{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox building | name = Oracle | native_name = | native_name_lang = | former_names = | alternate_names = | image = The Oracle gateway, c. 1845.jpg | image_alt = | caption = The Oracle in Minster Street, {{circa|1845}} by William Fox Talbot | pushpin_map = United Kingdom Reading Central | pushpin_map_alt = | map_caption = Location within Reading Town Centre | building_type = Workhouse | architectural_style = | structural_system = | cost = | ren_cost = | client = | owner = | current_tenants = | landlord = | location = Reading, Berkshire, England | coordinates = {{coord|51.454417|-0.972203|display=inline,title}} | groundbreaking_date = | construction_start_date = | completion_date = 1628 | inauguration_date = | renovation_date = | demolished_date = 1850 | destruction_date = | height = | diameter = | roof = | top_floor = | other_dimensions = | floor_count = | floor_area = | main_contractor = | architect = | architecture_firm = | structural_engineer = | services_engineer = | civil_engineer = | other_designers = | quantity_surveyor = | url = | references = }} The '''Oracle''' was a workhouse that produced cloth in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The Oracle shopping centre, which now occupies a small part of the site, takes its name from the Oracle workhouse.
== History == In the 17th century, clothiers in Reading were facing competition from the north of England, where taxes were lower.<ref name="founding">{{cite web|title=The founding of the Oracle|url=http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/manufacture/oracle1.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110909022002/http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/radstock/rht/themes/manufacture/oracle1.html|archivedate=9 September 2011|publisher=Reading History Trail|accessdate=19 January 2015}}</ref> On 30 December 1624, John Kendrick a clothier died leaving £7,500 to Reading and £4,000 to Newbury to help their cloth industries.<ref name="founding" /> John Kendrick's father and brother had a textile factory in Minster Street. The factory was sold to the Council for £2,000, and alterations were carried out to make it suitable for use as a workhouse. The new facility opened in 1628.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Oracle Workhouse Site|url=http://www.theoracle.com/website/StandardPage.aspx?ParentSectionId=fb35efe8-fb02-4c6a-bf08-06ae2bca81f3&ContentInstanceId=10f61106-79a4-4abe-9d93-fdb9ab7445af|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724080047/http://www.theoracle.com/website/StandardPage.aspx?ParentSectionId=fb35efe8-fb02-4c6a-bf08-06ae2bca81f3&ContentInstanceId=10f61106-79a4-4abe-9d93-fdb9ab7445af|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 July 2011|publisher=Oracle|accessdate=21 April 2011}}</ref> It stretched from the top of Minster Street {{convert|30|m}} down along the Holy Brook. William Kendrick chose the name "Oracle" to honour his brother John, whose idea launched the facility.<ref>{{cite web | title = John Kendrick (1573-1624) | url = http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jkendrick.html | work = Royal Berkshire History | publisher = Nash Ford Publishing | accessdate = 2011-04-21 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110514065730/http://www.berkshirehistory.com/bios/jkendrick.html | archive-date = 14 May 2011 | url-status = dead }}</ref>
The Oracle remained in use until the 19th century, and the building was demolished in 1850.<ref>{{cite book|first=Daphne|last=Phillips|title=The Story of Reading|publisher=Countryside Books|year=1980|isbn=0-905392-07-8|pages=51–54}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline|Oracle Workhouse}}
Category:Buildings and structures in Reading, Berkshire Category:History of Reading, Berkshire Category:1628 establishments in England