Museum events in June

5.30 pm Thursday 6th June at The Town Mill Malthouse

The Lymiad / Dinner with Dr Buckland

"Dinner with Dr Buckland" is a black comedy, written in verse, taking a swipe at the eating habits of the the great 19th century geologist, William Buckland ("eating his way though the animal kingdom"). It will be performed by Fred Humphrey and Sandra Lello and following it they will read extracts from The Lymiad, a satirical poem about Lyme in the 19th century, written anonymously in the form of letters from Lyme to a friend in Bath. In conclusion, Professor Hugh Torrens, who is an expert on Mary Anning, will talk about his theories as to the author's identity. Organised by The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum. Tickets £3 (members £2); telephone 01297 443370 or email "info [at] lymeregismuseum.co.uk" for more information.

EXHIBITION

Until 14 July in the Museum's Rotunda Gallery

Jurassic Dreams!

An exhibition by children's illustrator Keith Robinson.

FOSSIL WALKS

Thursday 6th June 9am
Friday 7th June 9.30am
Saturday 8th June 10.15am
Sunday 9th June 10.45am
Monday 10th June 11.15am (fully booked)
Tuesday 11th June 11.45am
Wednesday 12th June 12.15pm
Thursday 13th June 1pm
Saturday 22nd June 9am
Sunday 23rd June 10am
Monday 24th June 11am
Tuesday 25th June 11.45am
Wednesday 26th June 12.30pm
Thursday 27th June 1.15pm

MARY ANNING WALKS

Saturday 1 June 1.30pm
Saturday 8 June 1.30pm
Saturday 15 June 1.30pm
Saturday 22 June 1.30pm
Saturday 29 June 1.30pm

LYME HISTORY WALKS

Saturday 1 June 11am
Monday 3 June 11am
Saturday 8 June 11am
Monday 10 June 11am
Saturday 15 June 11am
Monday 17 June 11am
Saturday 22 June 11am
Monday 24 June 11am
Saturday 29 June 11am

ROCKPOOLING WALKS

Wednesday 5th June 9.30am
Friday 14th June 3.00pm
Friday 21st June 9.30am
Friday 28th June 3.30pm

Museum events in May

FRIDAY 3rd MAY to SUNDAY 5th MAY
Lyme Regis Fossil Festival
The Museum is open free for Lyme's annual celebration of palaeontology. On Saturday & Sunday our geologists will be in the marquee on the beach helping you polish fossils which can be purchased for a small charge.

FRIDAY 17th MAY
Museums at Night - "The Beast in the Cellar"
7.00pm at the Museum
Come and see the Museum's big ichthyosaurs and hear our geologists talk about them. Tickets are limited in number and cost £5.00 with children free.

THURSDAY 23rd MAY
Coach Trip to Somerset
Visiting Wells Cathedral & Somerset Rural Life Museum at Glastonbury. Coach leaves Holmbush Car-park at 10am. Tickets £20 per person. Please phone 01297 445337 to book.

FOSSIL WALKS

Tuesday 7th May 9am
Wednesday 8th May 9.15am
Thursday 9th May 10am
Friday 10th May 10.45am
Saturday 11th May 11.15am
Sunday 12th May 11.45am
Monday 13th May 12.15pm
Tuesday 14th May 12.45pm
Thursday 23rd May 9am
Friday 24th May 9.30am
Saturday 25th May 10.30am
Sunday 26th May 11.15am
Monday 27th May 12 noon
Tuesday 28th May 12.45pm (fully booked)

MARY ANNING WALKS

Saturday 4th May 1.30pm
Sunday 5th May 1.30pm
Saturday 11th May 1.30pm
Saturday 18th May 1.30pm
Sunday 19th May 1.30pm
Saturday 25th May 1.30pm

LYME HISTORY WALKS

Saturday 4 May 11am
Monday 6 May 11am
Saturday 11 May 11am
Monday 13 May 11am
Saturday 18 May 11am
Monday 20 May 11am
Saturday 25 May 11am
Monday 27 May 11am

ROCKPOOLING WALKS

Monday 6th May 9.00am
Wednesday 15th May 2.45pm
Wednesday 22nd May 9.00am

A Local Author at the Museum

STOP PRESS.... Here is another event in April that didn't make it into the previous post! Local author Nigel Clarke will be launching his new book Adolf's British Holiday Snaps in the Museum at 6.30 pm on Saturday 20th April, followed by a talk in the Guildhall next door at 7 pm. Tickets, which include a glass of wine, are available at £5 from the Museum either in advance or on the day.

