The Museum of English Rural Life
@themerl.bsky.social
The Museum of English Rural Life, University of Reading. We explore the history of the English countryside and its people. Chaotic Good.
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
https://merl.reading.ac.uk/
Pinned
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Today in marine invertebrates
New rideshare app dropping
New rideshare app dropping
🎵 On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me /
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
December 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Today in marine invertebrates
New rideshare app dropping
New rideshare app dropping
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
This is a #Crustmas post!
@themerl.bsky.social is your one stop shop for these items and chonky farm animals
While the crab feed is your one stop shop for all things seasonally crustacean: bsky.app/profile/did:...
@themerl.bsky.social is your one stop shop for these items and chonky farm animals
While the crab feed is your one stop shop for all things seasonally crustacean: bsky.app/profile/did:...
🎵 On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me /
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
December 1, 2025 at 3:21 PM
This is a #Crustmas post!
@themerl.bsky.social is your one stop shop for these items and chonky farm animals
While the crab feed is your one stop shop for all things seasonally crustacean: bsky.app/profile/did:...
@themerl.bsky.social is your one stop shop for these items and chonky farm animals
While the crab feed is your one stop shop for all things seasonally crustacean: bsky.app/profile/did:...
🎵 On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me /
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
December 1, 2025 at 3:19 PM
🎵 On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me /
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
A mouse with a lobster taxi 🎵
Shop the world's most sophisticated merch this Christmas: merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
POV: you're a museum that just threw a party.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us at last month's LATE! Hope you had as much fun as we did ❤️
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us at last month's LATE! Hope you had as much fun as we did ❤️
December 1, 2025 at 12:32 PM
POV: you're a museum that just threw a party.
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us at last month's LATE! Hope you had as much fun as we did ❤️
Huge thanks to everyone who joined us at last month's LATE! Hope you had as much fun as we did ❤️
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Once again I have been compelled to draw an Absolute Unit.
December 1, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Once again I have been compelled to draw an Absolute Unit.
woah
Look at THIS absolute unit @themerl.bsky.social ... And I haven't even exaggerated his size to help sell stud rights!
December 1, 2025 at 10:04 AM
woah
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Both episodes of this with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social were excellent. Made me think a lot. Podcasts from @themerl.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Contested Countryside (with George Monbiot), pt. 1
Podcast Episode · Absolute Units · 13/11/2025 · 34m
podcasts.apple.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Both episodes of this with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social were excellent. Made me think a lot. Podcasts from @themerl.bsky.social
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
New ‘Maximus’ bull arrived today
November 29, 2025 at 6:56 PM
New ‘Maximus’ bull arrived today
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Ahh, the lore of the absolute unit lingers on.
Absolute Units returns tomorrow! We're back again with the brilliant @georgemonbiot.bsky.social, continuing our conversation about land use under capitalism, colonial agriculture, and divisions between town and country.
Listen to part 1 below or search Absolute Units on your podcast app of choice 👉
Listen to part 1 below or search Absolute Units on your podcast app of choice 👉
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Ahh, the lore of the absolute unit lingers on.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
“Dangit I hate gift shopping for my family, they’re so hard to buy f—“
"The perfect mug does not exist."
The perfect mug:
The perfect mug:
November 27, 2025 at 7:22 PM
“Dangit I hate gift shopping for my family, they’re so hard to buy f—“
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Part two of an excellent conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
New Absolute Units is live! Listen to part 2 of our conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units podcast - The Museum of English Rural Life
Come for the big sheep. Stay for the history of rural England and its people.
merl.reading.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Part two of an excellent conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
"The perfect mug does not exist."
The perfect mug:
The perfect mug:
November 27, 2025 at 2:40 PM
"The perfect mug does not exist."
The perfect mug:
The perfect mug:
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
New Absolute Units is live! Listen to part 2 of our conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units podcast - The Museum of English Rural Life
Come for the big sheep. Stay for the history of rural England and its people.
merl.reading.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
New Absolute Units is live! Listen to part 2 of our conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
i love them so much
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 27, 2025 at 1:40 PM
i love them so much
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
i saw this photo five times before reslising it is s MÖUSE RIDING A LOBSTER
bro what genius is at work for merch
bro what genius is at work for merch
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 27, 2025 at 12:25 PM
i saw this photo five times before reslising it is s MÖUSE RIDING A LOBSTER
bro what genius is at work for merch
bro what genius is at work for merch
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Caught up with episode 1 in time for 2.
