News
Coronation Hall crockery gives Jubilee campaign a boost!
Posted 22 February, 2012
The Museum of English Rural Life was delighted to accepted a generous donation of crockery from Woodley Town Council today in response to their ‘Any old china?’ campaign.
The Museum, which is managed and run by the University of Reading launched the 'Any old china?' campaign last month asking for donations to enable them to serve cream teas at the MERL Jubilee Village Fete on crockery fit for the celebrations. They are offering free tickets to the event in return for tea cups, tea pots and plates which will be used at the fete on June 9th.
Alison Hilton, MERL Marketing Officer and fete organiser, met Graham Pearce from Woodley Town Council who handed over several boxes of tea cups, saucers and plates no longer needed by the groups who meet at Coronation Hall in Woodley. A member of one of the groups had read about the Museum’s ‘Any old china?’ campaign in the University of Reading’s ‘CommUnity’ magazine and suggested that the unwanted crockery be donated to the Museum.
Alison said ‘We are very grateful to Graham and the Council for the donation. It will boost our campaign hugely. It’s very fitting that this collection has come from the Coronation Hall, which was built to commemorate the Queen’s coronation! It will be used to serve Jubilee teas at the MERL Jubilee Village Fete on crockery fit for the celebrations.’
The MERL Jubilee Village Fete takes place on Saturday 9th June. For details and to find out how you can donate to the 'Any old china?' campaign, visit MERL Jubilee Village Fete 2012
MERL voted one of best family museums in UK
Posted 13 February 2012
In need of ideas for half-term week? Well, why don’t you visit The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) in Reading which this week has been voted one of the best family friendly museums in the country?
MERL, owned and managed by the University of Reading, is one of twenty museums long-listed for the Sunday Telegraph Family Friendly Museums Award 2012.
In October 2011, ‘Kids in Museums’ launched a campaign to encourage the public to nominate their favourite family friendly museums for the 2012 awards. The 20 museums long-listed come in many different shapes and sizes and cover the whole country. MERL is one of the smaller museums selected from the 100 museums which received nominations.
Learning Manager Bekky Moran says: “When nominations opened at half term in October, we asked our visitors to write to Kids in Museums with positive stories about their experiences at MERL. We would like to thank everyone who took the time to nominate MERL. We always do our best to make families feel welcome, whether they are visiting during the holidays, for an event or popping in at the weekend, so their support is much appreciated. We are delighted that the panel recognised the quality and value of what we offer.”
“The fact that as a small university museum we have made it onto the long-list with some high-flying competition, just goes to show that it’s not the size of the museum or the number of visitors that counts, but the ability to make families feel welcome and included and to offer an enjoyable and worthwhile experience.”
“If you would like to try out MERL’s family friendly credentials for yourself, why not visit this half term? There are drop-in workshops taking place from Tuesday to Friday, with all kinds of activities available around the Museum every day and a ‘Make & take’ activity at the weekend.” Details are available on the Museum website on the holiday events page.
The longlist will now be discussed by a panel of distinguished judges, chaired by Jenny Abramsky, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund. This panel draws up the shortlist, which will be announced in April 2012. The shortlist will then be road-tested anonymously by families, who report back to Kids in Museums, marking the museums against the points on the Kids in Museums Manifesto. The museum with the best family reports and most points wins.
Families can apply to be mystery museum judges for the award by emailing award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk For details visit www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards
Are traditional farming methods now a thing of the past?
Posted 12 January 2012
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is to host a stunning new photographic exhibition highlighting how traditional farming methods and knowledge still form a vital part of everyday life.
MERL, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, will house Field work: photographs from East Anglia, from renowned photographer Justin Partyka. The display runs from 21 January - 22 April and will explore the lives of those whose identity stems from a close relationship with the landscape.
For over ten years Justin has been photographing throughout the East Anglian counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, exploring the rural worlds of rabbit catchers, reed cutters and small-scale agrarian farmers, challenging the ideas of contemporary farming.
Thanks to Arts Council England MERL has commissioned Justin to produce a comparative record of the Berkshire countryside. Over the next two months Justin will be exploring and photographing farms and landscapes around the county leading to a pop up exhibition to be mounted in partnership with ‘Jelly' in central Reading in March.
With support from the Earley Charity the local community can join various workshops, while older people in Reading based care homes can contribute their memories and thoughts on Berkshire's changing landscape .
Justin Partyka said: "This exhibition documents and depicts the lives of people who find themselves pushed increasingly to the margins. I have spent many hours in the fields patiently watching how man and the land intimately shape each other, witnessing a way of life that is deeply rooted in the past in an age where industrial agriculture has come to dominate the countryside."
On Tuesday 24 January the local community can join Justin and fellow Norfolk writer and artist Jonathan P. Watts in examining Justin's inspiration and commitment to photographing rural East Anglia. During this ‘mardle' slides of Justin's work will reveal how the medium of photography can become a way to explore a sense of place.
MERL's curator Isabel Hughes said: "We are delighted to host Justin's wonderful work. As a major national repository for archives of agriculture and materials relating to the history of rural Berkshire and its people, MERL is the perfect venue for this eye-catching exhibition. I hope the local community enjoy Justin's work and take the opportunity of learning from one an extremely talented photographer through our series of workshops."
Field work: photographs from East Anglia runs from 21 January - 22 April 2012. Admission is free.
For more information visit the Field Work exhibition page
From Ambridge to Afghanistan: the MERL Annual Lecture goes international
posted 14 November, 2011
A star of Radio 4’s 'The Archers' will explore how the long-running radio drama has become a model for radio across the world, at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) in Reading on November 24th at 7pm.
Felicity Finch, who plays Ruth Archer in the series, will present MERL’s Annual Lecture on 24 November, with the title ‘From Ambridge to Afghanistan’. Admission is free and open to all.
Felicity, an actress and BBC presenter and reporter of features and documentaries, will be talking about how 'The Archers' has been used as a model for radio dramas across the world.