During World War 2, the German Air Force created a unique archive of reconnaissance photographs of Britain – the first aerial survey of the United Kingdom. At the end of the war, what remained of this extensive archive was sorted and interpreted in the UK before being sent to the United States. The photos remained classified until the 1970s when satellite imagery replaced them! Nigel Clarke's new book collects many of "Adolf's British holiday snaps", particularly from the South West of the country, showing it as it was before post-war industrialisation – with few large towns, no motorways, no shopping centres and only one international airport.

Nigel has kindly agreed that all proceeds from the book launch and talk will go to Lyme Regis Museum. Director David Tucker said “we are very grateful to Nigel for his generosity and we are very pleased to be selected as the venue for the launch of this impressive book”.

Museum events in April

Exhibition

Beach Treasure by Lynda White – beach-combed china and Lyme Bay paintings. An Artsfest re:collection project in progress, on display in the Rotunda at Lyme Regis Museum from 30 March to 19 May 2013.

Events

WEDNESDAY 3 APRIL 11am to 3pm
Family Fun Day with local artist Alison Bowskill – Come along for Spring themed craft activities!

THURSDAY 11 APRIL 2.30pm Woodmead Hall
Museums and the Arts – A talk by Mary Godwin, former Director of Lyme Regis Museum. Organised by The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum. The AGM precedes the talk.

TUESDAY 23rd April 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall
Belmont - History and Future Plans – A talk by Caroline Stanford of the Landmark Trust. Jointly with The Lyme Regis Society (the talk will be preceded by the Society’s AGM which will start at 2.30pm).

Walks

To book on any of the walks listed below, please contact walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk or phone 01297 443370. Further details of specific walks can be found on the What's On page of the main website.

Lyme History Walks

• Monday 1 April 11am
• Saturday 6 April 11am
• Monday 8 April 11am
• Saturday 13 April 11am
• Monday 15 April 11am
• Saturday 20 April 11am
• Monday 22 April 11am
• Saturday 27 April 11am
• Monday 29 April 11am

Mary Anning Walks

• Saturday 6th April 1.30pm
• Saturday 13th April 1.30pm
• Saturday 20th April 1.30pm
• Saturday 27th April 1.30pm

Rockpooling Walks

• Monday 1st April 3.00pm
• Tuesday 2nd April 3.30pm
• Sunday 7th April 9.30am
• Tuesday 16th April 2.45pm
• Tuesday 30th April 2.45pm

Fossil Walks

• Monday 8th April 9am
• Tuesday 9th April 9.45am
• Wednesday 10th April 10.30am
• Thursday 11th April 11.15am
• Friday 12th April 11.45am
• Saturday 13th April 12.15pm
• Sunday 14th April 12.30pm
• Monday 15th April 1pm
• Tuesday 23rd April 9am
• Wednesday 24th April 9.15am
• Thursday 25th April 10am
• Friday 26th April 10.45am
• Saturday 27th April 11.30am
• Sunday 28th April 12.15pm
• Monday 29th April 1pm

New in the Museum

The Lyme Bay Ichthyosaur!

Museum events in March

Talks

SUNDAY 3rd MARCH 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall
Yet more tales from under shady tree
An illustrated talk by Ken Gollop
Doors open 2pm - Admission £3.00 - Don't be late as it could get very full!

THURSDAY 7 MARCH 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall
The Extraordinary Life of Robert Fitzroy RN. Darwin's Commander
A talk by David Croman (organised by The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum)

TUESDAY 19th March 2.30pm at the Parish Church
The Skrabl Organ
A talk by Richard Godfrey of the Lyme Regis Organ School (organised jointly with The Lyme Regis Society). NB there will be no refreshments at this event.

Other events

SATURDAY 30 MARCH 10am-1.30pm at the Inn Place, Pilot Boat Inn
Sale of Quality Books
Donations of quality books welcome - contact Richard Wells (01297 442627) or David Cox (01297 443156)

Walks

To book on any of the walks listed below, please contact walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk or phone 01297 443370. Further details of specific walks can be found on the What's On page of the main website.

