THE STROLLER'S TALE #16

TITLE  - THE STROLLER'S TALE #16

CREATED BY - THE MAGPIES FEATHER 

GENRE - FOLKTALES/FOLKLORE FROM PEOPLE AND LOCATIONS AROUND THE U.K.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - UNITED KINGDOM 

A5/PAMPHET/32 PAGES/FULL COLOUR & B/W

PRICE - £2.50 + SHIPPING FROM THE MAGPIES FEATHER ETSY STORE

“The Stroller’s Tale” consists of descriptions of walks undertaken by various contributors to folky, haunted or sacred locations throughout the U.K. It features stories, legends, art and photos.

Stone Club proudly adorns the cover of issue 16, and the lead article by founder Matthew Shaw tells you all you need to know about this obelisk-obsessed organisation. [Further info can be found on their website here.]This issue’s articles include a trip to “Hell’s Lane” in Symondsbury, Dorset; the legend of the spectral Bull of Hergest Ridge in Hertfordshire; the imaginary landscape of artist “Man in the Woods”; psychogeography and unplanned walking from Solvitur Ambulando (Latin for “it is solved by walking”); the folklore of Beltane and May Day celebrations; and a report from the Bradford on Avon Green Man festival, a history of Glastonbury Abbey and original art from Corinna Nicoll.

The stories are enjoyable, informative, not especially gory with lots of rich and earthy British history. Expect stories about black dogs, angry spirits and smugglers’ secret routes. The complete run of issues as a whole could be seen as an informal history of British folktales. “The Stroller’s Tale” is a charming little zine: easy to read with big DIY-zine cred in its printing mistakes and wonky formatting - but this all adds to its charm. Readers can also contribute their own stories.

The Magpies Feather also produce a 30 page zine called “Weird Wiltshire”, available from their Etsy store. It’s a “collection of folklore, ghost stories and curious places from Avebury and the surrounding villages” which offers exactly that - taking in Charles Dickens, Merlin, paganism, the Barber Stone, West Kennet Long Barrow (special sites which need no introduction), sacred springs, devils and Ray Pope’s Photo Museum! It is a nice sister zine to “Stroller’s Tale” and perfect if you live in Avebury or are planning a visit as directions to various sites of interest are included.