If you’re a lover of Dorset history, then you may be interested in some interesting facts about Mary Anning. As we go back to the 18th Century, the local legend Mary Anning was born in 1799 in Lyme Regis in Dorset.
The early 19th Century saw Mary Anning become famous around the World for her discoveries of fossils in the cliffs along the English Channel in Lyme Regis.
Where Was Mary Anning Born?
Mary Anning was born in Lyme Regis in 1799. She lived in the beautiful town of Lyme Regis until she died at aged 47 from breast cancer.
Mary Anning’s Family
Mary Anning had nine brothers and sister, however only herself and her brother Joseph lived to be adults. Mary was in fact named after her other sister Mary who died before she was born.
She used to go out fossil hunting with her Dad as a child, who also used to find fossils and sell them to help the family finances. Mary’s Dad was a cabinetmaker and was very poor.
Related post – Best places for fossil hunting in Dorset
Mary Had a Lucky Escape When Nearly Struck By Lightning
In the year 1800, Mary was being looked after by a neighbour when lightning struck a tree they were standing under. The neighbour and two other ladies with her sadly dies, but Mary survived.
First Ichthyosaur
Mary’ brother Joseph Anning is believed to have discovered the first complete Ichthyosaur skull fossil in 1811 in Lyme Regis. Mary Anning later uncovered the skeleton which was around five meters in length.
First Plesiosaurus
Mary Anning was the first to discover the complete skeleton of a Plesiosaurus in 1823. However sadly she wasn’t immediately credited with this discovery.
Selling Fossils
Mary Anning made any money she could by selling the fossils she found from the cliffs. The most common fossils sold were ammonite or once known as snake stones. These were worth a lot less than some of the rarer finds.
Anning’s Fossil Depot
When Mary saved enough money, she was able to purchase a home with a glass front window for a shop. She was visited by many fossil collectors from Europe and America who purchased fossils from her. Today this is the Lyme Regis Museum.
Mary Anning is remembered today as one of the greatest fossil hunters of all time.
Mary Anning Statue
If you’d like to see the Mary Anning statue in Lyme Regis, you will find it located at the junction of Gun Cliff Walk in Lyme Regis. The stsue shows Mary with her dog Tray who she used to take fossil hunting with her.
