Jewel of the Jurassic Coast

Mary Anning lived in the rugged seaside town of Lyme Regis, in the county of Dorset on the south coast of England, and by aged 12 she was already a very curious girl. In 1811, Mary and her brother Joseph were down by the sea looking for the ‘Ammon’s Horns’ – Ammonites – and the ‘Devil’s Fingers’ – Belemnites – that were so frequently found among the rocks on the beach.

It was Joseph who found the skull of the first ever Ichthyosaur, but it was Mary who had the determination to keep digging until, several months later, she uncovered the entire skeleton, perfectly preserved in stone.

Although scientists thought it was a crocodile and locals thought, starring Kate Winslet (who plays Mary) and Saoirse Ronan, which was filmed in Lyme Regis.