Such series are now routinely used as a powerful too in educating audiences through entertainment – as was the case with the origins of 'The Archers' in 1951, when it was established as an educational tool for British farmers. Felicity will also speak about her radio documentaries covering dramas overseas, as well as her work training actors on the Afghan radio show ‘New Home, New Life’ in Kabul.
The Museum, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, is organising this year’s Annual Lecture to mark the culmination of an exciting programme of events celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Museum. MERL has shared these celebrations with BBC Radio 4’s 'The Archers', which is itself celebrating its diamond anniversary in 2011, by hosting a collaborative exhibition, ‘Everyday stories of country folk’. The Museum is therefore delighted that the Annual Lecture will be given by Felicity.
Felicity Finch said: “It's been an amazing journey for me to travel to countries like Rwanda and Afghanistan where they have their very own radio soap operas, using The Archers as their model. These programmers provide a lifeline for millions of listeners as they both educate and entertain through their strong storylines and characters. I'm looking forward to sharing my experiences at the MERL lecture.”
Kate Arnold-Forster, Director of MERL, said: “The theme of Felicity’s lecture is the perfect way to mark the end of our year of 60th anniversary celebrations. It will show that The Archers, while long established, continues to be a model for communicating current thinking about farming and the countryside to people across the world. We are delighted that the public will have the chance to put their questions to Felicity after the lecture.”
The lecture is being held on 24 November at 7pm in the University of Reading’s historic Great Hall, on the London Road campus. Admission is free, although tickets are required. These can be requested by contacting the Museum, click here for details or to book online.
Information for attendees is also available on the MERL Annual Lecture 2011 page.
Download the press release (pdf):
From Ambridge to Afghanistan: the MERL Annual Lecture goes international
Is MERL your favourite family friendly Museum?
posted 25 October, 2011
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) is asking visitors to nominate it for The Telegraph Family Friendly Museum Award 2012.
Since its move to new premises in 2005, the Museum, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, has established itself as one of the favourite places to go for many Reading families. From toys and games on the ‘magic carpet’ to a rat trail and brass rubbing, dressing up and colouring in, there’s something to entertain families with children of all ages.
Learning Manager Bekky Moran says: “Families don’t necessarily expect to find a friendly welcome in a University museum which also caters for very different academic and adult audiences, but it is very important to us that visitors of all ages feel at home here and can find interesting and enjoyable activities to make their visit a fun learning experience they want to repeat. Families drop in after school, at weekends, or come to our ‘Toddler Time’ sessions and special events. Why not come and try our family workshops this half term and find out what’s on offer.
“We want to encourage our regular visitors as well as anyone who has had a positive experience with their family at MERL to nominate us for the family friendly award by telling Kids in Museums why they think we deserve to win! To win would be a fantastic recognition of the quality of that we offer and would help us spread the word to more and more local families.”
Candice Kilbane brings her son and his friend to Toddler Time every Friday. She says: “The boys love playing with the toys and singing songs on the carpet. The activities have been great fun! The exhibits are great for the kids too as they are both mad about machines and wheels. We’ve also made use of the garden for games and picnics. MERL is a lovely place to bring the children!”
Rose Silvester of Kids in Museums recently described MERL as ‘wonderfully family friendly’ in her ‘Hidden Gems’ article on family friendly museums. She writes: ”From the moment you enter MERL you know you are in a family friendly space, so relax and enjoy it.”
Anyone can nominate MERL for the award. They just have to say why it’s the most family friendly and deserves to win. Send an email to award@kidsinmuseums.org.uk or post nominations to: Family Friendly Museum Award, Kids in Museums, 49-51 East Road, London N1 6AH
The call for nominations closes on 2 December 2011, and the winner will be announced in Spring 2012.
For details visit www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/awards
Download a press release, including notes for editors:
Uni museum seeks family friendly award nominations (pdf)
Enjoy a scrumptious day out at MERL
posted 14 October, 2011
Visitors to the Museum of English Rural Life will enjoy a scrumptious time at its annual Apple Day on Saturday 22 October, from 1 to 5pm.
The Museum (MERL), which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, celebrates Apple Day as part of the popular annual celebration of English apples and orchards initiated by Common Ground over two decades ago.
Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL, said “Apple Day is one of the Museum’s most popular annual events, and this year there’ll be even more to see and do. We are delighted to be welcoming special guest Duncan Mackay, author of ‘Apples, Berkshire, Cider’ who will be talking about his book and demonstrating his apple press! We’ll need apples to press on the day, so visitors can help by bringing in any surplus apples from their gardens and see them transformed into delicious juice! They can bring along a clean plastic container to take some home in too!’
“Visitors to the event can enjoy tasting different varieties of English apples supplied by Cross Lanes Farm in Mapledurham, and this year the growers themselves will be on hand to discuss and sell their apples. The BTCV will be back to help families make apple bird feeders and, as always, there’ll be apple and spoon races in the garden and the longest peel competition!
“Visitors will also be able to taste and buy apple and pear juices, toffee apples, homemade chutneys and preserves, or win a ‘Chutney box’ full of all the ingredients to have a go at home, kindly donated by Abel & Cole. Cider lovers will be pleased to know that for the first time there’ll also be cider tasting with Berkshire brewers, Tutts Clump! Tea and delicious homemade ‘Country Markets’ apple pie and cakes will also be available!”
Caroline Gould, Deputy University Archivist, will be on hand to show visitors photographs and beautifully illustrated texts from the MERL Archives and Library. She said: “Visitors to Apple Day have the opportunity to see the rare and highly sought after first Herefordshire Pomona - 2011 marks 200 years since its publication.”
The Apple Day event takes place from 1 to 5pm on Saturday 22nd October at the Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road in Reading. Admission is £1 for adults and is free for children. Everyone is welcome.
