The Etches Collection
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Modern museum & centre for learning in Kimmeridge housing amazing marine fossils that tell the story The collection was housed in Steve’s converted garage.
The Etches Collection is the finest single collection of Late Jurassic age fossils ever assembled in Britain. Many of the species in this extraordinary collection of 2,500 fossils from the Kimmeridge Clay are new to science and are of great palaeontological importance. The exceptional preservation and preparation of the fossils provides a unique and exciting insight into the lives of these marine
We are all hoping to rescue the body of the Sea Rex, but what is Steve's hope for the future of the museum? Find out here!
https://youtu.be/SLDEuAaMkwQ
25/07/2024
🎥| Do you love sharks? Steve does, and in this video, Steve talks about shark teeth. Check it out!!
AN INTRODUCTION TO SHARK TEETH | FOSSIL HUNTING | STEVE ETCHES | SHARK WEEK 2021 In this video Steve discusses shark teeth, what we can learn from them and what they mean to fossil collecting, whilst showing off the teeth of a confirmed n...
It’s time for a new entry into our weekly ‘Design-o-Saur’ gallery; this week, we have this fabulous design!
Don’t forget to check out our "Design-o-Saur" wall at the museum.
24/07/2024
🎥| We previously shared Steve preparing what he assumed was a Belemnite. After preparation, it exhibited strange traits. In this video, Steve examines it further; watch to learn more, and don't forget to subscribe!
What is this fossil? Hey Fossil Hunters! In this video Steve examines a specimen that has him stumped, is it a Belemnite? What else could it be? Do you have ideas what it might b...
24/07/2024
It's been approximately 2 years since we excavated the pliosaur skull from the cliff, from left to right you can see Alex Moore, Steve Etches and Joseph Hassel (camera operator), looking cheery and ready to start work. We are currently working towards rescuing the rest of this animal. If you help, please donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/searex
Compass Jellyfish- are a translucent yellowish-white jellyfish with brown markings around the fringe and on the top of the bell. Those atop the bell resemble a compass, with V shapes radiating out from a central point. They have lots of frilled oral arms below the bell and long thin marginal tentacles around the fringe. Don't get too close to those tentacles though, they give a nasty sting.
When exploring the seashore always follow the Seashore Code to keep both yourself and wildlife safe. https://bit.ly/3qf2jpi
The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, by the slipway in Kimmeridge Bay, opens daily from 29th March to end October 2024 - 10.30 to 17.00.
Dorset Wildlife Trust
23/07/2024
🎥| Steve always likes to collect specimens that either fill a gap in the collection or prove curious. Even with something as common as a Belemnite, this little specimen poses some strange questions.
PREPARING A BELEMNITE....? | FOSSIL PREPARATION Hey Fossil Hunters! You watched Steve find this specimen in an earlier video. What's next in the process? You guessed it, preparation! In this video watch St...
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You heard it here: we are cool!
22/07/2024
🎥| Have you ever watched one of our videos and thought, "Hmm, I'm not sure quite what Steve means". We have put together this little video glossary of terms Steve uses nearly every day!
PALAEONTOLOGY VIDEO GLOSSARY | FOSSIL COLLECTOR | STEVE ETCHES Hey Fossil Hunters! We know Palaeontology isn't everyone's speciality so this week we take a look at a glossary of palaeontological and geological terms and ...
22/07/2024
As part of The Children's Fossil Competition 2024, we have 3 'Meet A Palaeontologist' days this August! (See poster for dates).
Come along and show us your fossils, ask us any questions and find out how you can enter the Children's Fossil Competition 2024, and have your fossil on display in all three of our collections! https://www.theetchescollection.org/fossil-comp
As part of The Children's Fossil Competition 2024, we have 3 'Meet A Palaeontologist' days this August! (See poster for dates).
Come along and show us your fossils, ask us any questions and find out how you can enter the Children's Fossil Competition 2024, and have your fossil on display in all three of our collections! https://www.theetchescollection.org/fossil-comp
Have you ever wondered why prehistoric animals are called what they are?
