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: Museums at Night 2012 – Poetry Night
Join Two Rivers Press for an evening of poetry readings, local beer and the chance to visit the new ‘Our Sporting Life’ exhibition or take a relaxing out of hours stroll around the Museum and garden.
No need to book, just drop-in.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- 18+
When
6-10pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Website
MERL: Exhibition: Field Work - Photographs from East Anglia
Justin Partyka has been photographing rural East Anglia for over a decade, exploring the diverse lives of rabbit catchers, reed cutters, and small-scale farmers. The identities of these forgotten people of the flatlands are enriched by their close relationships with the landscape. In the age when industrial agriculture dominates, Partyka's photographs challenge contemporary ideas and capture a marginal way of life.
The exhibition can be seen during MERL's normal opening hours (see www.reading.ac.uk/merl) or phone .
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Website
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: February Half Term - All things optical: Ways of seeing bags
Be inspired by our photographic exhibition to explore the world of cameras and film. Use our activity bags containing magnifying glasses, telescopes, kaleidoscopes and colours, to explore museum objects and images from a different view!
Suitable for families with children aged 6+. This is a drop-in event and a returnable deposit is required.
During MERL's opening hours.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- 7-10
- 5-6
- 11-13
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
No charge, but a returnable deposit is required for the activity bag.
Website
MERL: February half-term: All things optical: Optical toys – zoetrope
In this workshop you will draw, cut and stick to make your own zoetrope or ‘moving picture’ toy.
Suitable for families with children aged 7+. Cost £3. A drop-in event.
14th February 10am-12noon, 1-4pm.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- 7-10
When
-
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
£3 per child
Website
MERL: February half-term: All things optical: Optical toys: a thaumatrope
In this workshop you will create a thaumatrope – a popular optical toy of the nineteenth century . We will create half pictures on each side of a piece of card, attach strings and spin the card. Hey presto! The whole image will be seen.
Suitable for families with children aged 6+.
Cost £2. A drop-in event.
16th February 10am-12 noon and 1-4pm.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- 5-6
- 7-10
When
-
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
£2 per child
MERL: February half-term: Super ‘stained glass’ sun catchers
Cut, tear, overlap and stick coloured tissue onto a frame to make your own ‘stained glass’ sun catcher.
Suitable for families with children aged 2+. Cost £2. A drop-in event.
17th February 10am-12 noon and 1-4pm.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- 0-4
- 5-6
- 7-10
When
-
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
£2 per child
Website
MERL: Reading Science week: Meet Mother Nature
Come along and meet Mother Nature at MERL! Discover the science of nature, find out about biodiversity and meet local conservation groups.
A free, drop-in event on 17th March between 2-4pm.
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2-4pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Website
MERL Seminar: Children’s literature and the pastoral
MERL Seminars: Literature and countryside series
Experts from the Department of English Language and Literature, University of Reading, deliver a series of talks on country life and people in English speaking literature. These talks will consider ways in which the countryside has inspired literature and how fiction has helped to shape the way we think about rural life. Each seminar will be followed by an opportunity to see original source materials drawn from the rich holdings of the University.
Tuesday 21st February 2012, 4.30-6pm.
Speaker: Professor Karin Lesnik-Oberstein, Professor of Critical Theory and Director of CIRCL
Suitable for
- 18+
When
4:30-6pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
Admission
Free but please register by e-mailing merlevents@reading.ac.uk or phoning 0118 378 8660
Website
MERL: Rural Reads
The MERL book club focuses on books with a rural theme. Join in for an informal discussion in the relaxed and atmospheric setting of the museum. Over the next two terms, the club will be reading some of the works featured in the 'Literature and the Countryside' seminar series. 27 October's book will be George Elliott's 'A Mill on the Floss' and for 1 December, William Cobbett's 'Rural Rides'.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
5:30-7:30pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life
Admission
£1.50 for tea and biscuits
Website
MERL: Reading Science week: Science busking
Once again join university museums and special collections staff and the British Science Association to see science in action, live in the centre of Reading.
A free, drop-in event in Broad Street, Reading town centre on 10th March between 12noon-3pm
For more information phone 0118 378 8660 or e-mail merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Suitable for
- Any age
Where
Broad Street, Reading town centre
Website
MERL Seminar: Caribbean pastoral: a geography of strange myths
MERL Seminars: Literature and countryside series
Experts from the Department of English Language and Literature, University of Reading, deliver a series of talks on country life and people in English speaking literature. These talks will consider ways in which the countryside has inspired literature and how fiction has helped to shape the way we think about rural life. Each seminar will be followed by an opportunity to see original source materials drawn from the rich holdings of the University.
Tuesday 13th March 2012, 4.30-6pm.
Speaker: Dr Alison Donnell, Director of Research and Reader in English
Suitable for
- 18+
When
4:30-6pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
Free but please register by e-mailing merlevents@reading.ac.uk or phoning 0118 378 8660
Website
MERL: The Friends London Road Campus Heritage Trail
Join The Friends of the University as they hold their next Heritage Trail around the University’s London Road Campus, the new home of the Institute of Education. Find out about the Institute’s work, celebrate the centenary of the Great Hall organ with recitals and talks and join in with the children’s Treasure Hunt.
MERL will be open to visitors and is included on the trail. Refreshments will be available.
Suitable for
- Any age
When
2-5pm
Where
London Road Campus, University of Reading, London Road, Reading.
Admission
For more information on the cost and for pre-registration, e-mail thefriends@reading.ac.uk or phone 0118 378 8006.
On the day, 25th March 2-5pm, registration is in The Old Library, London Road Campus. Suitable for families.
MERL Seminar: There's no bigger schmuck than a Jew with a boat: the anti-pastoral in post-war British-Jewish fiction
MERL Seminars: Literature and countryside series
Experts from the Department of English Language and Literature, University of Reading, deliver a series of talks on country life and people in English speaking literature. These talks will consider ways in which the countryside has inspired literature and how fiction has helped to shape the way we think about rural life. Each seminar will be followed by an opportunity to see original source materials drawn from the rich holdings of the University.
Tuesday 27th March 2012, 4.30-6pm.
Speaker: Dr David Brauner, Reader in English and American Literature
Suitable for
- 18+
When
4:30-6pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
Free but please register by e-mailing merlevents@reading.ac.uk or phoning 0118 378 8660
Website
MERL: Rural Reads
The MERL book club focuses on books with a rural theme. Join in for an informal discussion in the relaxed and atmospheric setting of the museum. Over the next two terms, the club will be reading some of the works featured in the 'Literature and the Countryside' seminar series. 27 October's book will be George Elliott's 'A Mill on the Floss' and for 1 December, William Cobbett's 'Rural Rides'.
Suitable for
- Not suitable for children
When
5:30-7:30pm
Where
Museum of English Rural Life
Admission
£1.50 for tea and biscuits
Website
MERL Songs, stories and traditions: Tinker, Tailor, Beggarman, Thief - Magpie Lane
Magpie Lane specialise in performing traditional English songs and dance tunes, with a particular focus on the musical heritage of Oxfordshire. In this show they present tales of ordinary folk – ploughboys, poachers, shepherds, sailors and serving maids – at work, at play, in love and, quite often, in trouble with the law. Some of the band's material is well known on the folk scene, but they also bring to life many lesser known items from the manuscripts of Cecil Sharp, Vaughan Williams, and other collectors working roughly a hundred years ago.
Suitable for
- 18+
When
7:30pm-
Where
Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading. RG1 5EX
Admission
£15, £12 concessions
Please book by e-mailing merlevents@reading.ac.uk or phone 0118 378 8660
Website
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
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