For details visit Apple Day page, call 0118 378 8660 or email merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Ends
Note for media: Duncan Mackay and Caroline Gould are available for interview. Media are welcome to attend. Please contact Alison Hilton, marketing officer, on 0118 378 8660 or a.c.hilton@reading.ac.uk
Special event for Archers fans at MERL
posted 23 September, 2011
Fans of BBC Radio 4’s serial The Archers will be able to immerse themselves in their favourite programme in a special event to be held at the Museum of English Rural Life on Saturday 1st October from 2 to 4pm.
The ‘Archers Day’ event at the Museum of English Rural Life, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, is part of a programme of events inspired by the current exhibition ‘Everyday stories of country folk, celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL, 1951-2011’ The exhibition, which opened earlier this year, has been created in partnership with the BBC to show how MERL and The Archers have reflected changes in rural life over the last 60 years.
At the event there will be the chance to take a special tour of the exhibition with Curator, Mark Mason. Fans will also be able to indulge their interest in the programme by watching ‘Supper with The Archers’ a 1963 film made by the National Dairy Council, directed by Godfrey Baseley, Editor of The Archers, and featuring cast members. An informative programme about dairy farming and the promotion of dairy products, the film is also a fascinating insight into 1960s life and a wonderful opportunity to see how the radio actors performed in front of the cameras!
Attendees will also be able to have a go at making radio sound effects – an activity that was particularly well received on the University’s stand at the Berkshire Show recently, to create their own ‘Ambridge in a box’ and even to play an original Archers board game! Mark Mason says, ‘This will be a great chance for keen Archers fans to get together to find out more about the history of the show as well as pick up some insights into the production process as well as an opportunity to share their memories with fellow listeners!’
The £5 charge for this fascinating event, even includes tea and delicious homemade cake! Book now as places are limited.
The event will be followed at 4.15pm by a free showing of the 2007 Arena film, ‘The Archers’. Narrated by Stephen Fry, this film goes behind the scenes at the Archers production office and tracks the development the production of the dramatic 15000th episode of ‘The Archers’. Don’t miss this rare opportunity made possible thanks to the BBC. There's no need to book for the film show, just come along at 4.15pm.
For details and to book, visit the Archers Day page
MERL takes part in 'Pinning Reading's History' project
7 September 2011
Images of Reading from the Museum's Philip Collier and Dan Lewis photographic collections have been uploaded to the 'Historypin' website as part of a special project in Reading. The first of its kind in the world, where the entire community is being asked to get involved and gather together the history of the local area.
Isabel Hughes, MERL Curator, explains "MERL is a partner in the HistoryPin project led by Reading Museum to encourage the local community to 'pin' their photographs to Google maps. We are contributing historic photographs of the local area held in our collections. HistoryPin was created by We Are What We Do, a not for profit company that aims to encourage community based activity. They will be advising MERL on the use of HistoryPin in developing new interpretative resources as part of our Esmee Fairbairn Collections Fund initiative, 'A Sense of Place'."
An exhibition entitled ‘Pinning Reading’s History’ will be held at Reading Musuem, from September 2011 to January 2012, where the best photos and stories uploaded onto the Historypin site will be featured. The interactive exhibition will be updated as new memories are added throughout the autumn and winter.
If you have any photos, stories or memories do pin them to the map. They could be of your family, street, school, local business, Reading landmarks or any other interesting local or family history you have to share.
Visit Historypin Reading page to find out more and see the images
For details of the exhibition visit Pinning Reading's History at Reading Museum
Trees cleared for Big Lottery project
26 July 2011
Trees are being cleared today from the car park area in front of the Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading in preparation for landscaping as part of a Big Lottery-funded volunteer project called ‘A Green Welcome’.
Volunteers will be creating a beautiful new garden in the space cleared. After a survey by both the University’s Head of Grounds and Tree Officer, in consultation with Reading Borough Council, trees were selected for removal.
From September, garden volunteers will begin by removing roots and preparing the soil, planting will then begin to create a wildlife-friendly habitat and garden. The new garden will enhance the space at the front of the Museum, and its Grade II* listed home, designed by Alfred Waterhouse will be fully visible.
Keen gardeners who would like to take part in the project are invited to contact the Volunteer Coordinator, Rob Davies, on r.j.davies@reading.ac.uk or call 0118 378 8660 to find out more.
MERL wins Esmée Fairburn Collections Fund award
19 July, 2011
MERL is one of only seven heritage organisations to receive collections funding
The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund enables museums to demonstrate the inspiring and engaging potential of collections. The MERL project, “A Sense of Place” will look at bringing together richer data – geographical, historical and cultural – about our collections making it available online. The project is about enhancing the experience of onsite and virtual visitors to MERL. In partnership with users we will be piloting some ways for visitors to search for and access new information and interpretation, including QR codes and mobile phone apps.
“We are delighted to have been awarded the largest of the grant awards, over £80,000. There were 85 applications submitted to this fund and we were one of only seven organisations awarded grants. The selection panel were also particularly interested in our scheme as a model for museums across the country. “A Sense of Place” will enable us to provide our visitors with a greater depth of information about our collections, and test out the best means for our audiences to access that data using new technologies.” Isabel Hughes, Curator of Collections and Engagement
Further details on the awards can be found on the Museums Association website
MERL Traditional Craft Fair 2011 - calling local craftspeople!
13th July 2011
Applications are invited for the 2011 Traditional Craft Fair to be held at MERL in November
We are pleased to announce that following the success of the Museum's first ever Traditional Craft Fair in November last year, we will be running the event again this year on November 5th, 11am to 4pm.
The emphasis is on traditional and heritage crafts and stallholders are encouraged to demonstrate on their stands and are welcome to offer small hands-on activities for visitors.
The Museum also provides a free drop-in activity for families and refreshments are available in our 'Studio Cafe'.
We were delighted with the interest from the public at last year's event. Many visitors commented on waht a unique event it was and how much they enjoyed seeing crafts in such an appropriate setting, surrounded by the Museum's collections.
