A wealth of history

Lyme Regis is an ancient town – its roots stretch back to the 8th century when monks distilled salt from the seawater. The sea has, of course, been central to the community’s development; the famous Cobb breakwater, first constructed in the 13th century from massive oak beams and boulders, provided essential harbour protection for the development of a thriving trading port.

And that unique spirit, which still characterises the town, thrust this small corner of the West Country into the centre of the nation’s affairs when, supporting Parliament, Lyme Regis was caught up in the Civil War.
In 1644 Royalist troops attacked the town and the Siege of Lyme, lasted two months and claimed many lives.

It was here in 1685 that the Duke of Monmouth landed in pursuit of the Royal crown; his subsequent capture at the Battle of Sedgemoor also sent twelve local men, numbered among his supporters, to their deaths.

Today you will find frequent reminders of Lyme’s multi-faceted past: cannons survive as reminders of past battles; fossils on show in the Museum and underfoot on the beaches, hark back to pre-history; the changing strata of the cliffs tangible evidence of landslips past and present.

The battle of the Siege of Lyme 1644
re-enacted by 'The Sealed Knot Society'

And there’s much more – do visit the splendid newly refurbished Philpot Museum (next to the Guildhall), the fascinating fossil shops and, of course, St.Michael’s Parish Church where in the quiet churchyard, Lyme Regis’s own palaeontologist, Mary Anning, lies at rest.