The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL), part of the University of Reading, is joining global celebrations to mark the 250th birthday of Jane Austen with a programme of new exhibits and events.
Opening on Tuesday, 09 September, the museum will present a special trail through its galleries that highlights the celebrated author’s deep connections to the English countryside. The route will link Austen’s life and works with rural traditions and landscapes, offering fresh insights into how the world she observed shaped her novels.
A central feature of the exhibition is the unveiling of a new Jane Austen display, including a rare letter written by Austen to her sister Cassandra. The letter, one of only 160 known to survive after Austen’s death, is being loaned from Jane Austen’s House.
Visitors will also be able to view a first edition of her work, which, alongside the correspondence, showcases the author’s wit and keen observations.
From November, the museum will also host heritage craft workshops for children and adults, where participants can learn skills that were part of Austen’s everyday world. Sessions will include writing with traditional materials, ink making, and embroidery. Workshops can be booked via The MERL’s website.
Isabel Hughes (Associate Director, The Museum of English Rural Life), said:
“2025 is a special anniversary for devotees of Jane Austen, marking 250 years since her birth. Austen knew Reading and its surrounding villages, having been at school here and as a regular visitor to friends in Kintbury.
“The MERL is delighted to launch a special trail that explores Jane Austen’s connections to the countryside, drawing on her letters, novels and life. Visitors will see an Austen first edition as well as one of her precious letters, both illustrating her sharp observations and wit.”
Further reflections on Austen’s rural links will be explored in an upcoming episode of Absolute Units, The MERL’s podcast. Dr Paddy Bullard of the University of Reading’s Department of English Literature, who has previously appeared in a BBC2 documentary on Austen, will join Hughes in conversation.
The anniversary celebrations extend beyond The MERL. Reading Museum is also preparing a programme of tours and events focused on Jane Austen’s time at school in Reading, centred on the Abbey Gateway and the Abbey Quarter, as part of the town-wide Jane Austen 250 festivities.
