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Monday 18 June 2012

Coade Stone

“Coade Stone” was a popular building material in the 18th and 19th centuries, often used for intricate ornamental mouldings because of its durable and hard-wearing nature. Despite the name, it isn’t natural stone but an artificial ceramic that was moulded rather than sculpted. It was named after its inventor, Eleanor Coade (1733–1821), who owned and managed a large factory in Lambeth—quite a feat for a woman in those male-dominated times. In 1784 she acquired Belmont House in Lyme Regis, which she used as a summer residence.

The photograph shows an example of Coade stone on display in Lyme Regis Museum. This is one of the two gate piers that flanked the entrance to Belmont in Pound Street. The picture below is a watercolour painted by L. Meux in the 1920s or 30s, showing the gate piers in situ outside Belmont House.

As mentioned in a previous post, the status of Belmont is currently at risk, and it was made the subject of an appeal by the Landmark Trust.

Friday 1 June 2012

Museum Events in June

KNOW YOUR FOSSILS
SATURDAY 2, MONDAY 4, SUNDAY 10, SATURDAY 16, SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2.30pm
Lyme Regis Museum’s fossil experts Chris Andrew and Paddy Howe invite you to Know Your Fossils at 2.30pm. A talk with lots of real fossils to handle and tips on how to find and identify. Bring along your own discoveries for identification.

JUBILEE DISPLAY CELEBRATION
SATURDAY 2 JUNE 12noon
Following the Jubilee Civic Parade, call into Lyme Regis Museum at mid-day for glass of wine to celebrate the opening of the Jubilee display Seven Centuries of Royal Lyme. Free admission all day.

FAMILY FUN DAY
WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE 11am – 3pm
Join half-term Family Fun Day at Lyme Regis Museum when dinosaurs and mythological creatures will fill every spare space – because anything is possible with card and collage! Make your own dragon or dinosaur, pegasus or phoenix, to take and put on display at home. Suitable for children up to 11 years old. Free admission for adults and children and free art materials. No need to book, just drop into the museum any time between 11am and 3pm and get creative with local artist Alison Bowskill.

FOSSIL WALKS
Sunday 3 June 2012 09.15
Monday 4 June 2012 10.15
Tuesday 5 June 2012 11.15
Wednesday 6 June 2012 12.00
Thursday 7 June 2012 12.45
Friday 8 June 2012 13.30
Saturday 9 June 2012 14.00
Sunday 17 June 2012 09.00
Monday 18 June 2012 09.45
Tuesday 19 June 2012 10.15
Wednesday 20 June 2012 11.00
Thursday 21 June 2012 11.45
Friday 22 June 2012 12.15
Saturday 23 June 2012 12.45

MARY ANNING WALKS
Saturday 2 June 2012 13.30
Saturday 9 June 2012 13.30
Saturday 16 June 2012 13.30
Saturday 23 June 2012 13.30
Saturday 30 June 2012 13.30