21/07/2024
Help us rescue the Sea Rex, at this moment its body remains entombed in the cliff, but it is at risk of being destroyed by erosion. We are working on the immense task of saving this precious fossil, if you can, please donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/searex
21/07/2024
Guess the fossil!
This week, we are giving you this specimen. Let us know what creature you think it is from and any facts you may know about it.
*All specimens photographed for this series are on display in our museum.
20/07/2024
You may not know we are still raising money to rescue the remainder of the Sea Rex, so far, we have raised over £30,000, we are working hard to progress and rescue what we can of this amazing animal. Check out this update from Steve below:
Rescue the Sea Rex! A project update. In this video, here from Dr Steve Etches MBE as he details our progress towards rescuing the remainder of the Sea Rex. ► WANT TO LEARN MORE, JOIN OUR SUBSCRI...
20/07/2024
Our shop is packed with many amazing things including many awesome pliosaur related items. Check out our Pliosaur Keyrings.
https://www.theetchescollectionshop.org/collections/the-sea-rex/products/etches-collection-pliosaur-keyring
19/07/2024
🎥 | We love helping identify fossils for you all, so if you have any, feel free to send them over, and in the meantime, have a look at what others have been finding.
WHAT IS THIS FOSSIL? | ASK STEVE Hey Fossil Hunters! In this video Steve answers a few of your questions, specifically ones regarding fossil identification.Do you have a fossil related quest...
19/07/2024
Summer is a great chance to go fossil collecting, but don't forget to enter our fossil competition! 2024’s is going to be even better! It has now become a partnership between The Etches Collection, Lyme Regis Museum and Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre.
https://www.theetchescollection.org/fossilcomp
18/07/2024
🎥| Have you seen this talk by Richard Edmonds?
THE FUTURE OF THE JURASSIC COAST | RICHARD EDMONDS Did you miss our Mary Anning Conference of Curiosities last month? Well, you're in luck as we have been given the green light to share a sample of one of the...
17/07/2024
🎥| Have you received a doctorate? What was it like getting yours?
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Common Periwinkle is a large sea snail found on rocks and amongst seaweeds around the middle to lower parts of the shore, they don't like dry areas, so will often be spotted clumped together in a crevice or rockpool at low tide. It has a rounded, whorled shell, usually greyish brown in colour, with concentric ridges, dark lines, and a pointed apex. It is distinguished from similar, snail-like periwinkles and topshells by the slightly larger size, rounded shape, and generally plainer colours.
When exploring the seashore always follow the Seashore Code to keep both yourself and wildlife safe. https://bit.ly/3qf2jpi
The Fine Foundation Wild Seas Centre, by the slipway in Kimmeridge Bay, opens daily from 29th March to end October 2024 - 10.30 to 17.00.
Dorset Wildlife Trust
16/07/2024
🎥| Having spent a life collecting, you'd think giving it away a collection like this would be a hardship but not for Steve. Watch this video to learn more.
WHY DID YOU GIVE YOUR COLLECTION TO THE WORLD? | ASK STEVE Hey Fossil Hunters! We have gone through our content banks and found some oldie but goldie video content! So all this April we are giving you even more conte...
16/07/2024
We love amazing our visitors!
15/07/2024
🎥| We are very remote here, so why build a museum here? Well, that's what Steve answers in tonight's video.
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15/07/2024
Did you know this?
13/07/2024
When we had our refit earlier this year, we added lots of new things including all of these pliosaur fossils! Check them out!
A collection of pliosaur remains. In this video, learn about a collection of various interesting and important pliosaur remains that were added to our displays during our recent rennovation. ...
13/07/2024
Naturally we are very pliosaur focused this year, so we have been busy stocking our shop with many amazing pliosaur themed items. Like this little brass pliosaur.
https://www.theetchescollectionshop.org/collections/the-sea-rex/products/brass-pliosaur
12/07/2024
🎥| Engaging a younger audience is key to the future of heritage; in tonight's video, Steve talks about exactly that.
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Our Story
The Etches Collection is the finest single collection of Late Jurassic age fossils ever assembled in Britain. Many of the species in this extraordinary collection of fossils from the Kimmeridge Clay are new to science and are of great palaeontological importance.
