Stone Soup | Folklore of the Ridgeway

How to make soup from nothing but water and a stone?
Find out in this traditional Wiltshire folktale, "The Tinker and the Magic Stone" whereby a crafty gypsy tricks a village into feeding him for the night, and brings the community together as a result.
A common tale found across Europe from Russia to Spain, and in this instance the Village of Liddington, England.
This is part of my "Folklore of the Ridgeway" series, where I explore the history, myths and legends associated with Britain's ancient road.
If you have been watching my video on the "Songline of the Ridgeway" then I will put a link back to that video.... when I've made it.
Stay to the end of the video to discover potential hints of Bronze and Iron Age Myth lurking in this simple traveller tale, with axe heads of fertility and cauldrons of plenty.
My name is Oliver Lavery, I'm the Story Crow. To follow support my work as a folklorist, Mythologist and storyteller, do consider making a donation on ye olde Patreon:
patreon.com/TheStoryCrow?

[@brandyjean7015]

I've heard this story, and love it. I'm an old woman, but thankfully not as old as this tale. I do believe it takes a village. On the West Coast of America, I've brought travelling folk home with me in my teen years, and offered a safe harbor to a couple of homeless acquaintances in my senior years. The last time someone journeyed down my long drive, it wasn't travelers, but tweakers looking to steal metal well after midnight. I loosed the hounds on them. In these modern times: an old woman should keep, a large rescued doggo, or two.

[@mooseymoose]

Cooperation made humanity successful. Competition may just kill us all. This story is more important than ever. Mutual aid and solidarity with all people!

[@Wyattinous]

Listening to this story not only makes me want soup, but compels me to plop a smooth stone in the stove pot as I’m making it 🍲🪨 makes me wonder how many mothers through the tales history tricked they’re children with her rare “kitchen soup stone” just because of this bedtime story. Or if the family really doesn’t have much and it’s a loving way for a mom to make light of her lack of ingredients, they’re having stone soup tonight, many harsh times like those in Europe back then. Thank you for the story ❤

[@Transformation.Massage]

This brings back childhood memories.

[@1234-t7c]

I think you're on to something with your axe head theory. During the neolithic, all over Europe, people were making stone axe hammers out of river stones by grinding and polishing them in to shape. Later when the copper and bronze technology arrived they switched to these new materials but keept the form and design. When Bronze Age farmers were plowing their fields, they keep finding the neolithic stone axe heads that came to the surface. They could recognize their shape but couldn't explain how they got buried in the soil. So they start calling them thunderstones because they thought wherever Thor's lightnight struck, one thunderstone would appear. They also believed these thunderstones were magical and had protective abilities, that's why they also got used as charms and amulets. So maybe the tinker didn't used a simple pebble or metal axe head but rather one of these polished neolithic thunderstones.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Yes, such a good point I forgot they made the early bronze axes as if they were stone. So interesting all that. Thanks for the input!

[@TheStoryCrow]

Thunder stone soup…. That’s what the story should be called! Now it’s got me thinking of thors endlessly resurrecting goats. Another fertility theme…. Mythology is fun.

[@firimituri]

Such beautiful storytelling! I much better enjoy listening to you and your fascinating stories than watching a series! Thank you!!

[@TheStoryCrow]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for watching ☺️

[@norkieuppercrusty1]

Thanks for the tales, it's good to hear them. I been pitched up on the Ridgeway for 7 years now and should probably know these stories

[@TheStoryCrow]

You're practically a Ridgeway folktale yourself then Norkie!

[@norkieuppercrusty1]

@@TheStoryCrow 😂😂😂😂 don't believe a word of what people may say, according to legend I'm surprised I'm still alive!! 😂😂😂

[@dwightsmith3860]

I remember well this beautiful story from my childhood, and I'm 69 now!

[@joandrummond524]

Thank you so much. I love this story, bringing all the community together with a beautiful bowl of soup. We do so need this today with all that is going on in the world. I so enjoy listening to your voice and seeing your smile .enjoy your time along the ridgeway x

[@Anton-Soloviev]

❤ There are similar stories in eastern Europe. One of them that I've heard in my family is about cooking a leather boot when a family had nothing else. Also stories regarding the importance of feeding a stranger one meets.

[@DesmondsDonders]

My Gran used to tell that tale from the NE of England. I used to listen rapt to the tale.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Ah, I’m not surprised. I wonder what village it’s associated with up there…

[@marshalrommel3410]

Such a great story. I’m gonna have to use that with my little one. Thank you

[@michelewhite36]

I’ve read many versions of this story to my students over the years. As villagers each contribute one small ingredient to the soup they realize the value of sharing and cooperation. It’s a beautiful way to teach these values. We always made a stone soup as a class for lunch as a culminating activity. The Jewish version is called Bone Button Broth. Thank you for your wonderful version.

