THE ancient art of falconry has been revived at a New Forest estate.

Lord Montagu has rekindled Beaulieu’s association with the skilled profession by appointing the estate’s first official falconer in centuries.

Paul Manning will be based in the grounds of the 13th century Beaulieu Abbey and he is believed to be the first falconer recruited by the Montagu family for more than 300 years,

Paul, who lives near Romsey already runs a falconry school on the 7,000-acre estate.

Now the facility, known as Abbot’s Mews, has also become an exhibition centre where visitors can learn about the kings, queens and nobleman who practised the sport.

Paul said: “It’s a real honour to be Lord Montagu’s falconer, particularly with Beaulieu’s rich history of falconry.

“The wonderful thing about falconry is that it’s truly living history - what I do is exactly what people did 700 years ago.

“Nothing has changed, from the birds to the equipment.”

Falconers have been based in the New Forest for centuries and some of the earliest exponents of the art were mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086.

King John, who founded Beaulieu Abbey in 1204, was a passionate supporter of falconry.

But other enthusiasts included Henry VIII, whose dissolution of the monasteries in 1538 resulted in the building’s destruction.