News Archive

Sod-Cutting for New Museum of Rural Life – University of Reading

Work Begins on New Museum of English Rural Life Construction work has now begun on the new £10.5 million Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading. Funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the University, the Project has also received generous financial assistance from a host of regional and local organisations and individuals whose support has been invaluable in bringing the scheme to fruition. A sod-cutting ceremony at the former St Andrew's Hall, Redlands Road will take place at 4.30 pm on Wednesday, 4 June where the Chancellor of the University, Lord Carrington, will turn the first piece of earth. The new Museum will offer superb facilities for the display of its nationally-recognised and internationally important collections, with much-improved conditions for storage and conservation. Located at the former Hall of Residence, the existing building, Grade 2 listed and designed by Alfred Waterhouse, will house the Museum's archive, book and photographic collections along with enhanced visitor facilities, including a large new reading room and a space for temporary exhibitions. A new wing in contemporary style designed by Niall Phillips Architects will house the riches of the artefact collections – including wagons, machinery and tools - accessible for the first time in their entirety and brought alive for different groups of visitor by means of web-based multimedia, interactives and more traditional forms of interpretation. Both the old and new sections of the Museum will look out upon the existing large gardens, which will provide an ideal space for open-air events within the framework of a year-round programme of workshops, activities and educational sessions designed to ensure that MERL remains a lively and popular venue. 'The new MERL will offer something for everyone,' explained Dr Roy Brigden, Keeper of the Museum, 'and we are really looking forward to doing full justice to our wonderful collections at last. A lot of people have helped along the way and we'll be repaying them with an exciting new facility that will put MERL firmly back on the map and be a meeting place for everyone with an interest in the countryside'. As part of the development process, the Museum will be actively consulting with its users in the coming months, seeking the views of visitors on future displays, exhibitions and public services. There will also be an increased range of opportunities for volunteers to help out with our event and activity programmes, assist with cataloguing and research, or lend support to the ambitious project to repackage and conserve the Museum's priceless collection of glass plate negatives prior to the move to the new site. All those who would be interested in taking part in the audience consultation process, or in volunteering, are invited to get in touch on 0118 378 8660 or email at merl@reading.ac.uk For more information please contact Carol Derham or Sue Rayner, Communications & External Relations Office, University of Reading 0118 378 8004/5.