Stallholders were equally pleased with the day and
"It was a great pleasure for me to take part in the Traditional Craft Fair, and I was very pleased that many visitors were genuinely interested in bear-making. It was also great to find myself in the extremely friendly atmosphere created by you and other organisers. I really do not think it could all have been done any better."
Sasha, traditional handmade bears
It was a lovely event and I felt priviliged to be right next to the straw man and all the beautiful objects in the museum. Lots of people came through and the time passed quickly. I sold quite a lot and would happily do it again.
Brenda, stained glass
Craftspeople and makers are invited to submit applications for stalls by Friday 26th August. The selection panel will meet in the week commencing 5th September to choose the successful applicants.
How to apply:
Before filling in an application form, please read the following information about the event:
MERL Craft Fair information for applicants
To apply, please print and post the form below, or fill in the e-form and email it to merlevents@reading.ac.uk
MERL Craft Fair application pdf form 2011 (pdf)
MERL Craft Fair application e-form 2011 (Word doc)
University says thank you to its volunteers
17 June, 2011
The achievements of local volunteers and students were celebrated this week at a special event at the University of Reading’s Museum of English Rural Life (MERL).
The evening brought together three important areas of the University: the Reading Experience and Development (RED) Award, the Student Tutoring Scheme and the contribution made by local people to MERL. Each of these schemes provides support and opportunities for students and residents to get involved in projects and activities outside their normal work or studies.
The event was hosted by the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Gordon Marshall. He said: “I am extremely proud to celebrate the achievements of our students and local volunteers who have made a personal contribution within our institution and our wider community over the past year.
“As well as celebrating our students this evening we are also here to mark the very significant contribution of the many individuals from outside our institution who offer their time to volunteer within the University. The University Museums, Archives and Special Collections Service of which MERL is part, relies greatly on the support offered by a group of loyal volunteers from outside the University. All the volunteers undertake extremely valuable work allowing them to gain insight and experience in the running of our museums and archives. I know, without doubt, that we would not be able to achieve all that we do within our museums without the dedication and commitment of these individuals.”
“The event falls as part of Universities Week, a national campaign to raise the profile of all that higher education offers to society at large. With so many students, staff and guests joined together this evening – I have no doubt of the impact of the University of Reading in this regard.”
Two volunteers in particular, Ron Butler and Gerry Westall, were recognised as having made a remarkable contribution over an extraordinary period of time. For the past twenty years Ron and Gerry have worked on various projects within the Museums and Special Collections, in particular the Sutton Seeds archive. Professor Mike Fulford, Chair of the MERL Advisory Committee, gave them special recognition during the event.
"Volunteers are the life and soul of the University Museums, they contribute so much time and effort, offering invaluable experience and a breath of fresh air. We are delighted that our volunteers have been recognised at the highest level, we hope that our community volunteers continue to be a part of our organisation for years to come." – Rob Davies, Volunteer Coordinator, UMASCS.
Archers actor to open MERL Village Fete, June 4th
24 May 2011
Trevor Harrison, who plays Eddie Grundy in BBC Radio 4’s serial The Archers, will open the Museum’s free family event, the MERL Village Fete, on June 4th at 11am.
The Village Fete at the Museum of English Rural Life is part of a programme of events inspired by the new exhibition ‘Everyday stories of country folk, celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL, 1951-2011’ The exhibition, which opened earlier this month, has been created in partnership with the BBC to show how MERL and The Archers have reflected changes in rural life over the last 60 years. At the fete there will be the chance to put your questions to Vanessa Whitburn and Trevor Harrison and to take a special tour of the exhibition with Curator, Mark Mason.
Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL says “There will be something for everyone at this fun family event! Local craftspeople and organisations including Redlands WI will be running stalls, activities, traditional games and face painting. Visitors will have the chance to see modern and vintage tractors, rare breed sheep and goats, and take part in a family workshop with artist Francesca Shakespeare. There’s also a ‘Garden in a tray competition’ for children, and the chance to see our very own ‘white borders’ a homage to the famous white gardens at Sissinghurst which were created for the Festival of Britain in 1951.
“The MERL garden will be decorated with bunting made by children at local nurseries and pre-schools as part of the Museum’s ‘Mile of Smiles’ Celebration Project.
“No Village Fete would be complete without tea and cake – our delicious home baked cakes are provided by Country Markets in Earley – and we’ll also have a hog roast, ice-cream and a selection of locally produced beers! There will even be the opportunity to cycle your own smoothie – and this year even our PA system will be pedal powered!”
Everyone will also have the chance to make a special commemorative print with artist Martin Andrews, using a traditional printing press, so don’t miss this opportunity to come and help MERL celebrate its 60th anniversary!
The MERL Village Fete takes place at the Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road on June 4th. It opens at 10am and finishes at 5pm. Admission is free. Trevor Harrison will open the event at 11am.
For further details about how to enter the ‘Garden in a tray’ competition as well as information about the day visit the MERL Village Fete page
MERL celebrates Museums at Night in '50s style
19 May 2011
On Saturday night, The Museum of English Rural Life, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, joined in Museums at Night, a national weekend of late openings at arts and heritage venues, by holding a ‘50s night.
The Museum was celebrating 60 years since its establishment in 1951. Staff and volunteers dressed up in ‘50s style to welcome visitors to an evening of live music and dancing! Many visitors entered into the spirit and looking amazing in ‘50s costume and showed off impressive dancing skills.
Isabel Hughes, MERL Curator, said “We all had great fun! There was a super atmosphere in the Museum – I don’t think MERL has experienced anything quite like it in its 60 year history! Visitors obviously put lots of effort into dressing up and there was some amazing dancing! It was great to see some familiar faces and lots of people who took this opportunity to visit MERL for the first time!”
Volunteer tour guides were on hand to take visitors on the new exhibition ‘Everyday stories of country folk’ exhibition trail to see how the Museum’s collections bring to life changes in the countryside over the last 60 years and how those changes have been reflected by the BBC Radio serial The Archers.
There was then the chance to enjoy a drink of West Berkshire Brewery ale, watch the ‘Supper with The Archers’ film and even play tradition family board games!
