A-fossiling we will go

So following in the steps of William Pitt the Younger, who by all accounts was a sickly sort of chap, we promenaded along what was the first public promenade in . . . I've been unable to determine whether it was the world, Britain, or simply Lyme Regis, but it was created in 1771 by radical philanthropist, Thomas Hollis, who also incidentally gave a lot of books/money to Harvard, amongst other things.

His invitation to Mr Pitt led to Lyme becoming a fashionable Regency bathing resort, known, apparently, as the Naples of England. Brought up as I was with the beautiful sandy beaches of Gower I am less than impressed with Lyme's stony beach but as we weren't there for sunbathing that was fine.

There's a clue in that photo to my real interest in Lyme.

Yes, it's ammonite lampposts! (Not the huge and terrifying sea-gulls.)

As I mentioned before Lyme is part of Dorset's Jurassic coast and is a popular place for fossil-hunters. And, it seems, tourists in general. The small town was busy on a cold March day so I dread to imagine what it's like there in the height of summer.

Before I show you my fossil collection I'll tell you about our meal on Friday night. It was a highly recommended restaurant, and was obviously very popular, but Husband and I are used to better things. The meal was very expensive but nothing like what we would have expected at our favourite, Slice, or or the newer Oxwich Beach, which we visited recently.

For starters we both had scallops. Meaty, tasty enough. Then we possibly made a mistake. We ordered a fish platter between us.

Looked impressive. Cost an arm and five toes. But . . . disappointing. The sort of thing you might get in a better quality seaside pub. Tiny bowls of dips. Home-made bread that was dry and not delicious. No vegetables. What it really needed of course was a big plate of chips alongside. (We made up for it the following night with fish and chips in paper, eaten in the car. We'd intended to sit on the sea front but it was too dark and cold by the time we got there.)

Anyway, enough of that, you want to see my fossils!

I decided we'd go to Monmouth Beach, to the west of the Cobb (the stone harbour structure made famous by Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman. More of that later.)

It is largely comprised of huge rounded rocks many of which contain fossils, especially ammonites. It's called the ammonite pavement.

Some were like the one above containing loads of small ammonites while others had just one huge shell fossil.

Ammonites I could recognise; others I'm not so sure about.

So we saw a fossil zigzag.

And a fossilised baby elephant trunk.

Unlike most beaches around the UK stone collecting on Lyme beaches is allowed. At least I assume it is judging by the number of people out searching. So I don't feel guilty for bringing these home with me.

A fossil cockle?

A little ziggy zaggy thing and a baby dinosaur footprint. (Classification used may not be approved by Royal Geological Society.)

Not forgetting my little fossil friends: from right, Wise Old Seal looks on as Hedgehog chats to Steel and Rusty.

And we did find a very rare set of dinosaur dentures. Never before has a full set been found in such good condition.

I also brought home lots of pretty stones - it is a wonderful beach if you want pretty - and several which in the cold light of day seem to have lost whatever magic I thought they had when I found them. 

And I've saved the best till last.

Husband was the first one to find an ammonite:

Then i found one!

Not quite as impressive as the ones in the museum - more later - but I'm happy.