Home / Online Exhibitions / The History of St. Andrew's Hall

Introduction

Alfred Palmer

East Thorpe and
Alfred Waterhouse

The origins of
St. Andrew's

Minute Books
and Reports

Rules for Women's
Halls of Residence

Closure of
St. Andrew's Hall

The Museum of
English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life was founded by the University of Reading in 1951 to reflect and record the changing face of farming and the countryside.

 

The Museum began life as a travelling exhibition that visited agricultural events to gain public interest.

Image: The Museum began life as a travelling exhibition that visited agricultural events to gain public interest.

From the later-1940s, and in a very small way to begin with, University staff started to collect together items and equipment, now redundant, that reflected the more traditional ways of life that were fading fast. In 1951 the University established the Museum of English Rural Life. The Museum was opened to the public in 1955 in Whiteknights House - the Museum's first home.

As the collections grew and space became limited, the Museum moved in to 'temporary' accommodation in 1964. It stayed there for the next 40 years. Within it's first 50 years, MERL had become a pioneering organisation. During the 1960s, the staff conducted special recording projects - such as the documentation of over 600 surviving farm wagons across the country and the photography of traditional rural craftsmen and their work. Sadly, many of these craftsmen turned out to be the last in their line.

The Queen visited the Museum in 1992 as part of the University's Centenary celebrations.

Image: The Queen visited the Museum in 1992 as part of the University's Centenary celebrations.

The building of our collections has continued to become the most extensive of their type in England containing artefacts, books, archives, photographs, film and sound recordings. All collections are related to the history of food, farming and country life.

All of the collections are registered by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and are Designated as being of national importance.

The Museum is proud of its history and is proud that it can finally do its collections justice by providing them with a building that offers facilities for everyone with an interest in the countryside.

The last staff photo outside the Museum's building on Whiteknights Campus, June 2004.

Image: The last staff photo outside the Museum's building on Whiteknights Campus, June 2004.

The Museum's website provides access to the collections to visitors of all ages.

Image: The Museum's website provides access to the collections to visitors of all ages.

The wagons are displayed on rails and are viewable from underneath and above.

Image: The wagons are displayed on rails and are viewable from underneath and above.

The Museum's new Reading Room

Image: The Museum's new Reading Room.

The gateway through to the new Museum's reception.

Image: The gateway through to the new Museum's reception.