For details of the exhibtion go to Everyday stories of country folk: Celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL, 1951-2011
Unique exhibition celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL opened last week
17 May 2011
'Everyday stories of country folk' was opened by Tim Bentinck, who plays David Archer in The Archers, at a reception attended by Vanessa Whitburn, Editor of The Archers and other cast members.
The Museum of English Rural Life has worked in partnership with the BBC to bring visitors the only major public display to examine the themes and aims of The Archers during its diamond jubilee. It tells the story of two intertwining institutions and the far-reaching contributions they have made to our increased understanding of farming and country life.
For a full press release and to listen to a recording of Mark Mason, Guest Curator, talking about the exhibition, click on the link: A gem of an exhibition celebrates Museum of English Rural Life and The Archers' diamond jubilee
For details of the exhibtion go to Everyday stories of country folk: Celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL, 1951-2011
Volunteers for Museums project draws to a close
Posted 31 March
BOB Museums and their incredible helpers
For the past year, the Volunteers For Museums project (funded by Renaissance South East) has been looking at how volunteers are looked after across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire museums. With it coming to the end on 31 March 2011, we’d like to direct you to the Volunteers for Museum project website to see what they’ve found out; with some case studies, resources and the final report available for download. Based at MERL, the project team also worked with colleagues from Banbury Museum, Buckinghamshire County Museum, Chiltern Open Air Museum, Oxfordshire Museum Service, Milton Keynes Heritage Strategy Group, Henley River & Rowing Museum and Wycombe Museum. Not only were these museums able to benefit from training and advice, but they were also able to explore new areas of volunteering and support through the project funding.
Preview of forthcoming MERL exhibition 'Celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL now on at the University's library
Posted 22 March
The BBC radio serial The Archers and the Museum of English Rural Life both came into being in 1951. This display at the University of Reading library until April 12th, offers a preview of a major exhibition to be staged at the Museum from 1 May to 22 December. This will show how these iconic institutions have reflected 60 years of change in the countryside.
Volunteers Making it happen at MERL!
Posted 17 March, 2011
Local couple Jan and Ron Butler like to see a job through to the finish – they are two of an army of dedicated volunteers at the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) which is owned and managed by the University of Reading. One and a half days each week sees the husband and wife team from Spencers Wood come to the Museum - helping out on many and varied projects and making them happen!
Ron first got involved with MERL fifteen years ago, when a former Suttons colleague who was already volunteering at MERL got in touch to ask for his help identifying crops in some of MERL's photographs – having worked for Sutton Seeds in vegetable seed production for forty five years Ron jumped at the chance to volunteer with a project dear to his heart - and he has been coming along to the Museum every Wednesday ever since!
Ron explains: ‘I helped to sort and catalogue the ‘Suttons’ archive at MERL. I got involved in anything else that needed doing - such as sorting, listing and cataloguing maps, posters and MAFF films. About 7 years ago we got involved with the Glass Negatives Project, which involved a team repackaging 120,000 glass plate negatives!’
Continues Ron: ‘We needed many more volunteers to help with all of this work, and this is when my wife Jan got involved. She has always done a lot of needlework, knitting and sewing and was delighted to be able to work on making one hundred special coat hangers for displaying the smock collection as part of a conservation project, as well as working with Fred the conservator to produce linen covered ‘heads’ for storing the Museum hats.’
Both Ron and Jan helped with many different Museum projects including the packing up, labelling etc of the archives when MERL moved from the old building on campus down to the new building in 2005 - and the unpacking! And also on the Macmillan project, putting correspondence in alphabetical order since the project started a year ago.
Adds Ron: ‘We have both been able to get involved in projects that really interest us. Jan loved working on the special coat hangers project as it was using her interest and skills in sewing to do something useful and completely different. My favourite was the Suttons project because it related to my work and area of expertise and interest.’
‘We love coming to MERL because we get out of the house, meet people and do something completely different from the usual routine. We enjoy doing something useful and seeing a job through to the finish. We love to make it happen at MERL!’ concludes Ron ‘and would thoroughly recommend volunteering to anyone who has some free time to give. Just get in touch with the Museum!’
The Museum is one of eight museums across Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire who are part of the ‘Volunteers for Museums’ Project funded by Renaissance South East. The aim is to increase the quality of volunteer management, develop opportunities for volunteers and train their staff to support them.
Women's farming in spotlight on centenary of International Women's Day, March 8th, 2011
Posted 24 February
Timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day on March 8th 2011, the Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading will reveal the often overlooked story of women in farming in a talk inspired by the its current exhibition: 'Land Ladies: Women and Farming in England, 1900-1945'.
By the beginning of the twentieth century scientific innovation, technological change, and mechanisation had helped to create the impression that farming was a ‘manly’ business. As a result, agriculture has often been depicted as a masculine pursuit. However, women have always worked in farming. Very much overlooked, their role has to a large extent been hidden from history. The exhibition, ‘Land Ladies: Women in Farming in England, 1900-45’ tells their story and in her talk Guest Curator, Dr Nicola Verdon will show just how important the contribution of women has been.
Dr Nicola Verdon, an historian from Sheffield Hallam University has drawn on the archives, objects, books, and photographs held at the Museum of English Rural Life, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, to create a fascinating exhibition which examines the work undertaken by women in the fields, farmhouses, and farmyards of England from 1900 until the end of the Second World War.
From original Women’s Land Army uniforms to domestic butter and cheese-making appliances, industrial produce machinery to basketry, this exhibition plays host to an exciting array of objects. These include local artefacts such as an egg basket used in a Berkshire country kitchen, an egg transport box used by Thames Valley Eggs, a punnet used locally for fruit picking, and banners made by members of WI groups from two Berkshire villages. Other items of local interest include objects and images associated with the history of dairy education at the University of Reading. These include photographs of young women learning to make butter in the 1930s in the old dairy building, now a University café, located next door to MERL.
