The Museum of English Rural Life
@themerl.bsky.social
The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading. We explore the history of the English countryside and its people. Chaotic Good.
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 3:01 PM
we don't have a Christmas advert but we *do* have an online shop with mugs, t-shirts and more that will dramatically heighten the rural representation within your personal wardrobe and kitchen cupboards
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
explore: merl-shop.co.uk
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 13, 2025 at 4:45 PM
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units returns next Thursday with a very special guest: the author, journalist and environmentalist @georgemonbiot.bsky.social!
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Absolute Units returns next Thursday with a very special guest: the author, journalist and environmentalist @georgemonbiot.bsky.social!
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us then as we explore links between people & land, urban and rural, & connect George's work to our collections.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
fun fact: Halloween in the north of England used to be known as nut-crack night.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
November 5, 2025 at 2:30 PM
fun fact: Halloween in the north of England used to be known as nut-crack night.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
people would mark nuts with the names of lovers and place them around a fire.
nuts that sizzled, spat or jumped indicated romantic incompatibility. nuts that burned together suggested peaceful, happy partnerships.
In case you missed it: last week, we released two new episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 AM
In case you missed it: last week, we released two new episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Learn about tracing queer rural history in our archives with @timjerrome.bsky.social. And/or explore the history of Halloween with @folklorepod.bsky.social.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
the bravest podcast listeners are about to meet their mightiest match, for our extremely nefarious bonus Halloween episode has arrived.
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 31, 2025 at 12:43 PM
the bravest podcast listeners are about to meet their mightiest match, for our extremely nefarious bonus Halloween episode has arrived.
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
candles out, headphones on, & listen now — if you dare!*
(*wherever you get your podcasts)
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 30, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Absolute Units is back!
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue our conversation with @timjerrome.bsky.social (University of Brighton; formerly, The MERL) about his research into queer rural life.
Discover what Tim has found in our archives to date & the research challenges he's faced.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
This Thursday, Absolute Units returns!
We continue chatting with our former colleague @timjerrome.bsky.social about queer rural life — highlighting what Tim's learned so far, including a find from the morning of recording, and the challenges he's faced.
Pod: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue chatting with our former colleague @timjerrome.bsky.social about queer rural life — highlighting what Tim's learned so far, including a find from the morning of recording, and the challenges he's faced.
Pod: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 28, 2025 at 3:42 PM
This Thursday, Absolute Units returns!
We continue chatting with our former colleague @timjerrome.bsky.social about queer rural life — highlighting what Tim's learned so far, including a find from the morning of recording, and the challenges he's faced.
Pod: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We continue chatting with our former colleague @timjerrome.bsky.social about queer rural life — highlighting what Tim's learned so far, including a find from the morning of recording, and the challenges he's faced.
Pod: merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
guess which rural history museum is throwing a LATE? guess who's invited?
if you can make it to Reading, we'd love you to join us on 19 Nov for a MERL LATE - with drinks, music, activities & tours - and see The MERL in a whole new light ✨
£5 adults/£3 students
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/autumn...
if you can make it to Reading, we'd love you to join us on 19 Nov for a MERL LATE - with drinks, music, activities & tours - and see The MERL in a whole new light ✨
£5 adults/£3 students
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/autumn...
October 28, 2025 at 8:40 AM
guess which rural history museum is throwing a LATE? guess who's invited?
if you can make it to Reading, we'd love you to join us on 19 Nov for a MERL LATE - with drinks, music, activities & tours - and see The MERL in a whole new light ✨
£5 adults/£3 students
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/autumn...
if you can make it to Reading, we'd love you to join us on 19 Nov for a MERL LATE - with drinks, music, activities & tours - and see The MERL in a whole new light ✨
£5 adults/£3 students
merl.reading.ac.uk/event/autumn...
PSA: you can also look the part with our extremely powerful hog-related merch:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/livesto...
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/livesto...
October 20, 2025 at 11:32 AM
PSA: you can also look the part with our extremely powerful hog-related merch:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/livesto...
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/livesto...
*or* check out the hog and livestock portraiture themed episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 20, 2025 at 10:14 AM
*or* check out the hog and livestock portraiture themed episodes of our podcast, Absolute Units!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
AWS is down, post hog
October 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM
AWS is down, post hog
🐏 New Absolute Units 🐏
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 16, 2025 at 9:35 AM
🐏 New Absolute Units 🐏
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Same-sex relationships have always been part of rural England, but they've been underrepresented in our collections.
In the first of 2 episodes, @timjerrome.bsky.social shares his work tracing queer rural lives in The MERL archives.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Our next free monthly gallery tour takes place tomorrow (14 October, 11.30 am)!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
October 13, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Our next free monthly gallery tour takes place tomorrow (14 October, 11.30 am)!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
Join our very own Dr Ollie Douglas with @uniofreading.bsky.social's Associate Professor Jeremy Burchardt to learn about the history of fences, and why we divide and enclose the countryside.
No booking required!
congratulations to our friends and colleagues in the University of Reading's Special Collections (who are based in our building) for bringing this special exhibition together!
it's here until February in our Staircase Hall exhibition space. do visit!
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
it's here until February in our Staircase Hall exhibition space. do visit!
