Lymington

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The History of Lymington

In ancient times, the town of Lymington was known as "Lentune". The origins of Lentune are somewhat obscure but, at Buckland Rings on the outskirts of Lymington, there have been Neolithic and Bronze Age finds. This site is one of the more important remaining earthworks in the Forest.

The town flourished on the export of salt from its salt pans, which were developed by the Normans. In the 1800s, about 4000 tons of salt were produced from the nearby salt marshes. The town also had a reputation for smuggling, and smugglers used the busy port to bring their illegal cargoes ashore. During the Middle Ages Lymington started to become well known as a shipbuilding and trading port. The innovative and well-known shipbuilding industry has now given way to yacht and boat building.

The wealth of the town during the Georgian period is reflected in the architecture of its buildings. Lymington's High Street is dominated by Georgian buildings and the Parish Church of St. Thomas the Apostle lies at the top end. This church has 18th century galleries and some architectural features which are over 600 years old. The churchyard has an avenue of lime trees which were planted in the seventeenth century.

The Museum of St Barbe aims to capture the unique flavour of life in the district and to bring first class art exhibitions into the town.

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