The exceptional preservation and preparation of the fossils provides a unique and exciting insight into the lives of these marine creatures from the Late Jurassic Kimmeridgian period, how they bred, lived and died.
The collection has become publicly available for the first time, housed in a new purpose-built museum, learning and visitor centre in the village of Kimmeridge, on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset. A virtual aquarium and interactive exhibition brings to life the incredible stories from deep time (150-157 million years ago) and conveys the fascination and curiosity of the collector, Steve Etches.
DR STEVE ETCHES MBE:
The Etches Collection is the result of over 30 years dedicated and skilled discovery, collection, preparation and research of Kimmeridgian fossils by palaeontologist, Dr Steve Etches MBE.
A plumber by profession, Steve’s achievements and contribution to the world of palaeontology have been recognised with awards from The Palaeontological Association (The Mary Anning Prize, 1993 and 2005), The Geological Society of London (the R.H. Worth Prize, 1994), The Geologists’ Association (The Halstead Medal) and an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton in 2017. In 2014, Steve was awarded an MBE for services to Palaeontology, the first time an MBE has been awarded for this category.
A NATIONAL TREASURE:
The Etches Collection receives great patronage from UK and international palaeontologists, geologists and scientists in recognition of the superior status of both the collection and its collector. It has also been the subject of great wonderment and excitement for many of the children who have come to see and learn about Steve’s fossils! The collection is home to over 2,300 specimens of which Steve is adding to all the time with fossils that he is continuing to find from the Kimmeridge locality. 10% of the most amazing and scientifically important specimens are on display with the rest being housed in the reserve collection with many of those fossils awaiting to come out onto display as we continue to invest in the museum.
The collection was housed in Steve’s converted garage. It had always been Steve’s hope that the collection would be available to the public, housed together in the area that the fossils were found. This dream has now been realised.
In 2014 Steve gifted his invaluable collection to the nation and a local landowner donated land in Kimmeridge. Planning permission and funding was secured to create a world class, accredited museum to house the collection, so that the fossils can be enjoyed and used as a basis for learning and research by all.
A BRAND NEW IMMERSIVE MUSEUM:
Visitors enter the Exhibition Gallery and are taken on an immersive journey through life underwater 150 million years ago. Using CGI projected on the ceiling and wall panels, the space is transformed into an aquarium of the past in the blink of an eye. Objects that once seemed static will be brought to life and represented as if they were modern day animals.
Directly beneath the ceiling, the fossil specimens are carefully presented and interpreted to bring to life their individual stories.
Visitors leave the museum recognising that the fossils are tangible evidence of living beings and that there are a wealth of untold stories to explore and discover as well as a lot to be learnt from this former life on earth.
AN ONGOING VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY:
The pursuit of making new discoveries, revealing more stories about the world of the Kimmeridgian is a constant for Steve Etches.
That is why the museum space is not only a home for his collection but also a dynamic research centre and workspace that enables Steve and his team to continue his work of discovery, preparation, analysis and curation.
The centre offers an excellent visitor attraction and superb facility for community, educational and corporate groups.
It is a resource for education and knowledge, a centre of excellence and facility for the local community, an ideal space for inspiring events, seminars and talks, and a must on the itinerary of every tourist and visitor to the area.
HIRE OUR FACILITIES
The museum offers flexible learning space, conference rooms and a village hall to hire all with fabulous facilities. Our location, set in an unrivalled location in the heart of the Dorset countryside on the Jurassic Coast with stunning views of the sea, the building lies at the gateway to the coast and is just a short walk from the bay. Host your event with us and provide your guest with a truly unique experience!
GETTING INVOLVED:
As a charitable Trust, we rely upon the patronage, sponsorship and support of corporate and private individuals.
There are a number of ways that individuals and companies can get involved, including:
• Make a donation
• Become a corporate sponsor
• Book a fossil tour or talk with Steve
• Sign up for our Newsletter or follow us on Twitter
Please contact us for more information.
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Contact the museum
Telephone
Website
Address
The Etches Collection, Kimmeridge
Wareham
BH205PE
Opening Hours
| Monday | 10am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 10am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 10am - 5pm |
| Friday | 10am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 10am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 10am - 5pm |
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