Read about the future plans for Lyme Regis Museum and how you can become involved to help us acheive them.

The Mary Anning Wing

We want to build a major extension to the museum, the Mary Anning Wing, so that we can do justice to the wonderful scientific and artistic heritage of Lyme Regis and welcome many more visitors in comfort.

Many extraordinary fossils continue to be found in the Lyme Regis area but there is no museum in a prime coastal location on the Jurassic Coast for their exhibition and interpretation.  The superb artistic and literary heritage of Lyme Regis also demands a gallery with the conditions and space to mount significant new exhibitions including loans from major UK and international galleries.

The planned Mary Anning Wing viewed from the promenade in front of the old sea wall. The south facade of the original Museum, with its tall window and rotunda, is to the left. The new wing, with its observation windows and balconies, rises above the old sea wall. The Marine Theatre is beyond. At the far right, the Jurassic Coast at Charmouth can be seen in the distance. Architects: Studio Downie Architects.

The new Mary Anning Wing at Lyme Regis Museum is designed to:

• commemorate this outstanding woman of Lyme and tell her story;
• provide the doorway for people to understanding the internationally important geology of the Lyme Regis area;
• exhibit the outstanding fossils being recovered from the Jurassic Coast – England’s first natural World Heritage Site.
• exhibit and interpret world-class literary and artistic material

The Mary Anning Wing will create a wonderful new space. It will be modern, but integrated with the historic Museum. And for the first time we shall have an IT suite, learning centre, lift, toilets and space for researchers.

Thanks to a huge amount of volunteer effort, the Trust’s own funds, and grants from the Friends, Heritage Lottery Fund and West Dorset District Council, we have prepared a plan which we believe will equip the Museum for the next 100 years.  What we need most now is the money to make all this possible – estimated at around £4 million.

If you would like to learn more or become involved please contact:

Mary Godwin, Curator, Lyme Regis Museum, Bridge Street, Lyme Regis DT7 3 QA. Tel: 01297 443370.  Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Other ways to become involved and support Lyme Regis Museum:

• Become a Friend of Lyme Regis Museum
• Volunteer and help out at Lyme Regis Museum