New Exhibition at Lyme Regis Museum

News Release 24 August 2012

Lyme Regis Museum’s new exhibition, ‘... where I intend to end my days’  by local artist Jennie Pearson, explores family links between Lyme and early pioneers of her native Western Australia.

Jennie’s hand- and machine-stitched textiles make the connection with reference to Lyme people such as Sir Richard Spencer who, in 1833, set sail to become Government Resident of the fledgling settlement in Albany, South West Australia.

A preview of the exhibition on Saturday, September 1st, begins at 6.30pm with drinks and an introduction by Adrian Pearson, ‘Sir Richard Spencer: a corner of Lyme in Western Australia’. All are welcome, free.

The exhibition runs from September 1st to October 15th.

Picture captions:
1. Textile image of Lady Ann Spencer, wife of Sir Richard Spencer
2. Textile image of the Spencer’s house in Cobb Road, Lyme Regis

Friends of Lyme Regis Museum Book Sale

The Friends of Lyme Regis Philpot Museum will be holding a BOOK SALE on Bank Holiday Monday, 27th August. This will start at 10.30 AM and will be held outside the Museum, or if the weather is poor undercover at The Inn Place, Pilot Boat Inn.

Everything from as-new hardbacks to used paperbacks... all at bargain prices!

Museum Events in August

Rockpooling
Wednesday 8 August at 3.30 pm
Discover rockpooling on the beach at Lyme Regis with museum marine biologist Chris Andrew and geologist Paddy Howe. See at close quarters the magical world of seaweed, fish and creatures like velvet swimming crabs and squat lobsters that lie in the wake of the receding tide. Rockpooling groups leave the museum according to the tides. Just one date in August: Wednesday 8th at 3.30pm.

Facts on Fossils
Saturday 11, Sunday 26 and Monday 27 August at 2.30pm
Discover Facts on Fossils with museum geologists Chris Andrew and Paddy Howe. Learn how to find fossils; bring along your own discoveries for identification and handle some extraordinary fossils recently found on the Jurassic Coast. A mini master class for all ages and levels of interested fossilists.
Meet at the Langmoor Room, Jubilee Pavilion on Marine Parade on August 11, August 26 and August 27 at 2.30 pm. To book: tel 01297 443370 or email walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk; price £4 adults; free children/students, includes free museum admission.

Family Fossil Days
Thursday 9, Thursday 23 and Saturday 25 August
Family Fossil Days – fossil hunters Paddy Howe, Chris Andrew and Brandon Lennon are at Lyme Regis Museum for mini fossil festivals in August. Cut and polish an ammonite and make it the most beautiful fossil of all time to take home. Handle 190-million-year-old treasures, ask questions and bring your own prized collection for identification. Impressive finds on display including spectacular recent discoveries. Free admission to all. Ammonite polishing on each day except 23 August.

Mary Anning Walks
Saturdays 4, 11, 18 and 25 August at 3pm
Explore the paths and streets of Old Lyme as Mary Anning knew them with guide Natalie Manifold. Mary Anning Walks depart from the museum every Saturday during August at 3pm.

Fossil Walks

• Friday 3 August 2012 11.30
• Saturday 4 August 2012 12.15
• Sunday 5 August 2012 12.45
• Monday 6 August 2012 13.15
• Tuesday 7 August 2012 13.45
• Wednesday 15 August 2012 09.00
• Thursday 16 August 2012 09.30
• Friday 17 August 2012 10.15
• Saturday 18 August 2012 11.00
• Sunday 19 August 2012 11.45
• Tuesday 21 August 2012 13.00
• Wednesday 29 August 2012 09.00
• Thursday 30 August 2012 09.45
• Friday 31 August 2012 10.30

Family Fossil Day

News release from Carole Halden, Marketing Manager of Lyme Regis Museum:

Ammonite polishing was the big attraction at Lyme Regis Museum’s Family Fossil Day on Thursday 26 July. Around 250 children and adults found their way to the sea-side terrace of the museum to join in the polishing activity. For ammonite polishing, the fossils are first sliced in half; the beautiful coiled inside chambers are then visible and it is this surface that is polished by sanding in a circular motion on coarse, then fine, wetted sandpaper and finally a sanding wheel until it is smooth and shining.

Family Fossil Days with ammonite polishing will take place again on Thursday August 9 and Saturday August 25. Museum geologist Paddy Howe with fossil experts Chris Andrew and Brandon Lennon will lead the fun, answer questions and impart their outstanding fossil knowledge as they work; and there will be free admission to the museum.

The picture shows Iris Goldbach and Alina Schuff, all the way from Hamburg in Germany, enjoying last week's event.