Dr Verdon said: 'Women have always been involved in farming in Britain but until relatively recently historians have tended to ignore or belittle their contributions. The MERL collections allow us to explore the range of work that women undertook. I particularly like the image of women workers on the land in the 1930s - it really shows the reality of farming, dirty, unglamorous and very, very hard work. People tend to think that women only worked on the land during the two world wars, but this exhibition shows that the work of women during the war was part of a continuous process.'
Dr Ollie Douglas, Assistant Curator at the Museum of English Rural Life, said: ‘We are extremely privileged to have this opportunity to work with Dr Verdon. The Museum has important archival and photographic holdings relating to this topic and with Dr Verdon’s help we have been able to unearth a wealth of new information.”
Dr Nicola Verdon, will give a talk inspired by the exhibition at MERL on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day itself, March 8th 2011. Entitled 'Business and pleasure: women, work, and the professionalisation of farming as a female career, c.1900-1950', the event starts at 4.30pm and is free and open to all. Advance booking is recommended as places are limited. The exhibition runs until April 19th.
Visit the Land ladies page for details of the exhibition and talk.
Contact our Press Officer for high resolution images.
Restricted reading room service due to essential works - Monday 21 February 2011 to Friday 11 March 2011
Posted 20 January, 2011
Due to essential building works, a highly restricted service will operate in the Special Collections Service reading room between the above dates. Many classes of material, (including rare books, Special Collections archives, and parts of the Museum of English Rural Life's library and archives) will be inaccessible, and you should check with us before making travel plans for your visit. We would like to apologise for this disruption and for any difficulties that it may cause to your research.
Although we will endeavour to provide the best possible level of support to visitors, we nonetheless recommend that anyone who is able to reschedule their reading room visit outside of this period should do so. If your research does need to be carried out during the above period, we urge you to contact us as soon as possible to discuss pre-retrieval of items for you. Further details of the restrictions are given below.
- There will be severe restrictions on access to periodicals in the Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) Library. Most open shelf items, including MERL books, the Mark Longman Library and Beckett open-shelf, will remain available. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
- There will be severe access restrictions to all rare book collections - we strongly recommend that visitors needing to see rare books (including MERL Reserve, Reserve, Overstone, Cole, Stenton and other collections) during this period contact us by 16 February to discuss pre-retrieval of items.
- There will be severe access restrictions to the following MERL archives: Farm Records (including Wellington Estate), Society Records (including CPRE, NFU, RASE and the Farm Management Survey). We strongly recommend that visitors needing to see items from these archives during this period contact us by 16 February to discuss pre-retrieval of items. Please note that MERL Trade and Co-operative records, along with photographs, documents and engineering drawings, will remain accessible, but that we recommend ordering in advance of any visit.
- There will be severe access restrictions to all Special Collections archives - we strongly recommend that visitors needing to see original items (including Beckett, the publishing and printing archives, Astor, Huntley and Palmer) during this period contact us by 16 February to discuss pre-retrieval of items. Please note that most Beckett Collection items will remain available as photocopy surrogates. Please see also the note of other restrictions operating in early 2011.
- Noise levels in the reading room will also be higher than normal.
- Our enquiry and reprographic services will continue to operate: there may be some slight delays in responding to specific queries, but we will inform you if this is the case, and will respond in full as soon as we can.
- The Museum of English Rural Life and all temporary display areas will remain open
If you have any questions about access to collections please contact us:
Email: specialcollections@reading.ac.uk
Post: Special Collections Service, The University of Reading, Redlands Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5EX
Telephone: +44 (0) 118 378 8660
MERL holds first Traditional Crafts Fair
Visitors to the Museum of English Rural Life on November 6th can receive some festive gift inspiration away from the throng of Reading Town Centre.
The Museum (MERL), which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, is hosting its first Traditional Craft Fair where the local community will be able to meet local craftspeople and find unique Christmas presents. The Fair also allows local craftspeople to showcase their skills.
Visitors will be able to have a go at some of the crafts themselves for free including knitting rows on a scarf to be ‘raffled’ on the day! Some of the craftspeople will be offering small activities for £1 or £2, such as beeswax candle making. Families can also join in a free workshop throughout the day to make traditional posy from dried herbs and flowers.
Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL said: “The collections at MERL show visitors all about traditional crafts, such as wood turning, basket making and blacksmithing. To have craftspeople in the Museum demonstrating traditional skills such as embroidery, knitting and felt making, all of which have been an important part of rural – and not so rural – life for centuries, will help bring these collections to life and show that the crafts are still thriving today."
Jo Nickless, a local beekeeper who will be selling her produce at the Fair said "I am delighted to be able to join MERL at their Traditional Craft Fair. The craft of beekeeping is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity and is as important to the British countryside today as it was 100 years ago, when the majority of farmers and small-holders kept bees. As well as selling our produce at the Fair, we will be demonstrating beeswax candle making as it was done at the turn of the last century as well as more modern methods."
Visitors will also be able to enjoy hot and cold drinks and that other much appreciated traditional skill home baking, in the Museum’s ‘Studio café’ serving delicious cakes made by local people for Country Markets!
The MERL Traditional Craft Fair takes place from 11am to 4pm on Saturday 6th November at the Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road in Reading. Admission is £1 for adults and free for children. Everyone is welcome.
For details visit www.reading.ac.uk/merl, call 0118 378 8660 or email merlevents@reading.ac.uk
Ends Note for media: Media are welcome to attend. If you wish to come along, please contact Alison Hilton, marketing officer, on 0118 378 8660
Enjoy a delicious day out at MERL's Apple Day
Release date: 5 October, 2010
Visitors to the Museum of English Rural Life will enjoy a scrumptious time at its annual Apple Day on Saturday 16 October.
The Museum (MERL), which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, celebrates Apple Day as part of the national campaign to celebrate English apples, orchards and local distinctiveness, initiated by Common Ground 21 years ago.
