Activity Detail Page

The Museum of English Rural Life houses one of England’s most fascinating collections relating to life and work in the countryside over the last 200 years. Be prepared for something different as you discover how rural life has been shaped by natural materials, traditional skills and utilising technology developed over previous generations. The museum, library and archives represent a lost world that has been preserved and recorded through outstanding collections. Housed in new gallery premises, the museum offers a unique visitor experience, with access to more than 22,000 objects, 50,000 books and over 1 million rural history photographs, and is a source of information on rural heritage for everyone. You are welcome to explore the museum collections, including agricultural tools and implements, horse-drawn ploughs, farm wagons, woodworking and craft tools, smocks, basketry, film and photographs and its large reference library and archives. To make an appointment to use the Reading Room telephone 0118 378 8660 or email merl@rdg.ac.uk