FULLY BOOKED

Mary Anning, the fossil woman

22 September 2022, 7:00pm

Join Tom Sharpe, formerly Curator of Palaeontology and Archives at the National Museum of Wales, and author of ‘The Fossil Woman: A life of Mary Anning’, to examine what we know of the life of this extraordinary woman.

It has been said that more has been written about Mary Anning, the fossil dealer of Lyme Regis, than about any other geologist, apart from Charles Darwin. But how much do we really know about her? How much is speculation? And how much is a myth that has developed through the uncritical telling and retelling of her tale over the course of two centuries? Are we seeing a new Anning myth in the making, thanks to a recent film? Separating the facts from the fiction about Mary Anning can be challenging, but her story is a remarkable tale in its own right. This talk will examine what we know of the life of this extraordinary woman, her famous – and less well-known – discoveries, and her part within the wider network of the developing science of palaeontology in the early 19th century, and will seek to dispel at least a few of the Mary myths.

  • N.B. This event has been postponed from its original date on 20 January due to the ongoing coronavirus situation

  • Opening hours:

    Daily: 9.00am - 4.30pm
    Sunday: 10.00am - 4.00pm
    Bank Holidays: 10.00am - 4.00pm

  • Dorset Museum

    High West Street
    Dorchester DT1 1XA

    View Map


Tom Sharpe

Tom Sharpe was formerly Curator of Palaeontology and Archives at the National Museum of Wales and taught geology in the lifelong learning departments of both Cardiff and Bristol universities. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society, the Royal Geographical Society and the Museums Association, and is a former Chair of the Geological Curators’ Group and History of Geology Group. He has long had an interest in the history of geology and has published on the work of the geologist’s Henry De la Beche and William Smith, and on the history of the geological exploration of Antarctica. He is the author of The Fossil Woman. A Life of Mary Anning, published by The Dovecote Press in November 2020 (paperback July 2021).

Community Exhibition

21 July - 29 October 2023

Nature Heals | Photography by Trevor Parsons

Dorset Museum and Dorchester Arts co-present Nature Heals, an exhibition of nature photography by Trevor Parsons.

Find out more

Special Exhibition

21 July - 29 October 2023

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the world-famous exhibition from the Natural History Museum, is coming to Dorset Museum this summer.

Find out more

CANCELLED

6 October 2023, 10:00am -1:00pm, 

Creative Journeys Through Time | 6 week art workshop with Helen Garrett

Designed for adults interested in art, prehistory and archaeology, and running as a six-week block, this course is an exciting opportunity to get up close with some extraordinary artefacts in the collection at Dorset Museum.

Find out more

Adult Workshop

9 October 2023, 2:00pm to 4:30pm

Life Drawing at Dorset Museum – Eight-week course led by James Meiklejohn

This eight-week structured course is suitable for complete beginners to those with some experience.

Find out more

Talk

10 October 2023, 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Wildlife friendly gardening | Mitch Perkins

Would you like to make your garden more wildlife friendly?  Join Mitch Perkins to find out how.

Find out more

Museum after hours

19 October 2023, 5:00pm - 6:30pm

FREE | Museum After Hours

Join us for an opportunity to explore the Museum at this FREE late opening.

Find out more

Lecture

19 October 2023, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Real Dorset | Jon Woolcott

In this lecture, let Jon Woolcott take you on an amusing whistle-stop tour through some of the discoveries and oddities that make Dorset unique.

Find out more

Tours

25 October 2023, 2:00pm - 2:45pm

Collections Discovery Centre Tour

Join our Collections Team for an opportunity to explore behind the scenes in the Museum’s Collections Discovery Centre.

Find out more

Halloween Event

27 October 2023 5:00pm-9:00pm

Museums After Dark 2023

Discover three incredible Dorchester museums on one unforgettable night.

Find out more