Is new Mary Anning statue site featured in palaeontologists portrait?
A stunning coincidence has been pointed out between an old portrait of Mary Anning and the new site for her statue.
Campaigners are very excited over a new site for a statue of Mary Anning, one of the first palaeontologists.
Mary Anning Rocks started a project four years ago to place a statue of her in Lyme Regis near the seafront.
But, after significant roadblocks, a new site has been found near Church Cliff Beach, subject to planning permission.
It's now being pointed out the view from the location looks very similar to that of a portrait painted by B J Donne in 1847.
Anya Pearson is one of the campaign group's trustees. Her daughter Evie Swire started the campaign.
Anya told Greatest Hits Radio:
"We hadn't realised this until we started posting pictures online. One of our trustee's father said 'This is a perfect spot because look at the portrait painted of Mary and look at the background.
"So when you look at the background of the painting and you stand in the spot where she's going to go, it's the exact same background of the painting so it just gave us goosebumps."
Planning permission is expected to be submitted soon ahead of the statue's unveiling on Mary's 222nd birthday on 21st May 2022.
The group say they're pleased things have worked out this way as the new site is much better for what they planned.
Anya added:
"I always think things happy for a reason and I think we were blocked for that spot because she was just never meant to go there, and it was never going to happen and the reason being was because this spot is perfect.
"I do think that maybe she's up there somewhere manoeuvring things saying 'I don't want to be near some sewage works, I want to be here.'