Lyme History walks

(NEW this month - see this blog post for more details)

Monday 4 March 11am
Saturday 9 March 11am
Monday 11 March 11am
Saturday 16 March 11am
Monday 18 March 11am
Saturday 23 March 11am
Monday 25 March 11am
Saturday 30 March 11am

Rockpooling walks

Monday 25th March 9.30am

Mary Anning walks

Saturday 2nd March 1.30pm
Saturday 16th March 1.30pm
Saturday 23rd March 1.30pm
Saturday 30th March 1.30pm

Fossil walks

Friday 1st March 11.45am
Saturday 2nd March 12.15pm
Sunday 3rd March 12.45pm
Monday 4th March 1.30pm
Sunday 10th March 9am
Monday 11th March 9.15am
Wednesday 13th March 10.45am
Thursday 14th March 11.15am
Friday 15th March 11.45am
Saturday 16th March 12 noon
Sunday 17th March 12.30pm
Tuesday 26th March 9am
Wednesday 27th March 9.30am
Thursday 28th March 10.15am
Friday 29th March 10.45am
Saturday 30th March 11.30am
Sunday 31st March 1pm

Lyme History walks

This year Lyme Regis Museum is starting a new series of guided walks in which you can explore Lyme's history with local expert Chris Lovejoy (left). Chris will take you on a journey through the unique and colourful history of Lyme Regis, recounting amazing stories of buccaneers, smugglers and rebels, as well as famous residents or visitors of local and national renown. Discover how people used to live, and how the town developed through the centuries. The walk, lasting one and a half hours, is on fairly level ground through the town centre, starting from the Marine Theatre and ending at the sea front.

The Lyme History walks will take place regularly on Mondays and Saturdays at 11 am, starting on Monday 4 March. For full details, including prices and how to book, see the Lyme History walks page on the Museum's main website.

Museum events in February

Talks

Thursday 7th February 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall
East Devon Hill Forts - 600 Years of History
A talk by Tom Cadbury, Curator of Antiquities at Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum, organised by The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum.

Tuesday 26th February 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall
Chard – The first powered flight and other history
A talk by a representative from Chard Museum, organised jointly with The Lyme Regis Society.

Exhibition

Both Object and Observer: An exhibition by Maisie Hall showing her work in progress towards the new Re:Collection project. In the Rotunda Gallery of Lyme Regis Museum until 27 March.

Mary Anning Walks

Saturday 2nd February 1.30pm
Saturday 9th February 1.30pm
Saturday 16th February 1.30pm
Saturday 23rd February 1.30pm

Fossil walks

Friday 1st February 12.30pm
Saturday 2nd February 1.15pm
Saturday 9th February 9am
Sunday 10th February 9.30am
Wednesday 13th February 11.45am
Thursday 14th February 12.15pm
Friday 15th February 12.45pm
Saturday 16th February 1pm
Sunday 24th February 9am
Monday 25th February 9.15am
Tuesday 26th February 10am
Wednesday 27th February 10.30am
Thursday 28th February 11.15am

For more information, contact walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Museum events in December

Talks

West Country Sailcloth – The flax industry in South Somerset. A talk by Tony Brook (jointly with The Lyme Regis Society). Tuesday 11th December 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall

Mary Anning Walks

Saturday 1 December 2012 13.30
Saturday 8 December 2012 13.30
Saturday 15 December 2012 13.30
Saturday 22 December 2012 13.30
Saturday 29 December 2012 13.30

Fossil Walks

Saturday 1 December 2012 11.00
Sunday 2 December 2012 11.30
Monday 3 December 2012 12.00
Tuesday 4 December 2012 12.45
Thursday 13 December 2012 09.15
Friday 14 December 2012 10.15
Saturday 15 December 2012 11.00
Sunday 16 December 2012 11.45
Monday 17 December 2012 12.30
Saturday 29 December 2012 10.15
Sunday 30 December 2012 10.45

For more information, contact walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Museum events in November

Fossil Walks

• Sunday 4 November 2012 12.15
• Tuesday 13 November 2012 09.00
• Thursday 15 November 2012 10.30
• Friday 16 November 2012 11.15
• Saturday 17 November 2012 12.00
• Sunday 18 November 2012 12.45
• Wednesday 28 November 2012 09.15 EXTRA WALK
• Thursday 29 November 2012 10.00  Fully booked
• Friday 30 November 2012 10.30  Cancelled

