Amanda Kane-Smith
Storyteller
Merry-go-Round Storytelling
Test Valley Tales
From dragons and magical fish to enchanted trees and spectral horses, 'Test Valley Tales' brings the stories and legends of the borough of Test Valley to life through the Test Valley Tales illustrated book of short stories and its associated podcast.
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With 10 story locations to choose from to visit, families can immerse themselves in the stories as they enjoy the wonderful walks and picturesque places Test Valley has to offer.
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To buy the paperback from my website, please click the button below.​
Project Story
In January 2021, I was thrilled to be awarded an Arts Council National Lottery Grant for 'Test Valley Tales', and for it to be one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects.
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Test Valley Tales is an integrated project of three parts: An illustrated book of short stories, a storytelling podcast and school storytelling workshops.
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For the project, I researched and re-imagined ten stories, linking each one to a different location in the Test Valley borough area.​
While the Test Valley does have some of its own folk tales and legends, there are many great locations which aren’t currently connected to stories. For these places, I drew on traditional stories, using them as the inspiration to create new stories for Test Valley.
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Test Valley Tales is therefore a combination of re-imagined existing stories and creating new ones for the future.
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All stories celebrate the beautiful landscape of the area.
I hope the book and its associated podcast will encourage you to go out and find the story location.
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And if it is already one of your favourite places, I hope its story will enable you to explore the area with fresh eyes.
Project Collaborators
Artists Maija Liepins and Susan Merrick have created original artwork for the book, taking inspiration from both the stories and their locations.
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I was keen for the book to have a contemporary feel, and Maija and Susan have achieved this beautifully through their artwork. Using a combination of digital and mixed media techniques, they’ve brought the stories to life in a way that captures the magic of folklore while giving it a fresh look that fits naturally into today’s world.
Composer and folk musician, Paul Sartin created original music for the podcast, as well as sourcing traditional music from the Hampshire Country Dance Tunes manuscript, collected by the Pyle family in 1822. His music beautifully complements the themes in the stories, capturing the spirit and setting of each tale.
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All music was recorded locally at WildGoose Studios in Wherwell.
"Test Valley Tales is both a beautiful book and a useful resource for anyone curious to explore this fascinating part of the country, while learning about its history and folklore."
Book Review
The Book
It was a joy to write this book and to discover and retell these wonderful tales.
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The stories are full of magic and wonder, perfect for families, and anyone interested in folktales, legends, history, and folklore.
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Choosing to set each story firmly in a real location gave me the opportunity to explore many new places across Test Valley. My hope is that when you read these stories, you’ll be inspired to visit these places yourself. The historical facts, local folklore, and curious details included after each story are there to offer a fresh perspective and add interest to your walks in the area.
Test Valley Tales Storytelling Podcast
Each podcast episode features one of the tales told by me followed by an interview with someone who has links with the story or location.
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I have been lucky enough to chat to some fascinating people, learning some amazing and curious facts along the way.
Interviewees include:
'The Deadman's Plack of Harewood Forest' - Historian Elizabeth Norton, where we discuss the role of Elfrida in the story and how being a strong woman in Saxon England has skewed how she is generally written about.
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'The Baker's Daughter of Amport'- Tom Morath from The Hawk Conservancy Trust. during which Tom alongside 'Troy' the Trusts famous (and very chatty) tawny owl tells me some fascinating facts about owls.
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'The White Trout of Stockbridge' - Maggie Shelton from Watercress and Winterbournes (Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust), where we discuss our unique chalk streams, their history and their importance for the area.
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'The Feuding Farmers of Harmony Woods' - Wendy Davis from Andover Trees United, where we discuss the creation of a new woodland here in Hampshire and its importance for the local community.
For a full list of interviews and story themes, please visit the dashboard on Podbean by following the link below.
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The Test Valley podcast is hosted on Podbean:
​It can also be found on all your favourite listening sites including Spotify, iTunes etc.
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​To listen to a Test Valley Tale, please Click on the player below.
Or search for 'Test Valley Tales' on the Podbean app, the iTunes Podcast app, Spotify and most other podcast apps.
