Rich-list property tycoon dies at 87
Date published: 22 December 2015
Harry Hyams, pictured on a visit to Oldham in 1981
THE reclusive property tycoon behind Oldham’s ill-fated St Peter’s Shopping Precinct has died, aged 87.
Harry Hyams was one of Britain’s most influential property developers, regularly making the Sunday Times rich list. He is credited with changing the London skyline in 1963 with the capital’s first skyscraper - the controversial Centre Point office block.
Mr Hyams was chairman of the publicly-listed Oldham Estate Company, which built the miserable, wind tunnel-like shopping precinct, which remained largely empty.
The company described the precinct as “nothing short of disastrous”. It was replaced by Spindles in the early Nineties.
Mr Hyams was renowned for being elusive, even to his own company executives, and avoided the press at all costs.
He lived in Ramsbury Manor, Wiltshire, and enjoyed fabulous wealth and a lavish lifestyle which included exotic travel, powerboat racing, vintage cars and cruising in his yacht.
Oldham Estate Company — in which Co-operative Insurance was a major shareholder — was taken over in 1987 for £600 million.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1Police section 60 and 60AA powers put in place following several incidents of disorder in Royton
- 2Three arrested in connection with 'brazen' gunshots incident in Clarksfield
- 3Phoenix on fire as Roughyeds crush Newcastle
- 4Oldham education provider’s top team shortlisted for national award
- 5Steve's next big fund-raising adventure is just weeks away