Mary Anning Walks

• Sunday 4 November 2012 13.30
• Sunday 11 November 2012 13.30
• Sunday 18 November 2012 13.30
• Sunday 25 November 2012 13.30

New exhibition: Wool in the Lim Valley

Lyme Regis Museum’s new exhibition ‘Wool in the Lim Valley’ opens with a launch party on Friday October 19 at 6.30pm. Everyone is invited to drinks and free admission to see why the wool trade was so important to Lyme from medieval times to the mid-1800s.

From fleece to finished cloth, families of the Lim Valley – including their children – were involved in the production of wool. From the farms where sheep fleeces were packed into woolsacks, through the various processes of scouring, scribbling, combing, carding, spinning, dyeing, weaving and finishing, the people of Lyme and Uplyme contributed. Their workplaces were their homes, the watermills and, later, small factories along the River Lim.

The exhibition is curated by the museum’s local history experts Richard Bull and Graham Davies with help from Ken Gollop and Barbara Bull. Barbara will be demonstrating spinning and inviting everyone to ‘have a go’ during the launch party on Friday.

‘Wool in the Lim Valley’ runs until 29 November at Lyme Regis Museum: open every day during October, 10am to 5pm, and from the beginning of November open Wednesdays to Sundays, 11am to 4pm. Download Richard Bull’s research on this subject from the museum’s website. Printed copies are available from Lyme Regis Museum bookshop, telephone 01297 443370.

The photograph above shows the Lyme Round House – a wool drying tower – when it was still roofed around 1900 (picture Lyme Regis Museum).

Museum events in October

Talks

• Thursday 4 October 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall: Who do you think you are?,
  an interactive session with leading family-history tutor Jane Ferentzi-Sheppard. You're invited to bring along your laptop or iPad so that you can begin tracing your family tree there and then -- true audience participation! Refreshments from 2.30pm; session starts at 3.00pm. Organised by The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum. This event replaces the originally scheduled talk, "Egypt, Civilisation of the Sands" by Nicole Douek, which has had to be cancelled due to illness.
• Tuesday 23 October 2.30pm at Woodmead Hall: Stone Circles of West Dorset, by Cecil Amor. Organised jointly with the Lyme Regis Society.

Fossil Walks

• Monday 1 October 2012 11.15
• Tuesday 2 October 2012 11.45
• Wednesday 3 October 2012 12.15
• Thursday 4 October 2012 12.45
• Sunday 14 October 2012 09.30
• Monday 15 October 2012 10.15
• Tuesday 16 October 2012 11.00
• Wednesday 17 October 2012 11.45
• Thursday 18 October 2012 12.30
• Friday 19 October 2012 13.15
• Saturday 27 October 2012 09.00
• Sunday 28 October 2012 09.00
• Monday 29 October 2012 09.15
• Tuesday 30 October 2012 09.45
• Wednesday 31 October 2012 10.15

Mary Anning Walks

• Saturday 6 October 2012 13.30
• Saturday 13 October 2012 13.30
• Saturday 27 October 2012 13.30

Rockpooling Walks

• Friday October 5 14.15
• Saturday October 20 15.00
• Sunday October 21 15.45

To book a place on any of the guided walks, please contact us on walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk

Mary Anning Day 2012

Yesterday was Mary Anning Day at Lyme Regis Museum, celebrating the heritage of Lyme’s most famous fossil-hunter, Mary Anning (1799 – 1847). It was a lively day of events both indoors and out-of-doors. Natalie Manifold (left) led two of her ever-popular Mary Anning walks around the town, visiting the various places that Mary lived and worked, and her burial site and memorial window in the Parish Church.

There was a packed programme of lectures in the Marine Theatre, introduced by Museum Director David Tucker (below).

The first talk was given by Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast, who gave an informative and entertaining presentation on the challenges of managing a World Heritage Site that sprawls along the Dorset and East Devon coast for almost a hundred miles. He explained that while countless sites around the world can boast beautiful coastal scenery and fascinating geology, the Jurassic Coast is unique because the way the rock strata are tilted means that by walking the hundred mile length of coast you are effectively walking through 180 million years of history, during which massive changes occurred in the evolution of life on Earth.

