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Reading, borough, England

(Encyclopedia)Reading rĕdˈĭng [key], borough and unitary authority (1991 pop. 194,727), S central England, on the Kennet River near its influx to the Thames. Reading, which was the seat of the former county of B...

Soissons

(Encyclopedia)Soissons swäsôNˈ [key], city (1990 pop. 32,144), Aisne dept., N France, on the Aisne River. It is an agricultural and industrial center. Soissons was an old Roman town and early episcopal see. Its ...

Tizard, Sir Henry Thomas

(Encyclopedia)Tizard, Sir Henry Thomas, 1885–1959, English physical chemist and scientific adviser. He was educated at Westminster school and Magdalen College, Oxford, from which he received honors in natural sci...

Provisions of Oxford

(Encyclopedia)Provisions of Oxford, 1258, a scheme of governmental reform forced upon Henry III of England by his barons. In 1258 a group of barons, angered by the king's Sicilian adventure and the expenditures it ...

Bourget

(Encyclopedia)Bourget, lake, 16 sq mi (41 sq km), c.11 mi (18 km) long and 2 mi (3.2 km) wide, NE Savoie dept., E France. It is famous for its scenic beauty. Aix-les-Bains and other resorts are located on its shore...

Athelney, Isle of

(Encyclopedia)Athelney, Isle of ăthˈəlnē [key], small area formerly surrounded by marshland, Somerset, SW England. King Alfred took refuge from the Danes there in 878 and founded a Benedictine abbey in 888. Rel...

Jedburgh

(Encyclopedia)Jedburgh jĕdˈbərə [key], town (1991 pop. 4,053), Scottish Borders, SE Scotland, on the Jed River. The manufacture of rayon is the main industry. Jedburgh also has tannery, woolen, and corn mills a...

Alban, Saint

(Encyclopedia)Alban, Saint ôlˈbən [key], 3d or 4th cent., traditionally the first British martyr. He lived and died at Verulamium, now St. Albans. In 793 an abbey was founded there in his honor. Feast: Roman Cat...

Barking and Dagenham

(Encyclopedia)Barking and Dagenham bärˌkĭng ən dăgˈnəm, bôˌ– [key], outer borough of Gre...

Neath

(Encyclopedia)Neath nēth [key], Welsh Castell-nedd, town (1981 pop. 48,687), Neath Port Talbot, S Wales, on the Neath River. Neath is both a market and an industrial town. Metallurgy and a growing petrochemical in...