Episode 5 - The Cockatrice of Wherwell

Test Valley Tales Podcast

In this episode I tell one of Hampshire's most famous stories. And best of all it's about a dragon!

With the head of a cockerel and the tail of a serpent, this type of dragon is known as a cockatrice, and this one caused chaos in the little village of Wherwell about 400 years ago... or so they say.

This is a great story for all the family and I have also created a cockatrice puppet template which can be downloaded from my website and used to join in with the storytelling. (See below).

After the story, I chat with Kenton Clarke-Williams from the Andover Museum who tells me some fascinating facts about the story and how it links with the history of Wherwell.

This episode has an added bonus at the end, as I have been lucky enough to be given permission to include a song recorded back in 1995 by the children of Wherwell Primary School. This was part of a project organised by musician Roger Watson in collaboration with Chilean musician Mauricio Venegas-Astorga. The song is called 'The Wherwell Cockatrice'.

The episode is accompanied with music by renowned folk musician Paul Sartin who took his inspiration for this episodes story theme from this song.

This story is part of Test Valley Tales.

'Test Valley Tales' is an Arts Council Funded project and one of Test Valley Arts Foundation's Borough of Culture Legacy Projects. All the stories are set in the beautiful landscape of Test Valley which is in Hampshire in England.

There is also an illustrated book of the all the stories which accompanies this podcast. This is available from my website. Please see link below.

Hope you enjoy it!

Story written by Amanda Kane-Smith, based on a traditional English folk tale.

Podcast produced by Miles Kane-Smith.

Music by Paul Sartin recorded at WildGoose Records in Wherwell.

Test Valley Tales can be found on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as @testvalleytales.

For more information please go to:

www.merry-go-roundstorytelling.co.uk/testvalleytales