Museum of English Rural Life

The Museum of English Rural Life is an archive and collection at the University of Reading dedicated to farming and countryside life in England. More than 25,000 objects show cultivation methods, tools, and traditions that existed over the centuries.

The museum was founded in 1951 and grew out of academic agricultural studies at the university. It now occupies East Thorpe House, a Victorian building dating to 1880.

The collection shows how rural life changed over generations through photographs and films that reveal how people worked and lived in the countryside. Visitors see not just old objects, but also how farm communities themselves transformed over time.

The museum is located near Reading's center and opens Monday through Friday with morning and afternoon hours for visits and research. It is best to call ahead to check if it is accessible on your visit day and whether you need access to a research area.

The collection includes regional tools like billhooks that show how specialized English farming tools could be. Such local tools were often made by village blacksmiths and were designed for specific field work or harvesting methods.

Location: Reading

Inception: 1951

Operator: Reading University

Part of: University of Reading

Address: 6 Redlands Road, Reading RG1 5EX

Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:30-12:30; 13:30-16:00

Email: merl@reading.ac.uk

Website: http://reading.ac.uk/merl

GPS coordinates: 51.44870,-0.96098

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:41