The Attic Gallery at Abingdon County Hall Museum has a new addition. Alongside the museum’s usual array of large fossilised creatures, fossil collector Dr James Etienne has unveiled his collection of locally discovered fossils for the first time.

One notable exhibit is  ‘Abby’ the Pliosaur, found near Abingdon in autumn 2023. Only the skull — complete with teeth — is currently on show, but it represents one of the most complete Pliosaurus reptiles ever uncovered from the Late Jurassic period. Excavated from local Kimmeridge Clay, ‘Abby’ lived around 150 million years ago and was a dominant marine predator.

Putting her back together is not easy. Her lower jaw came out in over 70 pieces. The body of the skeleton is being prepared and will be the subject of research by the University of Portsmouth and the University of Bristol.

Dr Etienne’s collection is on display in the Attic Gallery from 17th May to 7th September 2025 and fills several cases. There are also display boards to show what the creatures may have looked like.

The museum is run by Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council.