Dippy In Dorchester

 10am - into the Museum. The Dippy Team were very friendly, not at all dippy! You can check out the National History Museum site for details of how their great plaster model of a diplodocus is touring the UK this year.
In the great hall of the museum [cast iron work designed by one of the guys who worked on the Crystal Palace] is Dippy. And hordes of excited children visiting him. 

The floor of the Hall is an exposed Roman Mosaic, the only one in Europe which Joe Public can trample all over!
The Guide was explaining that the pomegranate and leaf pattern in the corner is the signature of the person who made the mosaic.
He also said there was even more mosaic to see underneath Dippy's plinth. I shall have to return after the dinosaur departs, and before my free ticket runs out

Here we are by the Jurassic Coast, so of course Mary Anning gets a mention.
There is a facsimile of a page from her commonplace book. I just love what she wrote, 200 years ago.

 And what is woman? Was she not made of the same flesh and blood as Lordly Man? Yes; and was destined doubtless to become his friend his help-mate on his pilgrimage but surely not his slave, for is not reason Her’s also? 
Upstairs, a room of more fossils, and a room devoted to Dorset writers, especially Hardy. There was a recreation of his study- he'd instructed that his desk etc should be bequeathed to the Museum, and also a feature on The Woodlanders. Two stunning smocks on display. What fabulous stitchery!

In the 'Victorian Schoolroom' Bob was very taken with the Swivelling Stand. With the top one way it is a lectern for someone to stand and speak - and the other way it is a Prie Dieu, where a person can kneel and pray. No we are not getting one at Church!

We scooted round the Gift Shop, avoiding teatowels, books and soft furry dinosaurs, and left the Museum around midday. On to the next stop of our Dorchester Day...
update - just had this email from blogfriend who cannot post her comment [Thanks Sandra - yes Dorset is indeed a great county]  
The parishes around Almer, Anderson, Wint. Kingston have a village magazine called The Red Post and I think The Worlds End pub nearby also has a history of poor people being transported.  Hope you enjoyed Dorchester...our village school visited Dippy en masse earlier, the children were all very inspired.  I hope you continue to enjoy Dorset, I feel we have a lot to offer here.  Good luck. Sandra.