the Western Front in the war and were patients here. It was later taken over by the No.1 New Zealand General Hospital and continued in use until 1919. Auckland Avenue and Auckland Place commemorate the stay of the New Zealanders.