Voices: introducing our 2025 programme
Get the highlights of what’s coming up in the first half of 2025: from exhibitions and displays, to free tours and talks, plus the announcement of our official podcast.
Thomas and Austen: a gay relationship in the MERL archives?
For LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, researcher Tim Jerrome shares how he’s using rural archives to research same-sex relationships in the countryside.
Landscapes of Public Health
How does public health impact the design of public spaces? We recap the contents of the 2024 symposium of FOLAR (Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading), held at The MERL.
Disability History Month 2024: Opening pathways to work
Phillippa Heath, Head of Learning and Engagement, reflects on how we support young disabled people to open pathways to employment.
‘The Final Straw’: Reflecting on the 2024 Farmer Protests
MERL curator Dr Ollie Douglas reflects on the 2024 London farmer protests, and how they speak to his family’s farming history.
Changing Perspectives: Growing Resilience with Alternative Proteins
We interview animal scientist Omolade Awodola-Peters on African livestock agriculture, insect farming, and regenerative methods.
How to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse (at The Museum of English Rural Life)
For centuries, tools like billhooks, forks, and saws kept rural people housed and warm. They’re also perfect for the zombie apocalypse.
Upland Commons: A Labour of Love
Learn about England’s upland commons, their significance to culture and environment, and the many people who come together for their care.
Finding Common Ground
Dr Ollie Douglas (MERL Curator) and Samwel Nangiria Taresero (a Maasai community leader) exchange ideas about land use and land management during a visit to the museum.
The Power to Tell It for Ourselves
Acquisition, cataloguing and display are vital matters of consent. Learn how we’re evolving our approach throughout our work.