Bekky Moran, Learning Manager at MERL, said: “Visitors can enjoy tasting different varieties of English apples supplied by Cross Lanes Farm in Mapledurham. Families will be able to make bird feeders, using apples of course, in a free workshop run by the conservation volunteers from the BCTV and take part in apple and spoon races in the garden. We even hold a longest peel competition so come along and test your skill!
“Visitors will also be able to taste and buy local and homemade chutneys and preserves, or win a ‘Chutney box’ full of all the ingredients to have a go at home, kindly donated by Abel & Cole. This year there’ll also be tea and delicious homemade ‘Country Markets’ apple pie and cakes, made by local WI members!”
Caroline Gould, Deputy University Archivist, will be on hand to show visitors photographs and beautifully illustrated texts from the MERL Archives and Library. She said: “The Apple Day event provides a unique opportunity for MERL to show off some gems from our collections, which house a wealth of information about apple production in England that visitors rarely get the opportunity to see, such as the rare and highly sought after Herefordshire Pomona, dating from the late Victorian period. Visitors will be able to take away copies of apple recipes from the Archives to try at home!
This year visitors will also have the opportunity to meet scientists from the School of Biological Sciences Their exhibition stand, which won a bronze award at the Chelsea Flower Show earlier this year, will highlight how the University is helping to secure the world's fruit supply with research being undertaken at the National Fruit Collection in Brogdale, Kent. The University has been responsible for scientifically curating and maintaining the collection since 2008.
Apple Day takes place from 2-4pm on Saturday 16th October at the Museum of English Rural Life on Redlands Road in Reading. Admission is free. Everyone is welcome. For details visit www.reading.ac.uk/merl, call 0118 378 8660 or email merlevents@reading.ac.uk
The end of an era - Dr Roy Brigden retires after 30 years at MERL
September, 2010
Roy joined the University in 1979 at the age of 27. He was an early graduate of the University Leicester Museum Studies course, gaining a post graduate certificate in 1974, having graduated in history the previous year from Durham University. His first jobs were with Norfolk Museum Service, where his responsibilities as Assistant Keeper of Social History had given him a taste for all things rural.
As Keeper of the Museum of English Rural Life for more than 30 years, Roy oversaw a period of remarkable evolution and achievement. Roy’s 
career effectively spanned the museum’s transformation from the institution of its founders and early curators – John Higgs, Geraint Jenkins and Andrew Jewell – at first not much more than a travelling exhibition of farm wagons that toured agricultural shows up and down the country - to its position today as the country’s leading rural museum and its relocation to its magnificent new home.
Roy’s name is for many synonymous with rural museums and with good cause; his knowledge, expertise and reputation are recognised nationally and internationally and for what he helped create and preserve as a record of English rural life at Reading. Much of what is The Museum of English Rural Life today would not be here now without Roy’s vision and determination.
Roy worked hard to secure a permanent home for the Museum throughout much of the 90s and early years of the this century. But through what Ted Collins has described as the ‘many lean years’, it was Roy above all who continued to work towards the Museum’s redevelopment, looking forward to a time when its outstanding collections could be properly housed, displayed and enjoyed. This hugely ambitious redevelopment took more than decade to realise, with many setbacks and false dawns along the way but it was worth it – MERL is now a unique and inspirational place, housing a collection that is testament to the tenacity, intellectual ambition and creativity of its curators, among which Roy, in many respects, stands alone.
While the new museum may be the most conspicuous of Roy’s achievements, his work in other spheres demonstrates the extraordinary variety of his professional life: To name just a few, Roy served 
as:
- President of the Folk Life Society and Editor of the Journal of Folk life Studies – the leading ethnology journal in this country
- Secretary of the Historic Buildings Group
- Praesidium member of the International Association of Agricultural Museum
- Founder and first Chair of the Rural Museums Network
- Member of the Museums and Galleries Commission Advisory Committee on the Preservation of Industrial and Scientific Material
- Examiner, tutor and mentor for the Museums Association diploma
- (and only this year) Appointed patron of the Heritage Crafts Association
Roy always understood the paramount importance of maintaining the highest professional standards at MERL. He steered the Museum through Museum Registration and later Accreditation and when the Museums and Galleries Commission new Designation scheme for recognising nationally and internationally important museum collections was first announced, he ensured that MERL was awarded this important mark of distinction in the scheme’s first round.
Roy’s success in attracting external funding for project activity is remarkable by any standards – indeed many academics would envy his record, while few museums can point to anything that can compare with his achievement: For example, in securing funding from a variety of sources, enabling the museum to be among the pioneers in computerising its collections data, and later on in gaining much needed funds to help fit out the Museum’s new galleries. The achievements of the first Designation project, for instance, transformed the Museum’s online presence. It also revealed Roy’s quiet, but effective abilities in harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of his young team, all recent graduates, by giving them the necessary guidance and responsibility to get things done.
Roy’s reputation as a curator, collections manager and expert is recognised worldwide. He has published widely – from museology to agricultural history, including on the topic of his PhD on interwar rural history. Roy’s own research, as well as his role in promoting and supporting the research of others, has been critical over the years in maintaining the Museum’s unique and unrivalled position as this country’s pre-eminent resource for recording and interpreting rural history.
Following the huge achievement of the move and installation of the new Museum in 2005, Roy was able to turn his attention to projects that enriched and illuminated the Museum’s collections in novel ways. His Rural Crafts project took its starting point from the research of his colleague, Ted Collins, exploring through a series of films the present state and future prospects for rural craftsmanship in the twenty-first century through the lives and work of 10 very different crafts people, from different parts of the country. More recently, many of you may have enjoyed Roy’s blog as part of this Collecting 20th Century Rural Culture project and the changing displays that reflect the eclectic ways in which material culture of the twentieth century has reflected tastes and ideas informed by the English countryside.
Thus his legacy will be felt not only through the buildings and displays he has helped create, but through the changes in scope to the Museum’s collections brought by these recent acquisitions. His parting gift to the Museum has been a new lease of life and exciting directions for the exploration of rural life and history through material culture.
