The history of British Christmas food
It’s beginning to taste a lot like Christmas! Discover the history of two Christmas staples: punch and Christmas dinner.
51 Voices: Discovering Treasures
Explore the many collaborative creative projects and partnerships that have formed part of 51 Voices, our 70th anniversary celebrations.
Have Yourself a MERLy Little Christmas: a Christmas special
Make yourself a cuppa and put on your Christmas jumper. We’re setting rural history to the music of your favourite Christmas songs.
The history of the servants’ ball
The servants’ ball has had a long tradition in the country house estates of Britain and only really died out after the Second World War.
The lives of sheep and cows
How do we tell new stories about cows, sheep, farmers and their lives led together? Read about a project that has been doing just that.
Confessions of an award-nominated Museum Studies teacher
Meet Dr Rhi Smith, whose work in bringing the University of Reading’s museum collections to students and staff alike has been nominated for a Times Higher Education award!
The reading room is home!
We are pleased to announce that our reading room will be reopening in its usual space from Tuesday 23rd November 2021.
51 Voices: Writing Voices
Read our latest roundup of 51 Voices, where we focus on the writing produced through partnership with poets, University students, and a local school.
A week at The MERL: our reflections on COP26
As COP26 unfolded in Glasgow, a range of activity was underway at The MERL, bringing together many different approaches to the issue of the changing climate and its impact on rural livelihoods and wellbeing.
Night of the living rural history collection
For Halloween, discover four objects from our collection that would provide perfect utility and inspiration for any rural villain.