Press release: Science Week is a riot at Uni Museum
Volunteers at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) will present a Reading Science Week event with a difference on Saturday 22nd March. Reading Science Week is part of National Science and Engineering Week (NSEW), a ten-day national programme of science, technology, engineering and maths events and activities across the UK aimed at people of […]
Discovering the landscape #3: Milner’s 'Landscape Gardening'
Written by Claire Wooldridge, Graduate Trainee Library Assistant As progress continues to integrate the library and archive of the Landscape Institute into our MERL collections, here’s a brief look at one of our favourite items: The art and practice of landscape gardening by Henry Ernest Milner (London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent, And Co, 1890). Henry […]
Press release: #MuseumWeek comes to University of Reading
The University of Reading’s museums and collections will join museums and galleries from across the UK and Europe on Twitter later this month for the first ever #MuseumWeek, a project that will connect people to artwork, culture, history and science in new and interactive ways. #MuseumWeek will take place from Monday 24th March – Sunday […]
Focus on Collections #5: The Miller's Wagon
written by Katie Wise, 1st year Art History student and MERL volunteer. Many people see the purpose of museums as educating through the display of historical objects. Whilst museums hold many other roles, one major part of any museum is research, as each object and exhibit has a rich history. It is beneficial for the […]
Weekly What's On: 10th – 16th March
You can find full details of all our forthcoming events and activities in our What’s On and MERL Families guides, which are now available from the Museum or to download from our website You can also see all events on our online calendar MERL Seminar series: Untouchable England The Dark Monarch: magic and modernity in British art Professor Alun Rowlands, Department of […]
Volunteers' Voice #10: Performing Protest: Riots against technological change in the 19th Century
written by Rob Davies, Volunteer Co-ordinator On Saturday 22nd of this month a team of my volunteers are delivering Performing Protest: riots against technological change in the 19th Century. It is a performance-based event about the Swing Riots in Berkshire, which occurred in 1830-31. The event is part of Reading Science Week, in turn part […]
Our Country Lives project submitted!
written by Adam Koszary, Project Officer for Our Country Lives. MERL’s HLF project Our Country Lives reached an important milestone last Monday when we submitted our bid for second stage funding to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). We will find out whether we have been successful in June. Our consultants for the design of the new galleries, […]
Press release: Arts Council funding brings Reading museums closer to the community
Arts Council funding brings Reading museums closer to the community 5th March, 2014 The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) and Reading Museum have been awarded £129,150 to collaborate on ‘Reading Engaged’, a new joint project aimed at strengthening engagement with local communities. MERL, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, has […]
Weekly What's On: 3rd to 9th March, 2014
You can find full details of all our forthcoming events and activities in our What’s On and MERL Families guides, which are now available from the Museum or to download from our website You can also see all events on our online calendar MERL Seminar series: Untouchable England The Museum of British Folklore: a new cultural venture Simon Costin (1-2pm) and Obby […]
Focus on Collections #4: Tools & Trade History Society Library
written by Tony Waldis, the Librarian of the Tools and Trades History Society (TATHS) Library, a special collection kept at MERL for use by visitors and readers. This collection reflects the encompassing knowledge of rural craft and industry kept at MERL, and which we hope to continue to pass down through our displays, outreach and events […]