Bridport’s Sea Dragon: Unexpected Survivor

An extraordinary prehistoric discovery is coming to Bridport Museum this autumn, featuring the remains of a massive 10-metre Ichthyosaur found locally at a secret beach.

This new exhibition, opening on 24 October 2026 and running until April 2027, showcases a find that will improve scientific understanding of how ancient marine life survived a global environmental crisis. The fossil represents a fearsome marine reptile that dominated the oceans roughly 185 million years ago towards the end of the Jurassic Period. While smaller Ichthyosaurs typically hunted fish and squid, larger apex predators like this specimen actively preyed upon other marine reptiles.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site we are designing an exhibition that we believe will inspire our visitors to find out more about our region’s world-class fossil history. Find out more here.