The former Reading Gaol, where Oscar Wilde was once imprisoned, has been sold to the Ziran Education Foundation for £7m. The non-profit organization plans to develop the historic site into an educational center, including a museum and exhibition space open to the public. The foundation’s founder, Channing Bi, a Chinese-born businessman residing in Ireland, leads the initiative.
Reading borough council, supported by MPs and campaigners, had also bid for the site, aiming to transform it into a cultural hub. Banksy, the artist, showed support for a creative use by painting on the outer wall. The council welcomes the foundation’s plans, emphasizing the historical significance of the site but notes the significant planning challenges due to its Grade II-listed Victorian prison and buried medieval monastery ruins.
Despite the limited details about the foundation’s plans, the council expresses optimism, highlighting the need for collaboration to understand the intended use of the site. The government initially wanted to sell the grounds for housing, but a preferred buyer withdrew in 2019 due to planning concerns. Challenges remain, including the sensitive historic nature of the site, requiring extensive planning permission and considerations for the listed building and ancient monument. Campaigners, while cautiously optimistic about the foundation’s early indications of cultural and educational focus, continue to advocate for an accessible arts use and opening the site to adjacent abbey ruins and riverside areas. The Ziran Education Foundation, dedicated to promoting a compassionate world through education, has limited project listings on its website, including a Himalayan English teacher recruitment scheme.
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