More about Lyme Regis

Lyme Regis is a beautiful sea town in the county of Dorset. As part of the “Jurassic Coast”, the town still attracts visitors with its abundant fossils. With the fresh sea air and spectacular views of the cliffs, it is easy to see why Anne Elliot loves Lyme. The beach is a peaceful place to walk, and being close to the sea gives a feeling of freedom that Anne appreciates.

The county of Devon begins just beyond the harbor wall known as the Cobb. The cliffs that lie on either side of the town are rich in fossils; some of the first dinosaur skeletons will discovered here, including an ichthyosaurus found by Mary Anning in 1811. The town received the first Royal Charter from King Edward I in 1284 and was besieged by Royalist forces during the Civil War in 1644. The Duke of Monmouth landed west of the town in 1685 and commenced his ill-fated attempt to gain the Crown of England.

Austen stayed here in 1804 and thoroughly enjoyed her time in Lyme. While the landscape is beautiful, the social space is less class-absorbed and more vibrant than that of Kellynch or Uppercross.