This Grade II listed building was designed for George Palmer of the Huntley & Palmers biscuit company by Alfred Waterhouse, the architect of Reading Town Hall and Reading School. Originally called East Thorpe, it was donated to the University College and became St Andrew's Hall, initially for female students. It was extended in 1911. In the 2000s it was converted and extended to house the University's special collections and the Museum of English Rural Life.
The Friends of the University have donated to the Hall, Rural History Centre, Museum, Special Collections over the years:1933 £25 Clock
1933 £45 (for Halls' Libraries) Shorter Oxford English Dictionaries
1977 £50 Tape recordings of history of University
1981 £300 Sundial and garden furniture
2003 £2,233 Microfilm reader
2004 £4,000 Stained glass window
2006 £1,500 James Arnold Collection-drawings + paintings
2006 £1,000 Readers' table
2007 £500 Benches
2010 £2,000 Flatbed display case
2012 £1,037 Tables
2014 £2,000 Towards a Shepherd's Hut