Museum of English Rural Life

University of Reading, Whiteknights, PO Box 229,
Reading, Berkshire RG6 6AG

Tel: 0118 931 8660 Fax: 0118 975 1264

e-mail: rhc@reading.ac.uk

website: www.ruralhistory.org

The Museum of English Rural Life at the University of Reading is the English national centre for the history of food, farming and the countryside. With artefact, library and archive collections of international importance, the Centre tells the story of farming and the countryside in England over the past three hundred years. Discover an amazing range of country crafts, find out about Victorian farmhouse kitchens and explore England's largest collection of vintage ploughs, wagons and machinery, including a steam-powered threshing machine. There are captivating displays for visitors of all ages, as well as quizzes and trails for children and families plus an interactive computer area.

The Object Collections is one of the country's finest collections of objects related to daily life and work in the countryside. The Library has over 50,000 books and periodicals. The Archive includes the business records of major agricultural engineering firms, archives of national countryside organisations and a large collection of individual farm records. The Archive of Photographs and Illustrations has over 750,000 Images of farming and rural life. Visitors wishing to consult the reference collection are asked to make an appointment in advance.