I also found out that "Hergest" is related to the Mabinogion and the Red Book of Hergest presented in 1701 to "Jesus College", Oxford, by a Rev. T. Wilkins, of Llanbleithain, Glamorgan in Wales. The Mabinogion is a collection of Welsh tales first preserved in the Peniarth manuscripts (ca 1200?), then the White Book of Rhydderch (Llyfyr Gwyn Rhydderch) written about 1300-1325; and later in the Red Book of Hergest (Llyfyr Coch o Hergest), written between 1375-1400. Most scholars believe that all but the three "romances" date to the tenth or eleventh century, and are based on much early mythology. The name is a misnomer, as the word "mabinogion" doesn't exist in Welsh. It was a mistake made by the scribe, existing only at the end of Pwyll pendeuc Dyfed. The real word is "mabinogi," which some translate as "tales for youth", "tales of the Mabon" and "tales of the hero." They derive this meaning from "mabon" or "meibon"--meaning a young man or youth. It is also the name of a god, Mabon ap Modron. Also the Hergest Triads has to do with the legend of King Arthur and the Round Table with the 12 Knights. Including Britain's History. Now, Mike Oldfield was born in the city of Reading (red-ing) and in the Borough Council's website says that it is famous for the Victorian red-brick buildings. The name Reading is pronounced to rhyme with bedding (in phonetics /'r3dIÅ?/). The name Reading is an inga placename denoting a Saxon origin. It means 'the settlement of the people of Reada'. Moreover, I read that someone questioned the meaning of Reada Borg in a website from the Wiltshire Community History: Question: What is the origin of the village name Tockenham. According to the Anglo-Saxon Charters A.D. 757. See S 96. Æthelbald, king of Mercia, to Eanberht, abbot; grant of 10 hides (cassati) near the wood called Toccan sceaga (Tockenham, Wilts.) and the tumulus called Reada beorg. What does Toccan sceaga mean and where is Reada beorg? Answer: The origin of Tockenham is thought to come from the Old English Toc(c)a's Ham(m), meaning Toca's village or meadow - Toca being a personal name. There was also a tocan stan, toca's stone.

The word sceaga means a small wood, copse or thicket and so this would be Toca's wood.

The word reada is red, reddish, while beorg is a hill or mountain. The likely meaning of Reada beorg therefore is Red Hill and there is an outlier of Red Down Iron Sand to the east of Shaw Farm, and north-east of the village. As this produces a red or brown loam soil it could have given rise to the name of Red Hill. Another explanation Reading probably began life around 870AD. A fortification had been built between the Rivers Kennet and Thames by the Danes, who used it as a base to launch countrywide invasions during the Viking wars of the time. King Alfred the Great and his older brother King Æthelred led many battles against the Danes there. The place became known as 'Readingum', Saxon for 'the place of Reada's people'. (However, a plausible alternative explanation for the name may have come from the Celtic 'Rhydd-Inge' meaning 'Ford over the River' - the river in question being the Kennet.) The heart of the town was around where the market is today - at St. Mary's Butts, where St. Birinus is said to have founded a small chapel in the 7th Century. 'The Butts' are so called from when the townspeople practiced their archery there.

AMOR,

Vanesa aka Sirius

IAO |O|

Sources http://www.behindthename.com/php/view.php?name=gordon http://www.geocities.com/branwaedd/hindex.html http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/triads1.html http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/community/getfaq.php?id=203 http://www.readinet.org/info.asp http://www.reading.gov.uk/