Richard talked a lot about coastal erosion, which, although it is understandably seen as a “threat” in human terms, is the very thing that creates the coastline and maintains its perpetual interest. Fossils are only discoverable in a brief window of time – days or weeks – after they are exposed by erosion and before they are destroyed by it. So the thousands of fossil hunters who come to the coast every year are a good thing for conservation, not a bad thing as is often supposed!

Not surprisingly, there was plenty of practical fossil hunting going on yesterday, as well as the indoor talks and Museum displays. Museum geologists Paddy Howe and Chris Andrew (right) led an enthusiastic group of fossil collectors on one of their regular walks along the beach. As well as countless ammonites and other invertebrate fossils, there was the usual find of a small but perfectly preserved ichthyosaur vertebra, which Chris can be seen holding in the photo.

There are more “Mary Anning Weekend” events at the Museum today (Sunday), and both the fossil walks and Mary Anning walks continue throughout the year.

Coming up: Mary Anning Weekend

Fossil fish and sharks are coming to Lyme Regis Museum and the Marine Theatre over the weekend (29 and 30 September). Celebrating the significance of Lyme as the birthplace of palaeontology, the museum’s Mary Anning Weekend presents two action-packed days of fossil facts and fun.

Stefanie Klug (right) of the University of Bristol uncovers the secrets of Jurassic sharks; and Matt Friedman (below, left) of the University of Oxford tells the story of the coelacanth fish, a living fossil thought to have become extinct 65 million years ago but rediscovered in 1938 still swimming the earth’s oceans.

Lyme’s own Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast, explains why our coast is so important; Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales tells the story of the Philpot sisters, who were important fossil collectors in Lyme at the time of Mary Anning; and Sir Crispin Tickell, environmentalist and expert on global climate change, tackles the subject of the human future.

Museum admission is free all weekend, where there is a rare opportunity to see an exhibition of local fossil fish including the Philpot sisters’ collection on loan from Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Especially for children there are ammonite polishing activities and the chance to join in making a giant fossil fish with artist Darrell Wakelam. The museum’s geologists Paddy Howe and Chris Andrew are conducting fossil hunting walks, historian Daphne Baker presents an insight into the life of Mary Anning, and Natalie Manifold takes groups on guided walks of the town as Mary knew it.

To book talks or walks call into Lyme Regis Museum or telephone 01297 443370 or email walks@lymeregismuseum.co.uk.

Full details and times of the weekend’s activities are:

SATURDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

SATURDAY – on the beach and around town

10am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.

12.30pm AND 2.30pm MARY ANNING WALKS. Do you want to know about Mary Anning’s life in Lyme? Then go on Natalie’s guided walk.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: £3 child/student.

SATURDAY MORNING – in the Marine Theatre

10.30am to 1pm – A Morning of Discovery

10.30am – Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast explains its importance: Footsteps through Time: the Jurassic Coast in Context.

11.30am – John Cawley of University of Bristol reveals his new research: Pachycormus – Extinct Mesozoic Ray-finned Fish.

12.15pm – Dr Stefanie Klug also of University of Bristol brings to life: Sharks of the Lower Jurassic.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON – in the Marine Theatre

2pm to 5pm – Living Fossils, Collectors and the Human Future

2pm – Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales discusses: The Philpot Family and other Early Lyme Fossil Collectors.

3pm – Dr Matt Friedman of University of Oxford asks: Coelacanth: Living Fossil or Specialised Survivor?

4pm – Sir Crispin Tickell author of the influential Climate Change and World Affairs poses the question: The Human Future: Whither the Anthropocene?

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £7 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SUNDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

3pm – Listen to Daphne Baker’s fascinating insight: MARY ANNING – FOSSIL PIONEER about the life and times of the Anning family in Lyme.

FREE – in the museum’s geology gallery (first floor)

SUNDAY – on the beach

10.45am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.

Museum Exhibition: ‘... Where I Intend to End My Days’

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

Jennie Pearson’s textile exhibition ‘... where I intend to end my days’ has opened at Lyme Regis Museum. It celebrates the connection between Lyme and the early colonial history of Australia, in particular drawing on the story of the Spencer family of Lyme Regis.

