About
The Etches Collection — Museum of Jurassic Marine Life in Kimmeridge, Dorset, is one of the most remarkable natural history museums in Britain, housing Dr Steve Etches MBE's extraordinary personal collection of Jurassic marine fossils assembled over more than 40 years of meticulous fieldwork on the Dorset coast. Opened in 2016, this purpose-built museum displays over 2,000 specimens recovered from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation, one of the world's richest sources of Late Jurassic marine fossils.
The museum stands near the cliffs of Kimmeridge Bay, on the Jurassic Coast — England's first natural World Heritage Site — where 150-million-year-old marine sediments continuously weather from the coastal cliffs. It was on these cliffs that Steve Etches, a local plumber by trade, spent decades collecting and preparing fossils of extraordinary quality and scientific importance, driven by curiosity and passion rather than professional academic training.
The collection contains specimens of marine reptiles including ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pliosaurs recovered in exceptional states of preservation that have provided researchers with unprecedented insights into Late Jurassic marine ecosystems. Many specimens retain soft tissue impressions, stomach contents, and three-dimensional structure that have transformed scientific understanding of these ancient animals. Several new species discovered by Etches have been formally described and named by scientists.
The museum is designed to make palaeontology accessible and exciting for visitors of all ages and backgrounds. State-of-the-art displays combine spectacular fossil specimens with cutting-edge scientific interpretation, exploring what the fossils reveal about the tropical seas that covered southern England 150 million years ago. Digital interactive elements, preparator demonstrations, and regular guided tours make the science come alive in vivid and engaging ways.
Dr Etches himself is often present at the museum and regularly leads tours, bringing an extraordinary personal passion and first-hand knowledge that makes a visit here utterly unlike any conventional natural history museum experience. The Etches Collection has received widespread critical acclaim and won numerous awards since opening, cementing its status as one of the great hidden gems of the British museum world.
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Plan Your Visit
⏱️ Recommended Visit Duration
📅 Best Times to Visit
💡 Visitor Tips
- Check the museum website for dates when Dr Steve Etches himself will be leading tours. A personal tour from the collector is an unmissable experience.
- The ichthyosaur specimens with soft tissue preservation are scientifically extraordinary — take time to study them carefully and read the interpretation panels in full.
- Combine your museum visit with a beach walk at Kimmeridge Bay to see the fossil-bearing cliffs in their natural setting. Low tide reveals the wave-cut platform with fossil specimens in situ.
- Kimmeridge is remote and public transport is very limited. Driving or pre-booked taxi from Wareham station is strongly recommended.
- Children are captivated by the giant ammonites and marine reptile skeletons. The museum is excellent for inspiring young scientists and fossil enthusiasts of any age.
- After your museum visit, fossils can be found on the beach at Kimmeridge Bay, particularly after storms. Check local fossil-hunting guidelines before collecting — only loose material from the beach should be taken.
- The museum is small and can feel crowded at peak times. Weekday mornings offer the most relaxed visit, especially outside school holidays.
- The quality of the fossil specimens makes for outstanding photography. Allow plenty of time to capture the ichthyosaurs and pliosaur material in the best detail.
Highlights
Discover the unique exhibits and collections at this museum.
Collections
The Etches Collection comprises over 2,000 fossil specimens from the Kimmeridge Clay Formation (Upper Jurassic, approximately 152 million years old). The collection includes marine reptiles (ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, pliosaurs), fish, cephalopods, and invertebrates, many preserving exceptional soft tissue. Several specimens represent type specimens of newly described species.
The Marine World of the Late Jurassic
The main gallery presents the complete ecosystem of the Late Jurassic sea that covered southern England 150 million years ago, from microscopic plankton to 10-metre pliosaurs, through the fossil evidence recovered by Steve Etches.
Marine Reptiles of Kimmeridge
Dedicated displays focusing on ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and pliosaurs, with exceptional specimens and detailed scientific interpretation of their biology, behaviour, and ecology.
The Collector's Story
The personal story of Steve Etches — his methods, his 40 years of fieldwork, and his contribution to scientific knowledge as an amateur palaeontologist of world standing.
The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site
Contextual displays exploring the geology and palaeontological significance of the Jurassic Coast, from the 18th-century pioneers to modern research.
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Time Periods
Current Exhibitions
No current exhibitions. Please check the museum website for updates.