Blog - The Museum of English Rural Life

The story of Suttons Seeds: 1806 – present

Learn about the history of Suttons Seeds, a Reading company who revolutionised the UK seed-growing industry.

The Barnett project explores the history of the sewing machine and engages in issues relevant to the textile industry in the modern day.

Explore the January to March programme for 2023 at The Museum of English Rural Life. Find something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Delve into the findings of our 2022 volunteer survey and explore the fantastic work our volunteers helped deliver throughout the year.

Hear from The MERL’s gardening volunteers about how they have prepared the garden for winter and what they are planning for 2023.

Explore the history of why we eat turkey at Christmas and the story behind its growth in popularity over the last 500 years.

Discover an artistic intervention by Ingrid Pollard at The MERL, reimagining the museum’s collection of friendly society pole heads.

Learn about MERLy Christmas, our annual Christmas shopping event. Featuring crafts, treats, and carol singing!

For Takeover Day 2022, a student from Addington School talks about their internship here at The MERL.

Learn the autumn updates from The MERL gardening team. Hear about what we’ve been growing, our community projects, and new plant sales.