The Oracle
The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall, located on the banks of the River Kennet on the site of a 17th-century workhouse of the same name in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It was developed by, and is owned by, a joint venture of Hammerson and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
The Oracle takes its name from the 17th century Oracle workhouse built by funds from a local man John Kendrick. This once occupied a small part of the site now occupied by the shopping centre.
In March 1997 Hammerson acquired a 22 acre site of largely derelict and undeveloped land immediately to the south of the town centre. Most of this site was previously occupied by Simond's Brewery (latterly owned by the Courage brewing company) and by the Reading Transport bus depot (formerly the Reading Corporation tram depot). The brewery had earlier relocated to a new site adjoining the M4 motorway, whilst the bus depot was relocated to a location just west of the town centre as one of the first phases of the redevelopment.
The Oracle
The Oracle is a large indoor shopping and leisure mall, located on the banks of the River Kennet on the site of a 17th-century workhouse of the same name in the town of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. It was developed by, and is owned by, a joint venture of Hammerson and the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
The Oracle takes its name from the 17th century Oracle workhouse built by funds from a local man John Kendrick. This once occupied a small part of the site now occupied by the shopping centre.
In March 1997 Hammerson acquired a 22 acre site of largely derelict and undeveloped land immediately to the south of the town centre. Most of this site was previously occupied by Simond's Brewery (latterly owned by the Courage brewing company) and by the Reading Transport bus depot (formerly the Reading Corporation tram depot). The brewery had earlier relocated to a new site adjoining the M4 motorway, whilst the bus depot was relocated to a location just west of the town centre as one of the first phases of the redevelopment.