Listen and learn from one of Britain’s finest voices at Uni Museum

On Sunday 10 March renowned singer/songwriter Hilary James will take a Museum of English Rural Life audience through a witty romp of ancient and modern English comic song. Described by BBC Radio 4 having as ‘One of Britain’s finest voices’, Hilary is also offering fans an unmissable opportunity chance to take part in a pre-concert […]

Snow Update – Sunday 20th Jan

We’re open as usual, despite the weather, so please do come and see us! We’ll be opening at 2pm, but the snow is getting heavier, so we may need to leave earlier than usual to make sure that our staff can get home safely. Please call us on 0118 378 8660 to make sure that we’re […]

Snow Update – Saturday 19th Jan

We’re open as usual, despite the weather, so please do come and see us! We’ll be here from 2-4:30pm. The MERL car park is still very snowy, but you can park down the side of the museum in Acacias Road, which has been gritted. The buses are also running, the 9, 20, 20a and 21 will […]

SNOW UPDATE – Jan 18th, 12.15pm

Due to worsening weather conditions, the Museum and reading room will close at 4pm today. Reading room services may be restricted to pre-ordered items and open shelf material. Please check our website for updates regarding weekend opening. Sign up for our newsletter Get blogs, collections news, and shop updates straight to your inbox. Email Address […]

Snow update – Jan 18th, 11.25am

The Museum & Special Collections reading room are currently open as usual. Toddler Time will take place at 1pm as planned. However, snow is falling heavily in Reading and we are monitoring the situation carefully. We still plan to open as usual at the weekend but decisions will be taken depending on conditions nearer the […]

MERL Annual Review 2011-12

The Annual Review for 2011-12 is now available to download from our website. The review covers the Museum and Special Collections’ highlights and achievements over the last academic year (to September ’12)  To download the Review, visit http://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/about/merl-annualreport.aspx Sign up for our newsletter Get blogs, collections news, and shop updates straight to your inbox. Email Address First Name Last Name […]

Minister contends that human intervention through partnership is the only way to protect countryside

Thanks to everyone who came to the MERL Annual Lecture last week to hear Richard Benyon speak on the future of the British Countryside. If you missed it and would like to know more about the issues he addressed, please read the write-up issed by the University… http://www.reading.ac.uk/news-and-events/releases/PR477752.aspx Sign up for our newsletter Get blogs, […]

MERL Annual Lecture – The British Countryside in 2030

Richard Benyon, Newbury MP and Minister for the Natural Environment and Fisheries, will explore the issues surrounding the future of the British countryside when he presents MERL’s Annual Lecture on Thursday 29 November. Richard Benyon said: “In 2012, it could be said that the British countryside is in a state of imbalance. While many species […]

Press Release: Ladybird books – icons of British childhood – under the microscope at MERL

Members of the public are to be given a rare glimpse of original artwork from one of the hidden gems among the University of Reading’s special collections. The Ladybird Archive, held by the University’s Special Collections Services, contains thousands of individual items, including original artwork and cover designs from hundreds of Ladybird books – perhaps […]