Michael O'Connell's Festival of Britain designs go on display
March 2010
Four of the seven original designs by artist Michael O’Connell (1898-1976) for his large wallhanging in the Country Pavilion of the 1951 Festival of Britain have recently gone on display upstairs in the Museum of English Rural Life. They were given to us by the artist’s son Seamus O’Connell in 2009 and have recently been conserved and framed with the help of a grant from the Pilgrim Trust.
Each section showed farming in a different part of the country. The actual wallhanging itself is also in the Museum’s collection but the 7 sections measure 6 x 4m each and are too big and fragile to display.
Further information about the wall hanging can be found on the Hidden Collections web pages.
Great British food and its future
October, 2009
The MERL Annual lecture will take place on 20 October at 7pm in the Great Hall of the University on the London Road campus. The lecture will take the form of a debate on Great British food and its future this year.
A panel of distinguished guests, including Mark Price, MD of Waitrose and Richard Macdonald, Director General of the NFU, will take part in the debate which is organised in conjunction with the Newbury and District Agricultural Society, as part of their centenary celebrations.
Admission is free, but please contact the Museum in advance to request a ticket.
Click MERL Annual Lecture 2009 for further details.
Change in Reading Room opening times
From 5 October, 2009 the Reading Room at the Museum of English Rural Life and Special Collections Service will open at the follwoing times:
10am - 5pm - Mondays (restricted service)
9am - 5pm - Tuesday to Friday
For further details, visit the Reading Room - Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) page
Popular broadcaster Tim Healey to tell the Green Man story at MERL
5 May, 2009
Popular broadcaster, freelance writer and Director of the Oxford Folk Festival will join Hilary James and Simon Mayor to reveal the secrets behind the Green Man story, using stunning visual images. This is the last in the current series of folk music concerts Hilary James and friends: songs, stories and traditions. It takes place at 7.30pm on May 12th (£12 ad £10 concessions)
'Toddler time' celebrates 1st birthday!
1 May, 2009
MERL celebrated the first year of its hugely successful ‘Toddler Time’ sessions with a special birthday party at the end of April. A year ago, MERL added sessions for parents/carers and toddlers to its popular learning programme.
About 40 adults and toddlers, many of who have been coming to the sessions since they started, came to the party last month. Everyone played party games in the garden and helped eat the 'Straw Man' cake, which was decorated with a model of the children's favourite Museum object, a straw model of King Alfred of Sussex!
The group is run by Bekky Moran, UMASCS Learning Manager, who is assisted by student volunteers, who have received high praise from regular attendees and have even been nominated for a British Museum Marsh Trust Learning Volunteers Award.
The free 'Toddler Time' sessions run from 1pm to 2pm every Friday during term time and are suitable for parents or carers with children aged 18 months to 4 years. Everyone is welcome!
New printing block display at MERL
27 April, 2009
For more than three decades MERL has been the custodian of several large printing block collections. The collections have never really been readily accessible until now. Parts of three of these collections have been conserved and prepared for display in the gallery.
Blocks were selected from the collections of the engineering companies Marshall Sons & Co. Ltd. (Britannia Iron Works, Gainsborough, Lincs), R. & J. Reeves & Son Ltd. (Bratton Iron Works, Westbury, Wilts) and John Gordon & Co. (Inspectors of Machinery and Stores, London & Aberdeen).
The printing blocks are strikingly displayed on the wall behind the Titan Tractor in the shape of clouds of smoke coming from the tractor’s exhaust shadow cast by the lighting.
MERL takes part in a 'Celebration of the Women's Land Army (WLA) and Timber Corps'
17 March, 2009
On March 13th, MERL took part in a ‘Celebration of the Women's Land Army (WLA) and Timber Corps’ with the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire at Berkshire College of Agriculture, Burchetts Green, Maidenhead.
We took along examples of uniform (including shoes) and photographs from the Museum’s extensive archives and collections. Many of the ladies enjoyed looking at the materials and reminiscing about their time in the Land Army including Mrs Joan Johnson (pictured right).
The Museum is still collecting oral histories relating to the WLA. If you or someone you know would be interested in contributing to our WLA oral history archive, please get in touch.
Ph.D Research appointment announced
19 February, 2009
MERL is delighted to announce that applications are now invited for a Ph.D. appointment on 'The Mechanization of Agriculture and the British Agricultural Steam Engine Industry, 1820-1920. Click here to find out more about the Ph.D. Research Appointment
Former MERL fellow returns to talk about Women in British Farming
12 February, 2009
Former MERL Fellow, Dr Nicola Verdon, will be giving a lecture on 'Women in British Farming at MERL to celebrate International Women's Day.
Nicola, who is now a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sussex, recently appeared as an expert advisor on the BBC's 'Victorian Farm'
The lecture, which is free to attend, will take place at 5pm on March 11th. See our Special events page for further information and to book.
Fun for families at MERL this half term
Our popular family workshops are all inspired by the People of the Thames: a photographic journey exhibition this half term. Families can try barge painting, help create a monoprinted mural, make salt dough models or funky fish mobiles. Our drop-in workshops are deisgned for the whole family to take part. Come along, have fun and learn something new together! Visit our holiday events page for details.
MERL Fellowship Scheme 2009-10
Details of the two fellowships available under the MERL Fellowship Scheme 2009-10 have been announced today. Applications are now invited for the West Berkshire Fellowship and the Road Locomotive Society Fellowship. The closing date is April 8th, 2009.
People of the Thames exhibtion opens
January 27th, 2009
A new exhibition, People of the Thames: a photographic journey featuring stunning portrait photography by international photographer Jil Orpen opens at MERL today.
Jil combines the use of pictures, text and audio to illustrate how the River Thames shapes some of the people whose lives are closely associated with it, and how the river itself is affected in return.
To find out more read the press release
Read about the exhibition on the BBC Berkshire website
Join us for a panel debate on January 29th at 7pm to mark the opening of the new exhibition. Entrance is free but a ticket is required.