Hidden in Stone Exhibition
Uncover 200 million years of Earth’s history, buried beneath the South Coast of Britain.
From Dorset to Sussex, under the busy pavements and natural spaces of Britain’s South Coast, is a near unbroken sequence of rocks that span 200 million years of Earth’s history. Hidden in Stone is an exhibition about shifting continents, changing climates, and evolutionary radiation.
Did you know that 160 million years ago the South Coast was under water and terrifying sea monsters, ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs, hunted in the ocean as ammonites jetted through the water.
Or, that 125 million years ago forest fires ripped through the landscape as dinosaurs roamed across the scene. Again, the land gave way to the sea, and the chalk was deposited preserving sea urchins as flint, before the end of the dinosaurs and the rise of mammals in a warm tropical land of crocodiles and prehistoric hippos.
Then, in the last few million to tens of thousands of years, across cycles of ice and snow, we see the emergence of a new type of animal settling in our shores, and prehistory, gives away to history, and humans become part of the tale.
Told through multiple stories, Hidden in Stone explores Jurassic Oceans, Chalk Seas, Cretaceous Dinosaurs, Tropical Hampshire and the ice age, with several ‘stops’ along the way. Discover the rich heritage of fossils literally beneath your feet as you wander across the South Coast, from Kimmeridge in Dorset to Hastings in Sussex.
Explore the Hidden in Stones stories today to unearth the history that we walk on each day.
“Fabulous exhibition. Very informative and educational”
“A hidden gem! Will look out for future exhibitions”
“A thoroughly engaging exhibition with beautiful art and models”
“Roar-some”
Hidden in Stone Partners
Why not visit the Hidden in Stone Exhibition?
Location: Dorking Museum
Date: January – April 2026
