Wren's Nest
About This Museum
Tucked away in Dudley, Wren's Nest is a truly magical place where you can walk in the footsteps of ancient seas. This entire hillside was once a sprawling Silurian coral reef, teeming with life some 420 million years ago. Now, it's a quiet, sun-dappled nature reserve where the past feels incredibly close. You're not just looking at fossils in cases here; you're surrounded by them, with the very ground beneath your feet telling an epic story.
Collection Highlights
Keep an eye out for the famous 'Dudley Locust' (Calymene blumenbachii), a beautifully preserved trilobite that became the area's emblem. The old quarry faces themselves are the main exhibit, revealing stunning ripple marks and fossilized burrows frozen in limestone.
Visitor Information
It's a National Nature Reserve, so it's open to wander, but for the full experience and to access the fossil-rich caverns, you really must book one of their guided tours. Don't forget to look down at the incredible wildflowers that have reclaimed this industrial landscape.
Architecture & Building
This isn't a traditional building; the 'architecture' is all natural, formed by dramatic limestone cliffs and the haunting, man-made tunnels of the old quarry workings.
Contact & Location
Address: Wren's Nest, Abbey Close, Castlewood Farm, Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, Alba / Scotland, TD8 6BG, United Kingdom
Phone: +44 1384 812785
Website: Visit Website
