A keen Reading historian has called for the Reading gaol to be saved “for everyone in the world”.

Terry Dixon, who runs guided walking tours around Reading to raise money for local charities, believes it would be a “wasted opportunity” if the Reading gaol was sold to developers.

He explained that the “internationally famous” prison is a Grade 2 listed building with masses of history within its walls and “it’s got to be saved”.

READ ALSO: We should all stand up for our heritage and save Reading Gaol.

Describing it as a “time capsule” Terry added that, whilst Reading itself has changed beyond recognition over the last 200 years, the gaol remains largely the same.

He questioned how many buildings we can say that for, today.

Currently, proposals to sell the prison to the highest bidder have been made but met with opposition from those who want to preserve Reading’s heritage.

One of the prisons most famous inmates was Oscar Wilde who was incarcerated for homosexual offences and has since caused the prison to become a ‘mecca’ for the LGBT community.

Terry added: “It is iconic not only as a bit of a mecca for the LGBT community but a mecca for anyone that looks at prison reform.”

He explained that the prison would only punish inmates and there would be no assistance in their recovery.

He revealed: “They came out to exercise for half an hour and they were allowed to go to the chapel for half an hour, but they were not allowed to speak.”

Over time, prisoners lost the ability to talk.

For Terry, turning the prison into an arts hub would be the best outcome.

He believes there should be a West End quality theatre, an extension to the museum, a café and a place to tell the story of Oscar Wilde.

He said: “We have lost too many of our precious buildings.”

He explained we should “not just save it for Reading it’s to save it for everyone in the world”.