Besides self-evidently interesting content I love the birds that chirp gently over the edits in this podcast where lesser podcasts are hammered together by violent musical interludes
Time for some nice peas and PR23 with bread from non-standard flour
Besides self-evidently interesting content I love the birds that chirp gently over the edits in this podcast where lesser podcasts are hammered together by violent musical interludes
Time for some nice peas and PR23 with bread from non-standard flour
New Absolute Units is here!
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Throughout history, people have pitted town & country against each other. Where does this dynamic come from? And how do we transcend it?
In this two-part episode, @georgemonbiot.bsky.social joins us to explore these questions & more.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
November 27, 2025 at 11:02 AM
Caught up with episode 1 in time for 2.
Besides self-evidently interesting content I love the birds that chirp gently over the edits in this podcast where lesser podcasts are hammered together by violent musical interludes
Time for some nice peas and PR23 with bread from non-standard flour
Besides self-evidently interesting content I love the birds that chirp gently over the edits in this podcast where lesser podcasts are hammered together by violent musical interludes
Time for some nice peas and PR23 with bread from non-standard flour
New Absolute Units is live! Listen to part 2 of our conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Absolute Units podcast - The Museum of English Rural Life
Come for the big sheep. Stay for the history of rural England and its people.
merl.reading.ac.uk
November 27, 2025 at 9:19 AM
New Absolute Units is live! Listen to part 2 of our conversation with @georgemonbiot.bsky.social.
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
We discuss the history of land access and capitalism, the ramifications of enclosure on Britain's former colonies, and the necessary work of de-enclosure today.
merl.reading.ac.uk/explore/abso...
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Strongly recommend ordering merch from MERL. Its high quality and it will make you highly desirable to your preferred genders and also command the loyalty of farm animals
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Strongly recommend ordering merch from MERL. Its high quality and it will make you highly desirable to your preferred genders and also command the loyalty of farm animals
the world of brands craves powerful, authentic, memorable and accurate advocacy like this. yet the means stares them right in the face: make a tote bag with your logo on it being held by a mouse riding a lobster
Strongly recommend ordering merch from MERL. Its high quality and it will make you highly desirable to your preferred genders and also command the loyalty of farm animals
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
the world of brands craves powerful, authentic, memorable and accurate advocacy like this. yet the means stares them right in the face: make a tote bag with your logo on it being held by a mouse riding a lobster
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
I remember this scene in Redwall
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I remember this scene in Redwall
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
when ur mean to me online, this is who ur being mean to:
First up: scientists said it couldn't be done. But we put our logo on a scroll, and then got a mouse to hold it while riding a lobster.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
November 26, 2025 at 5:52 PM
when ur mean to me online, this is who ur being mean to:
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Hard to look at this and not think 'peak human achievement here, we're done'
First up: scientists said it couldn't be done. But we put our logo on a scroll, and then got a mouse to hold it while riding a lobster.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
November 26, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Hard to look at this and not think 'peak human achievement here, we're done'
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
If you can’t live without merchandise featuring a mouse riding a lobster then @themerl.bsky.social is the place for you.
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 5:43 PM
If you can’t live without merchandise featuring a mouse riding a lobster then @themerl.bsky.social is the place for you.
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Banger merch from the MERL, every time 👌
It's a beautiful day. We just dropped new merch for the first time in a year.
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
merl-shop.co.uk
(and, yes: we ship internationally!)
🧵
November 26, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Banger merch from the MERL, every time 👌
Reposted by The Museum of English Rural Life
Consider me gobsmacked.
First up: scientists said it couldn't be done. But we put our logo on a scroll, and then got a mouse to hold it while riding a lobster.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
Be wowed:
merl-shop.co.uk/shop/curiosi...
Original artwork from @uorspeccoll.bsky.social.
November 26, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Consider me gobsmacked.