Museum of English Rural Life
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
The Museum was founded in 1951 by the University of Reading. It was the first specialist museum of farming and rural life to be established in England and so was able to acquire large collections of high quality material at a time when mechanisation was bringing great changes to the countryside. It also played an important pioneering part in the formulation of procedures for the processing, cataloguing and conservation of such material. Today, the Museum is active at a national and international level in all aspects of rural museums.
The entire collection of this museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.
Venue Type:
Museum, Library, Archive
Additional info
Guided Tours are available at weekends at 3pm and on Wednesdays at 2.30pm. Booking is recommended although not essential. Tours are available at other times by appointment.
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
The entire collection of this museum is a Designated Collection of national importance.
The Museum of English Rural Life is dedicated to the spirit of the English countryside and its people. It was founded by the University of Reading in 1951 at a time when the motorised revolution was changing the face of farming and sweeping away implements and techniques that had evolved over many generations.
Today, the museum is a national centre for the history of food, farming and the countryside, and continues with the task of recording and interpreting rural change. It is both a public resource and an academic research centre, preserving Designated collections of national and international significance. These comprise, in addition to the object collections, a library of over 50,000 books, archives of business and organisational records, and extensive photographic collections.
The collections cover the broad range of material relating to farming, rural crafts and industries, and country life. The bulk of the items date from the period 1850 to 1950. Pre 1850 farm tools and equipment are rare in England. Post 1950, the sheer range and size of farm machinery are inhibitors given the level of exhibition and storage space that we have available. This is why so much emphasis has been placed on reflecting this period through the two dimensional collections - especially the photographs and technical literature.
Collection details
Trade and Commerce, Toys and Hobbies, Social History, Science and Technology, Land Transport, Fine Art, Costume and Textiles, Archives, Agriculture
Key artists and exhibits
- agricultural hand tools
- farm wagons: there are over thirty in the collection
- horse drawn ploughs
- dairying equipment
- livestock accessories eg horseshoes; veterinary equipment
- land drainage material
- country crafts and rural industries; the thatching collection, for example is particularly extensive as is that covering the woodland trades
- woodworking and carpentry
- country smocks
- basketry; corn dollies
- friendly society brasses
- beekeeping equipment
- animal traps
- sewing machines
- paintings and prints, especially of early nineteenth century livestock
- Designated Collection
Collections services
- General guide to collections available
- Object identification and/or written enquiry service
- Public access available to collections information
- Specialist publications on collections available
- Object study facilities available (enquire in advance)
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
MERL exhibition of photos of Reading from 1890s and today.
A circle and a century:panoramic photos of Reading from 1890s and today.
Using historic photographs from MERL's collections and modern digital photographs taken by Chris Widdows for the Reading Civic Society, this exhibition will present fascinating and contrasting views of central Reading, spanning 360 degrees and 100 years.
Suitable for
- All ages
When
12-12am
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
Free.
For more details contact:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or 0118 378 8660 or www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
Summer activities at MERL
There is always plenty to keep families entertained at MERL. This summer you can also drop-in and have a go at the following activities in the museum or garden to get the most out of your visit.
'Farm in a box', 'Games in the garden' and 'History of the World Relic Trail'.
Suitable for families.
Suitable for
- Especially for children
When
10-12am
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
Summer holiday events: There is a charge of £1 for the Farm in the box event.
For more details, contact:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or
0118 378 8660 or
www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Rural reads at MERL
LAST THURSDAY of the month from 29th July. Join this new book club at MERL, focussing on books with a rural theme in the atmospheric setting of the Museum or garden. We have chosen 'The Darling Buds of May' by H.E. Bates as the first book to get you started, but the rest is up to the group! Come along and suggest your favourites. £1.50 for tea & biscuits. This is a free drop-in event.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
5:30-7:30pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
Free drop-in event, tea & biscuits £1.50.
For more details, contact:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or 0118 378 8660 or www.reading.ac.uk/merl
MERL art and craft club (macc).
Join 'macc', the new MERL art and craft club. FIRST SATURDAY of each month from August.
Join artist Alison Quinn and be inspired by the Museum, garden and archives. Make, model, paint and draw something to take home. Learn some traditional crafts, such as rag weaving, to give your work a unique 'macc' feel. Dress for mess! Suitable for families with children aged 7-11 years.
Suitable for
- Especially for children
When
2:30-3:30pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
NB. First Saturday of month only, 2-3.30pm.
Cost: £4.50 per child. Please book by contacting:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or 0118 378 8660 or www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Never too young: Toddler time at MERL
Fridays, 1-2pm during Reading term time. Come along to MERL with your little ones and enjoy rhymes, songs or craft activities, based on objects in our collection or our garden. Suitable for families with children aged 2-4 years.
Suitable for
- Especially for children
When
1-2pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
Every Friday during term time. £2 per child. Just drop-in. For more details contact: merlevents@reading.ac.uk or 0118 378 8660 or www.reading.ac.uk/merl.
Theatre at MERL: The Magician's Box
Presented by the award winning Mad Dogs and Englishmen Theatre Company, "The Magician's Box" opens up a Victorian kaleidescope and takes you on a incredible journey fed by one man's vision and imagination. This is John Joseph Mechi, an eccentric and intriguing figure, who struggled to improve the lot of the humble farmer and set up a 'Model Farm' in Essex. The play was commissioned by Wilkin & sons of Tiptree to celebrate their 125th anniversary.
Supported by the University of Reading Arts Committee.
Suitable for adults and older children.
Suitable for
- All ages
When
7:30pm-12am
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
Ticket: £15 (£12 concessions)
Book by contacting:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or
0118 378 8660 or
www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Pick and preserve your own at MERL
Come blackberry picking on Saturday 25th September and on Sunday 26th make jam with your blackberries and other seasonal fruit. Learn how to make chutneys and other preserves. For adults only.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
2:15-4:15pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX.
Admission
£15 for the 2 days. Please book.
Contact:
merlevents@reading.ac.uk or 0118 378 8660 or
www.reading.ac.uk/merl
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
Museum of English Rural Life (MERL)
University of Reading
Redlands Road
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 5EX
England
Website
General enquiries
Event bookings and enquiries
Telephone
0118 378 8660
Fax
0118 378 5632
- About
- | Collections
- | Exhibitions
- | Events
- | Resources
- | Map
