Lyme Regis Philpot Museum
An award-winning attraction, the Philpot Museum is housed in a building built at the turn of the 20th century by Thomas Philpot. The museum's collections are dedicated to the history of Lyme Regis and supported by a rich collection of artefacts. History is the source of its wealth. You'll meet Mary Anning, a 12 year old palaeontologist who sold shells to support the family income. Little Miss Anning was the first to discover a 30 foot skeleton ichthyosaur, unearthed by a storm. Her discoveries, (the first pterodactyl fossil in England and the first skeleton of a pterosaurs in 1821) would provide hard evidence supporting the theory of extinction. Also celebrated at the Lyme Regis Philpot Museum are some of England's best loved author's. You'll meet Jane Austen who wrote Persuasion here. In his time, John Fowles was the Hon. Curator of the Museum and is well-known for putting Lyme Regis' geological attractions on the map. Beatrix Potter used the scenic aspect of Lyme Regis in Little Pig Robinson . On his stay in town, Henry Fielding behaved much like a hero from one of his novels, Tom Jones . He attempted to run away with Sarah Andrews but when his plan was foiled by her ward, Andrew Tucker, he skipped town leaving a public notice, "This is to give Notice to all the World that Andrew Tucker and his son John Tucker are Clowns and Cowards. Witness my hand, Henry Feilding.".Location
Address: Bridge Street
Postcode: DT73QA [Street Map]
Town/City: Lyme Regis
County: Dorset
Phone: 01297 443 370
Admission
Adults: £2.00
Website: http://www.lymeregismuseum.co.uk
