Parfois je m’aperçois que je n’ai jamais pris la peine de rendre compte d’une visite qui m’a plu et je surmonte ma flemme intersidérale pour y remédier. Aujourd’hui, parlons donc du MERL ou Museum of English Rural Life de Reading, grand musée consacré à l’agriculture et à la ruralité. Au passage : comme pas mal de gens je crois, j’ai découvert le MERL du temps où Twitter était un réseau fréquentable, grâce à ses community managers exceptionnels. Alors OK, j’allais à Reading pour voir d(‘autr)es briques, mais la présence de ce musée a aussi pesé dans ma décision, donc bravo le MERL, beau travail de conquête du grand public. Et je n’ai pas été déçue : c’est un musée foisonnant, avec de riches collections qui couvrent essentiellement le XIXe et le XXe siècle (mais un peu avant et un peu après aussi), plein d’objets intéressants, juste ce qu’il faut d’explications, un chouette café, un grand jardin, bref, un endroit super et chaleureux. Would recommend, MERL/10. Juillet 2023, 10 photos.
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#bricksofreading #englishbricks #britishbricks #visiteaveclesbriques #readingberkshire #passionbriques #MERL #MERLReading

Cannot believe it's the 8th anniversary of the absolute unit. Simpler times. #merl

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/news-and-views/history-behind-absolute-unit/

The history behind an absolute unit

Learn the story behind the most viral sheep photograph in Internet history: why we have it, and what it tells us about selective breeding.

The Museum of English Rural Life
#DailyBird 🤖
Merlin (Falco columbarius), 4th February 2024
es: Esmerejón, fr: Faucon Émerillon
Salisbury Beach State Reservation, Salisbury, Massachusetts
Pawtucket, Pentucket & Wabanaki (Dawnland Confederacy) traditional territory
Canon EOS R5, Canon RF 800mm f/11, 30% crop, 1/2000s, ISO 5000
#Birds #Merlin #MERL #BirdOfTheDay #HopeIsTheThingWithFeathers #DescribeYourImages

So, that's my thread about the #MERL. To summarise: it's a great museum, it's fun and lovely to be at. Go to Reading (close to London, excellent train connections) and have a good day here (also: it's free!)

https://merl.reading.ac.uk/

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Home

Discover the story of the history of rural England and its people. Explore our galleries, library, cafe, shop, and garden. Free to visit.

The Museum of English Rural Life

I learned about the #MERL back in the day when Twitter was still fun and their fantastic social media work brought us fun things from their collection, such as the absolute unit (look it up, it's great), or just entertainingly told stories from the everyday life of a museum or, well: English rural life.

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Okay, I have to tell you about the #MERL – the Museum of English Rural Life in Reading. It is a truly wonderful place to visit (with children or without): You can learn about farming, rural life, gardening and much more – and even if those are not your main topics of interest, I can assure you, you will have a good time and learn something genuinely interesting.

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