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
October 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM
congratulations to our friends and colleagues in the University of Reading's Special Collections (who are based in our building) for bringing this special exhibition together!
it's here until February in our Staircase Hall exhibition space. do visit!
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
it's here until February in our Staircase Hall exhibition space. do visit!
collections.reading.ac.uk/special-coll...
New Absolute Units is live!
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
October 2, 2025 at 4:23 PM
New Absolute Units is live!
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join us and @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we explore resistance to enclosure in the modern era: from riots, to raves, to Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
Listen below, or search 'Absolute Units' wherever you get your podcasts!
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Tomorrow, we're back with another episode of Absolute Units!
We continue speaking with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social about the history of the commons and resistance to enclosure, this time focusing closer to the present day.
Expect riots, raves, Stonehenge, golf, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
We continue speaking with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social about the history of the commons and resistance to enclosure, this time focusing closer to the present day.
Expect riots, raves, Stonehenge, golf, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
October 1, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Tomorrow, we're back with another episode of Absolute Units!
We continue speaking with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social about the history of the commons and resistance to enclosure, this time focusing closer to the present day.
Expect riots, raves, Stonehenge, golf, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
We continue speaking with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social about the history of the commons and resistance to enclosure, this time focusing closer to the present day.
Expect riots, raves, Stonehenge, golf, and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.
wow, a hit bleat!
if you like sheep, you should listen to our podcast named after the biggest sheep we ever posted. lo-fi clip-clops and bleats to relax/study to. search 'absolute units' wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
if you like sheep, you should listen to our podcast named after the biggest sheep we ever posted. lo-fi clip-clops and bleats to relax/study to. search 'absolute units' wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
September 26, 2025 at 3:40 PM
wow, a hit bleat!
if you like sheep, you should listen to our podcast named after the biggest sheep we ever posted. lo-fi clip-clops and bleats to relax/study to. search 'absolute units' wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
if you like sheep, you should listen to our podcast named after the biggest sheep we ever posted. lo-fi clip-clops and bleats to relax/study to. search 'absolute units' wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
yeah we're into LLMs (Large Lamb-bridge Models)
September 26, 2025 at 3:13 PM
yeah we're into LLMs (Large Lamb-bridge Models)
After something to listen to over the weekend? Our newest podcast with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social dropped yesterday!
We talk about the history of the commons (communal resources), enclosure, and resistance to that encroachment. Plus, Untitled Goose Game.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We talk about the history of the commons (communal resources), enclosure, and resistance to that encroachment. Plus, Untitled Goose Game.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
September 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
After something to listen to over the weekend? Our newest podcast with @katrinanavickas.bsky.social dropped yesterday!
We talk about the history of the commons (communal resources), enclosure, and resistance to that encroachment. Plus, Untitled Goose Game.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We talk about the history of the commons (communal resources), enclosure, and resistance to that encroachment. Plus, Untitled Goose Game.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
New Absolute Units is live!
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
September 18, 2025 at 12:54 PM
New Absolute Units is live!
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Join special guest @katrinanavickas.bsky.social as we delve into the commons: the history of shared resources, the historical forces that encroached upon them, and the fight to get them back.
Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
New Absolute Units drops tomorrow!
This time we're bringing on the brilliant @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to explore the radical history of the commons: the shared resources that communities depended on, and the historical processes that governed their access.
Live from 12pm UK time. Ish.
This time we're bringing on the brilliant @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to explore the radical history of the commons: the shared resources that communities depended on, and the historical processes that governed their access.
Live from 12pm UK time. Ish.
September 17, 2025 at 3:53 PM
New Absolute Units drops tomorrow!
This time we're bringing on the brilliant @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to explore the radical history of the commons: the shared resources that communities depended on, and the historical processes that governed their access.
Live from 12pm UK time. Ish.
This time we're bringing on the brilliant @katrinanavickas.bsky.social to explore the radical history of the commons: the shared resources that communities depended on, and the historical processes that governed their access.
Live from 12pm UK time. Ish.
All our Oct-Dec events are now live on our website!
We've got James Joyce. We've got Jane Austen. We've got an 18+ LATE. And many more reasons why you should make the trip to Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/aut...
We've got James Joyce. We've got Jane Austen. We've got an 18+ LATE. And many more reasons why you should make the trip to Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/aut...
September 10, 2025 at 11:26 AM
All our Oct-Dec events are now live on our website!
We've got James Joyce. We've got Jane Austen. We've got an 18+ LATE. And many more reasons why you should make the trip to Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/aut...
We've got James Joyce. We've got Jane Austen. We've got an 18+ LATE. And many more reasons why you should make the trip to Reading.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/aut...
Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday's launch of our Jane Austen exhibit and trail!
Visit until 19 December to explore links between Jane Austen and the English countryside: from a rare Austen letter, to craft workshops for families & adults.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/jan...
Visit until 19 December to explore links between Jane Austen and the English countryside: from a rare Austen letter, to craft workshops for families & adults.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/jan...
September 10, 2025 at 10:23 AM
Thanks to everyone who came to yesterday's launch of our Jane Austen exhibit and trail!
Visit until 19 December to explore links between Jane Austen and the English countryside: from a rare Austen letter, to craft workshops for families & adults.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/jan...
Visit until 19 December to explore links between Jane Austen and the English countryside: from a rare Austen letter, to craft workshops for families & adults.
merl.reading.ac.uk/whats-on/jan...