Suffrage and the Sewing Machine
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The story of Suttons Seeds: 1806 – present
Learn about the history of Suttons Seeds, a Reading company who revolutionised the UK seed-growing industry.
Winter gardening with The MERL gardening volunteers
Hear from The MERL’s gardening volunteers about how they have prepared the garden for winter and what they are planning for 2023.
Why do we eat turkey for Christmas dinner?
This blog explores the history of why we eat turkey at Christmas and the story behind its growth in popularity over the last 500 years.
there-and-then, an intervention by Ingrid Pollard
Discover an artistic intervention by Ingrid Pollard at The MERL, reimagining the museum’s collection of friendly society pole heads.
Pumpkins, partners, and plant sales: our autumn garden updates
Learn the autumn updates from The MERL gardening team. Hear about what we’ve been growing, our community projects, and new plant sales.
Our Green Stories: sustainability in our community
Learn about an environmental campaign by Museums Partnership Reading, championing sustainability in our community from now through 2023.
‘Rooster, hang on!’ a traditional symbol in the nowadays context
Learn about the Borodianka Rooster, a ceramic pitcher which gained international attention as a symbol of Ukraine’s strength and spirit.
Ten rural objects for your student kitchen
Discover a selection of cooking utensils from The MERL collection. Some will be more useful for your student kitchen than others!
Heritage bakes: three historical biscuit recipes from our collections
Explore and follow three heritage recipes for baking historical biscuits, including an original recipe by Huntley & Palmers.