Neil Cocks (English Literature) is collaborating with The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL) to engage Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities with one of the UK’s largest Romany archives. The project combines community outreach, educational programmes and scholarly research to explore GRT heritage and raise the archive’s profile.

The University of Reading holds one of the largest archives of Gypsy and Romany material in the UK. The Robert Dawson Romany Collection includes newspaper articles, a variety of physical objects, and extensive field notes on Romany language, folklore and history.

Woman standing in front of wagon
Dr Jo Clement at The MERL's 'The Long Road’ Gallery, which which explores GRT history and culture and its relation to English rural life.

Dr Neil Cocks is working with Phillippa Heath and Guy Baxter from The MERL to pursue a variety of projects aiming to contextualise the archive and raise its profile. The intent is to facilitate and develop GRT artists, academics, students and historians’ responses to the archive, and to facilitate GRT-led engagement with and contributions to it.

Phillippa Heath is leading funded outreach projects, working with Berkshire schools with large GRT cohorts to promote student-led responses to the archive. Outputs include an educational pack for students created by GRT poet and academic Dr Jo Clement, displays of student work at The MERL, and celebratory visits to these displays organised for the students and their families. The projects have met with great success, receiving 100% positive feedback from students and staff.

People talking in a exhibition of GRT objects.
The MERL's Romany and Traveller Heritage Day featured performances, demonstrations of GRT craft, and access to the archive.

Alongside this educational work, The MERL worked with Dr Clement to curate ‘The Long Road’ Gallery – opened in 2025 – which explores GRT history and culture and its relation to English rural life. The museum has made the celebration of GRT History Month a regular occurrence – in 2025, their Romany and Traveller Heritage Day drew 400 attendees and featured performances by GRT students, visiting academics and poets, as well as demonstrations of GRT craft, and access to the archive.

Looking forward, Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funding has been secured to develop a stakeholder consultation, further develop GRT-directed school outreach, and establish the future direction of academic engagement with the Robert Dawson Collection.

Published: September 2025