News and Views
Discover stories from our collections, work, research, and events. Warning: may contain absolute units.
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Author
- Ollie Douglas
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Published Date
- January 5, 2026
What’s coming up in 2026
This year we’re celebrating the organisations, artists and activists who defend the voices and soul of rural England.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- July 24, 2025
The Friday Walks, with Man in the Woods
In this episode of The MERL podcast, we speak to Bristol-based artist Scott about his artistic practice documenting weird Britain.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- July 21, 2025
Another brilliant school year
Learn about the highlights of our schools and learning programmes from the 2024/25 academic year.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- April 4, 2025
Announcing our new Fellow, Dr Jo Clement
Read how our new MERL Fellow, Dr Jo Clement, is engaging with the Robert Dawson Romany Collection to explore the heritage of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in England.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- February 7, 2025
Voices: introducing our 2025 programme
Get the highlights of what’s coming up in the first half of 2025: from exhibitions and displays, to free tours and talks, plus the announcement of our official podcast.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- February 5, 2025
Thomas and Austen: a gay relationship in the MERL archives?
For LGBTQ+ History Month 2025, researcher Tim Jerrome shares how he’s using rural archives to research same-sex relationships in the countryside.
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Author
- Joe
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Published Date
- January 6, 2025
Landscapes of public health
How does public health impact the design of public spaces? We recap the contents of the 2024 symposium of FOLAR (Friends of the Landscape Archive at Reading), held at The MERL.
