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Exhibition - 14 Feb to 24 May

Voices of the Countryside

Discover 100 years of the Campaign to Protect Rural England

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Explore the past and present of the English countryside, and the people whose lives and work define it.

About The MERL

Getting here

6 Redlands Road, Reading, RG1 5EX
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Opening hours

Full opening hours

Upcoming Events

Talks and Seminars

Conversations with a Curator: Steve Marshall

Join us for a free online talk with Steve Marshall on Edward Bawden (1903-1989) and Farmed Landscapes.

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Dates

Thursday 9 April 2026, 19:30 – 20:30

Author

Public

Price

Free, please book

Location
Online
Watercolour of a farmhouse by John Paget.
Exhibition

Preserving the Picturesque

Explore a series of watercolours portraying landscapes from 19th century England, painted by Victorian artist John Paget.

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Dates

14 February – 24 May 2026

Author

Public

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
Event

Spring LATE

Step into The MERL after dark for an evening of music, drinks, and creativity.

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Dates

Wednesday 25 March 2026, 18:00 – 21:00

Author

Adults

Price

£5 / £3 students/staff

Location
The Museum of English Rural Life
All events and exhibitions

Latest News and Views

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madeleineding
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Published Date
March 6, 2026

International Women’s Day 2026: Hidden histories

Discover the stories of three women curators, collectors, and designers in the 20th century.

Handwriting in a farm letter
Author
Joe
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Published Date
February 25, 2026

Queer histories in the farm records

What can farm records teach us about same-sex relationships? Researcher Tim Jerrome shares his work exploring queer rural experiences.

Exterior of E.M. Barraud's cottage in Cambridgeshire
Author
lottiewood
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Published Date
February 19, 2026

“I am the farm worker going home at evening”: gender fluidity, rural landscapes, and the Women’s Land Army

Library trainee Lottie Wood reflects on gender fluidity in the work of E. M. Barraud, and Barraud’s reflections on her time in the Women’s Land Army

"Cluttered Countryside." A pastiche of different technologies and activities that disrupt the English countryside - from cars, to petrol stations, to tourism.
Author
Joe
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Published Date
February 13, 2026

Voices of the Countryside

Explore our new exhibition celebrating 100 years of CPRE, whose vital work protects and maintains rural English spaces.

The MERL building, as viewed from the garden.
Author
Ollie Douglas
/
Published Date
January 5, 2026

What’s coming up in 2026

This year we’re celebrating the organisations, artists and activists who defend the voices and soul of rural England.

Hedgehog extravaganza
Author
Joe
/
Published Date
July 24, 2025

The Friday Walks, with Man in the Woods

In this episode of The MERL podcast, we speak to Bristol-based artist Scott about his artistic practice documenting weird Britain.

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Discover upcoming events

What’s On

See what’s coming up at The MERL, with events and exhibitions for all ages and interests.

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Radical Rural

This year we’re celebrating the people and movements that protect the landscapes of the English countryside.