At a preview of the exhibition (on Saturday September 1) the artist’s husband Adrian Pearson, who has researched the history of the early pioneers, gave a short talk ‘Sir Richard Spencer: a corner of Lyme in Western Australia’.

The exhibition is part of Lyme Regis ArtsFest and runs until 15 October. The museum is open every day (10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays) with free admission on Sunday 9th and 16th September.

Everyone is invited to a drop-in workshop with Jennie Pearson on Wednesday September 12 between 11am and 4pm. Take a sketchbook or camera – collage materials will be available – for a day of inspiration, encouragement and discussion. Materials and admission to the museum is free.

The picture shows Jennie Pearson with her husband Adrian Pearson (left), and the museum's chairman of trustees Stephen Locke. Photograph by Carole Halden.

Lyme Regis Artsfest 2012

This year's Lyme Regis ArtsFest takes place from Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th September, at venues around the town. The Museum is hosting the following events:

Art Workshop, Wednesday 12 September
Drop in free 11am - 4pm
Get creative with local artist Jennie Pearson! Bring your sketchbook or camera (there will be collage materials available if you prefer that) and prepare to be inspired by the museum's collections. Drop in between 11am and 4pm for a day of arty encouragement, convivial discussion and refreshments. Also, there is an opportunity to see Jennie's textile exhibition in the Rotunda gallery and understand her interpretation of the story behind it. Admission and materials are free.

Re-collection - launch and reception, Thursday 13 September
 17.30 - 19.30 at the Museum, free entry
Thursday 13 September sees 'The Art Crawl', an evening of events at various venues around Lyme Regis. The Museum will host an open house with the chance to meet some of Lyme's talented artists involved in 'Re:collection', and to hear their plans for creatively reinterpreting museum artefacts that have inspired them. Drinks and art chat between 5.30pm and 7.30pm. ('Re:collection' is an initiative by ArtsFest and the museum to support the creation of a contemporary archive of works across the arts, inspired by the museum's collections.)

Museum Events in September

3pm Thursday September 6: Rockpooling

Explore rockpools out on Broad Ledge with Lyme Regis 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. Meet at the museum.

6.30pm Saturday September 8: A Look at George Vialls

Lyme Regis Museum was built in 1902. Its architect, George Vialls produced a stunning building in Northern European renaissance style with a grand staircase. Join the museum’s former curator, Max Hebditch, in looking at the life and career of this outstanding architect. Saturday September 8, drinks from 6.30pm - all are welcome, free.

11am - 4pm Wednesday September 12: Re:collection Workshop

A drop-in day for adults at Lyme Regis Museum – sketch or photograph the museum’s collections. Join artist Jennie Pearson with your sketch book or camera for a day of inspiration, convivial discussion and encouragement. Collage materials provided and a glass of wine at midday – all are welcome, free.

10am - 5pm Saturday September 29 and Sunday September 30: Mary Anning Weekend at Lyme Regis Museum

A weekend of talks, walks and children’s activities. Fossil fish and sharks will be the theme of a programme of talks by six scientists in this field of research. Among the speakers will be the eminent environmentalist Sir Crispin Tickell; Tom Sharpe of National Museum of Wales; Dr Matt Friedman of the University of Oxford; John Cawley and Dr Stefanie Klug of University of Bristol; and Richard Edmonds, Jurassic Coast Earth Science Manager. Tickets for these talks are available at the museum shop. A highlight of the weekend will be a return visit to Lyme of the Philpot sisters’ collection of fossil fish. The sisters lived in Lyme at the time of Mary Anning and their important collection went to Oxford University in 1880. Museum admission is free all weekend.

The programme of activities for Mary Anning Weekend is:

SATURDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

SATURDAY – on the beach and around town

10am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.

12.30pm AND 2.30pm MARY ANNING WALKS. Do you want to know about Mary Anning’s life in Lyme? Then go on Natalie’s guided walk.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: £3 child/student.

SATURDAY MORNING – in the Marine Theatre

10.30am to 1pm – A Morning of Discovery

10.30am – Richard Edmonds, Earth Science Manager for the Jurassic Coast explains its importance: Footsteps through Time: the Jurassic Coast in Context.

