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New museum at Kimmeridge for Etches Collection of fossils New museum at Kimmeridge for Etches Collection of fossils
(about 5 hours later)
A new museum to house a collection of fossils found on Dorset's Jurassic Coast by an amateur collector is set to open later. A new museum has opened to house a collection of fossils up to 150 million years old that were found on Dorset's Jurassic Coast by an amateur collector.
The £5m building is a new home for fossils collected by Kimmeridge resident Steve Etches who had previously kept them in his garage. The £5m building is home to fossils collected by Kimmeridge resident Steve Etches, who had previously kept them in his garage.
The Etches Collection contains more than 2,000 specimens, some previously unknown to science.The Etches Collection contains more than 2,000 specimens, some previously unknown to science.
Mr Etches said he hoped the new museum would "stimulate the imagination". Mr Etches said he hoped the museum would "stimulate the imagination".
The amateur collector has gathered fossils for 35 years but had previously held them in his garage which he opened as a private museum. He has gathered fossils for 35 years but had previously held them in his garage, which he opened as a private museum.
The new museum features displays of 150 million-year-old fossil specimens, video presentations and a workshop where visitors can see the process of exposing and cleaning items for display. The museum features displays of fossil specimens, video presentations and a workshop where visitors can see the process of exposing and cleaning items for display.
It is thought to be the largest collection of Kimmeridge clay fossils outside of the Natural History Museum. It is thought to be the largest collection of Kimmeridge clay fossils outside the Natural History Museum.
Mr Etches, who received an MBE for services to palentology, said the museum had been "a long time in the offing". Mr Etches, who received an MBE for services to palaeontology, said the museum had been "a long time in the offing".
He said: "You're not here forever so it's handy to pass on information which I've accumulated over the last 35 years." He said: "You're not here forever, so it's handy to pass on information which I've accumulated over the last 35 years."
The lottery-funded museum, run by the Kimmeridge Trust, also includes a community centre for the Purbeck village.The lottery-funded museum, run by the Kimmeridge Trust, also includes a community centre for the Purbeck village.
Trust chief executive Simon Allen said the fossil collection was "globally-acclaimed" Trust chief executive Simon Allen said the fossil collection was "globally-acclaimed".
"It is only right that the Etches collection is stored in Kimmeridge where it was found," he added,"It is only right that the Etches collection is stored in Kimmeridge where it was found," he added,