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Museum of English Rural Life

1951 establishments in EnglandAgricultural museums in EnglandAlfred Waterhouse buildingsEnglish coast and countrysideMuseums established in 1951
Museums of the University of ReadingMusical instrument museumsRural history museums in EnglandUse British English from February 2023
The Museum of English Rural Life garden
The Museum of English Rural Life garden

The Museum of English Rural Life, also known as The MERL, is a museum, library and archive dedicated to recording the changing face of farming and the countryside in England. The museum is run by the University of Reading, and is situated in Redlands Road to the rear of the institution's London Road Campus near to the centre of Reading in southern England. The location was formerly known as East Thorpe House and then St. Andrews Hall. It is an accredited museum and accredited archive as recognised by Arts Council England and the National Archives.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Museum of English Rural Life (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Museum of English Rural Life
London Road, Reading Newtown

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N 51.44868 ° E -0.96098 °
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University of Reading, London Road Campus

London Road
RG1 5AG Reading, Newtown
England, United Kingdom
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The Museum of English Rural Life garden
The Museum of English Rural Life garden
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London Road Campus
London Road Campus

London Road Campus of the University of Reading is the original campus of that university. It is on the London Road, immediately to the south of Reading town centre in the English county of Berkshire. The site for the campus was given to the university in 1904 by the Palmer family, owners of Reading's Huntley & Palmers biscuit makers. It served as the university's main site until after the much larger Whiteknights Campus was acquired in 1947.The University Great Hall, which plays host to the university graduation ceremonies, is to be found at London Road. The University's war memorial, which takes the form of a clock tower, is situated near the Great Hall. While most departments of the university have now relocated to the university's other campuses, London Road is still home to several university departments and facilities. These include the School of Continuing Education, the School of Health & Social Care, Estates Management, the University Archive Service, the Innovation Centre @ Reading and the Cotton Club. The campus is currently undergoing a major renovation, preparatory to becoming the new home of the university's Institute of Education. This commenced in mid-2010 and is planned for completion in the summer of 2011, at an estimated cost of £30 million. The work is being partially funded by the sale of the adjoining site of Mansfield Hall, a former hall of residence, for demolition and replacement by private sector student accommodation.The London Road Campus is separated from the Royal Berkshire Hospital by Redlands Road, whilst the grade II* listed Albion Terrace is on the other side of London Road. The university run Museum of English Rural Life is located on Redlands Road just to the south of the campus.

Watlington House
Watlington House

Watlington House is a 17th-century building, with a large walled garden, in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. The building is brick built and is reputed to be the oldest surviving secular building in the town. It is a listed building, being listed grade II*. The information on the Historic England website is https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1321898 The western or rear part of the building was built in 1688 for Samuel and Anne Watlington, whilst the eastern part, fronting onto Watlington Street, is said to date from 1763. Samuel Watlington served as mayor of Reading in 1695 and again in 1711.The first recorded occupant of the house was Captain Edward Purvis in 1794, renting the house for £25 annually. He fought at the Battle of Corunna in the Peninsular War with the 4th Regiment of Foot and trained the Berkshire Militia in Orts meadow near his home. The house is rumoured to be haunted by his ghost. After Captain Purvis, the house was variously occupied by a Mrs Stevens and then used as an office by the town clerk of Reading.In 1877 the house became the first home of the newly founded Kendrick Girls School. The school remained on the site until 1927, when they moved to their current location on the corner of Sidmouth Street and London Road. During their stay they erected a corrugated iron hall in the garden, which still stands.Since 1931, the building has been owned by local trustees. They provide accommodation for social and educational organisations, using the rents for the upkeep of Watlington House.Since 2003, the House has been the home of the Mills Archive, the national repository for documents, images and other records on mills, milling and the historical uses of traditional power sources along with other tenants. As at 2021 there are 5 tenants of the house, including The Mills Archive, Weston Architects, Berkshire Youth. the Reserve Forces Employment Association (MOD) and Total Security Corps (a Nepalese group which provides training in the Security industry). The Garden Hall has been used by local groups for purposes such as; Yoga, Dance, Keep fit. Parties and Weddings celebrations have also been held. There is also now a separate small meeting room available to hire. In May 2020 Trustees agreed to improve the presence of the building as it faces Watlington Street by erecting a perimeter wall and railings and a central gate. This will reflect, but not copy, the wall and central gate which is known to have been in situ in the 1920s. Completion is expected August 2021. In January 2021 the Garden Hall started to be used for the Coronavirus Vaccination Programme by 2 Primary Care Networks (Reading Central and Whitley). It is expected that this will continue until the late autumn with the Booster Jabs and the Flu vaccinations. Further information is available on the website. http://www.watlingtonhouse.org.uk/about

Eldon Square, Reading
Eldon Square, Reading

Eldon Square is a formally planned garden square located in the East Reading area of the English borough of Reading. It dates from circa 1840 and comprises a public park surrounded on two sides by residential housing and represents a notable example of 19th-century urban design. The central green space is officially designated the King George V Memorial Gardens, although this name is rarely used in everyday reference. The square is named after John Scott, 1st Earl of Eldon, who served as Lord Chancellor for much of the early 19th century. Scott spent his later years in nearby Sonning and was a benefactor of the Royal Berkshire Hospital, situated only a short distance from the square. Another Eldon Square exists in Newcastle upon Tyne, the Earl's birthplace. The houses on the north and east sides of the square bear Eldon Square addresses, while the west and south sides are defined by Eldon Road and London Road, respectively. The square was developed as a prestigious residential area, and the buildings were constructed from Bath stone, which was transported via the Kennet and Avon Canal. Local brothers and architects Henry and Nathaniel Briant reportedly contributed to designing the houses, which were especially popular with medical professionals affiliated with the nearby Royal Berkshire Hospital. All the remaining original houses, numbered 5 to 27, are designated as grade II listed buildings. Originally intended for the exclusive use of the square’s residents, the central gardens were transferred to Reading Borough Council in 1944 and opened as a public park. They were named the King George V Memorial Gardens in honour of the late monarch, who died in 1936. The gardens feature a central lawn surrounded by ornamental flowerbeds and shrubs. Notable mature trees include red oak, yew, cherry, and cedar. The space is enclosed by grade II listed iron railings. The gardens are also home to a statue commemorating Rufus Isaacs, 1st Marquess of Reading, who served in several high-profile roles during the early 20th century, including Member of Parliament for Reading, Attorney General, Lord Chief Justice, and Viceroy of India. The statue, sculpted by Charles Sargeant Jagger, was originally located in New Delhi. Following India’s independence in 1947, the statue was offered to the town of Reading and was installed in Eldon Square in 1971.