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Oscar Wilde prison in Reading 'Mecca for LGBT people' | Oscar Wilde prison in Reading 'Mecca for LGBT people' |
(about 1 month later) | |
A prison which once held Oscar Wilde has been described by a council as a "Mecca" for LGBT people worldwide. | |
Karen Rowland said Reading Prison was "essential to turning tourism around" in the town. | Karen Rowland said Reading Prison was "essential to turning tourism around" in the town. |
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which owns the Grade II listed building, said last month it would sell the site. | The Ministry of Justice (MoJ), which owns the Grade II listed building, said last month it would sell the site. |
Campaigners want the prison to be preserved and turned into a theatre and arts centre. | Campaigners want the prison to be preserved and turned into a theatre and arts centre. |
Ms Rowland, the new lead for culture and heritage for Reading Borough Council, said converting the site into a tourism attraction was "something that is at the forefront of this council's thought". | Ms Rowland, the new lead for culture and heritage for Reading Borough Council, said converting the site into a tourism attraction was "something that is at the forefront of this council's thought". |
"It is an LGBT heritage site," she added. | "It is an LGBT heritage site," she added. |
"There are not that many in the world or England that have the level of that site. | "There are not that many in the world or England that have the level of that site. |
"It is a Mecca. We had people coming from Japan and all over the world to see Oscar Wilde's prison site." | "It is a Mecca. We had people coming from Japan and all over the world to see Oscar Wilde's prison site." |
The prison has been derelict since 2013 and costs the government more than £250,000 a year to maintain, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. | The prison has been derelict since 2013 and costs the government more than £250,000 a year to maintain, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. |
The MoJ has said it was working with the council to look at alternative uses for the site, including housing. | The MoJ has said it was working with the council to look at alternative uses for the site, including housing. |
It added it wanted the site to "get value for money for taxpayers". | It added it wanted the site to "get value for money for taxpayers". |
Wilde, who spent two years there for gross indecency between 1895 and 1897, wrote about his experience in his poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol. | Wilde, who spent two years there for gross indecency between 1895 and 1897, wrote about his experience in his poem, The Ballad of Reading Gaol. |
The Oscar Wilde Society has asked for the prison to be preserved to honour the poets imprisonment. | The Oscar Wilde Society has asked for the prison to be preserved to honour the poets imprisonment. |
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