But interest in the old jail has not suddenly appeared from nowhere like a forgotten cousin. The future of the site has been a hot topic in recent years, with the sale of the prison falling through last year and a council-led bid to turn the Gaol into a theatre and arts centre in the works. The Save Reading Gaol campaign for the site to become an arts and culture hub rather than instead of luxury flats has been running for more than 18 months years now, with support from celebrities such as Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry. Reading Gaol has been empty and unused since December 2013, when it was shut by the Ministry of Justice.