11.30am – John Cawley of University of Bristol reveals his new research: Pachycormus – Extinct Mesozoic Ray-finned Fish.

12.15pm – Dr Stefanie Klug also of University of Bristol brings to life: Sharks of the Lower Jurassic.

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £6 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON – in the Marine Theatre

2pm to 5pm – Living Fossils, Collectors and the Human Future

2pm – Tom Sharpe of the National Museum of Wales discusses: The Philpot Family and other Early Lyme Fossil Collectors.

3pm – Dr Matt Friedman of University of Oxford asks: Coelacanth: Living Fossil or Specialised Survivor?

4pm – Sir Crispin Tickell author of the influential Climate Change and World Affairs poses the question: The Human Future: Whither the Anthropocene?

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £7 adult: FREE child/student.

Combined ticket (morning and afternoon) £10 adult: FREE child/student.

SUNDAY – in and around Lyme Regis Museum

Get up close to rare FOSSIL FISH AND SHARKS. Meet the Philpot fish on a return visit to Lyme from Oxford University Museum of Natural History.

Drop in to the museum’s ground-floor gallery – FREE

Get hands-on with 3-D art – MAKE A GIANT FOSSIL FISH with artist Darrell Wakelam. Cutting-and-sticking fun for children of all ages.

Outside the museum – drop by from 11am to 4pm, materials provided FREE

Have a go at AMMONITE POLISHING with fossil experts Paddy, Chris and Brandon. Take home your own beautiful 190-million-year-old treasure.

Outside the museum from 10.30am to 4pm – materials at pocket-money price.

3pm – Listen to Daphne Baker’s fascinating insight: MARY ANNING – FOSSIL PIONEER about the life and times of the Anning family in Lyme.

FREE – in the museum’s geology gallery (first floor)

SUNDAY – on the beach

10.45am FOSSIL HUNTING WALK – get out on the beach with geologists Paddy and Chris. Everyone should find a fossil!

Booking advised – phone, email or call in. Ticket £10 adult: £5 child/student.

Art Exhibition until 15 October

The 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 references 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. The exhibition is part of Lyme’s ArtsFest and admission is free on Sunday 9th and 16th September. It runs until 15 October when the museum is open every day (10am to 5pm Monday to Saturday and  11am to 5pm on Sundays).

Mary Anning Walks

• Sunday 2 September 2012 15.00
• Sunday 9 September 2012 15.00
• Sunday 16 September 2012 15.00
• Sunday 23 September 2012 15.00
• Saturday 29 September 2012 12.30 & 14.30

Fossil Walks

• Saturday 1 September 2012 11.15
• Sunday 2 September 2012 11.45
• Monday 3 September 2012 12.15
• Tuesday 4 September 2012 12.45
• Wednesday 5 September 2012 13.15
• Friday 14 September 2012 09.00
• Saturday 15 September 2012 10.00
• Sunday 16 September 2012 10.45
• Monday 17 September 2012 11.30
• Tuesday 18 September 2012 12.00
• Wednesday 19 September 2012 12.45
• Friday 28 September 2012 09.15
• Saturday 29 September 2012 10.00
• Sunday 30 September 2012 10.45

The picture at the top of the page shows Lyme Regis Museum, whose architect was George Vialls, while the one on the left shows the cupola Vialls placed on the top of the Museum. Both photographs are by Peter Wiles.

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

Fossil events 25-28 July

With the start of the school holidays, there are lots of fossil-related events coming up at Lyme Regis Museum, including the first of four Family Fossil Days on Thursday 26 July with 'open house' at the museum and lots of opportunities for seeing, handling, hearing and talking about fossils. Also a gazebo outside on the terrace for even more activities, including the ever popular ammonite polishing. We're open free of charge all day from 10am to 5pm.

Wednesday 25 July sees a rockpooling session out on Broad Ledge to explore the magical world of sea creatures left in the wake of the outgoing tide. It meets at the museum at 3.45pm and takes about an hour and a half. Price £5 adults; children and students £2.50.

On Saturday 28 July there is a 'Facts on Fossils' mini-masterclass for all ages and levels. It is a session in learning how to find fossils, handling the extraordinary fossil finds that Chris and Paddy bring along, taking the opportunity to have your own fossils identified and much more. It usually lasts an hour... Price £4 for adults; free for children and students.