Barton on Sea

Situated on the southern edge of the New Forest, Barton on Sea is within the busy, friendly town of New Milton. With its stunning coastline, magnificent cliffs and sweeping coastal scenery, Barton on Sea is perfect for both leisure and outdoor explorers. Enjoy superb cliff-top walks and views over to the isle of Wight, not forgetting the start of the Solent Way Walk (The Solent Way Walk – Visit Hampshire (visit-hampshire.co.uk)) which spans the length of Keyhaven Nature Reserve or relax in the coastal cafes and restaurants of Barton. The many green recreational spaces around include the natural habitat of Barton Common.

With a range of accommodation providers, the area is a great place to go for a short stop or longer break.

Nearby places of interest include Hurst Castle (Hurst Castle | English Heritage (english-heritage.org.uk)), Milford on Sea, Lymington, Brockenhurst and Beaulieu.

Fossils

Barton on Sea is famous for its fossil hunting. The locality gives its name to a division of the upper part of the Eocene known as the Bartonian. This division is recognised globally and the rich molluscan and associated fossil faunas of the area are therefore of very great importance. The Barton geological beds are rich with hundreds of species of shell, in particular gastropods. Shark teeth are regularly found along with tertiary fossils including mammals, fish, reptiles, and birds.

History

During WWI, Barton Court Hotel was used as a convalescent home for Indian servicemen. An obelisk in Barton on Sea commemorates this to this day. In WWII, New Milton homed evacuees and was a transit station for soldiers going to the. It also housed an army hospital.

Barton Lane homes a row of Coast Guard Cottages. These cottages were built at the end of the nineteenth century by the Government to house armed guards to try and stop the smuggling that was rife in the area at the time.

Reference. Milton Heritage Society – Barton on Sea – Milton Heritage Society