[@TheStoryCrow]

It’s rare for a folktale to have such an obvious positive moral - not surprised to hear it is taught in the classroom! Thanks for watching ☺️🙏

[@jamieloom22]

Wonderful story, many thanks!

[@MrPhilsfilms]

a good story..one i used to tell my daughter when she was young..i was told it by my infant school at a story time lesson and have remembered it ever since..xxx .

[@EdrickBluebeard]

A version of this tale I'd not heard since childhood! My thanks, friend.

[@TheStoryCrow]

And to you 🙏

[@B.Willowheart]

My mother used to tell me this story! We're from the Netherlands and its a famous story here, never knew it was folklore from the ridgeway! Amazing!

[@TheStoryCrow]

That’s awesome, thanks for sharing! 🇳🇱 🪨🙏✨

[@Ghost_wheel]

That is a great old story.

[@thebordoshow]

Wonderful story. I know the Axe soup version. it's usually part of a longer story and the wize man pulls this trick to impart a moral.

[@janetownsley865]

Lovely details that help bring the story to life, even though I too am familiar with it. Definitely for children because in the adult version someone follows the tinker, kills him and steals the stone. Then the killer doesn't understand why the stone is not working. Not cynical. A good reminder that when times are tough it is better to pull together than apart.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Didn’t know that variation. That’s dark. Cheers!

[@audrablagniene5771]

In lithuanian folklore too :) thank you for remining of it :)

[@TheStoryCrow]

That’s cool. Love how widespread it is

[@charliesmith_]

One hot stone from the fire into hollowed out stone, or wood, or a stiched hide or bladder bag makes a cookpot - just add year round available scraped thistle stalks n' root. Makes great soup. Has done since millenium. Nobody needed tinkers' - unless they wanted a metal pot. Which you dont actually need to make any soup.

[@TheStoryCrow]

🪨 🔥 🍲✨

[@hArtyTruffle]

Storytime ✨ Yay 💃🏼

[@richardkeep1974]

Thank you for another great story. I love it. Such a great message ❤

[@b3ckiv]

This was one of my favourites i read in a book as well. Touched nerves all around i see, like you say the prejudice i have faced within my own family means i know less of the lore than you guys. I am not sorry that has worked out well for this little Gypsy tinker. Do you know my blessed friend Henry the philosopher who could amazing things with the leg of a chair?

[@hArtyTruffle]

Love that story! Thankyou ✨✨✨

[@TheStoryCrow]

Glad you enjoyed it 🪨 🍲 ✨♥️

[@scottybhoy29]

I remember this story from when I was a child from some book.

[@silvafox8371]

Thank you - I really enjoy your stories

[@HootOwl513]

Lovely story. Reminds me of the old Hobo Soup Stone from Depression Era America. In a Hobo Jungle by a railroad siding, a Hobo with no food would put his Magic Soup Stone in the pot. And set it to boiling, so no one could tell what was in the bottom. Another Fellow Traveler would come by. What's in the pot? *Soup, and if you add an ingredient, you can have a cup.* Well I've got an Onion. It was diced up and tossed in. A third Hobo came by, asking the same, and was told ''If you put something in, you can have a cup.'' Well I got me a Potato. Great. And it went in. Another Gentleman of the Road came over, heard the deal, and said 'I just stole a Chicken.' Well, sit back and we'll cook it for you. Another Bum had grabbed a handful of Carrots before the Farmer found his shotgun. Eventually a rich bubbling pot of Slumgullion was enjoyed by all the Hoboes in the Jungle.

[@TheStoryCrow]

That sounds like a good version. Love how it has been adapted to contemporary America. Thanks for sharing

[@HootOwl513]

@@TheStoryCrow There's a delightful short story by [Turn of the (previous) Century] American writer, O. Henry, titled ''The Third Ingredient.'' No stones for flavoring, however. The Great Depression started about 95 years ago. Not considered contemporary on this side of the Atlantic...

[@TheStoryCrow]

Yes, I see your point 😂 More contemporary then the Wiltshire version shared here is what I meant, which was recorded in the nineteenth century, and probably ‘set’ a century before that, roughly speaking. But probably an ancient tale really

[@HootOwl513]

@@TheStoryCrow Perhaps it goes back to the *Stone Age* ?

[@TheStoryCrow]

😂😂😂😂

[@sandrasims7569]

🙏🙏🙏love this story ❤

[@user-pj5by8lx2m]

That was an awesome story thank you. ❤

[@drowsyZot]

I have always loved that story, thank you so much for sharing it!

[@TheStoryCrow]

So many people have heard this one it seems!

[@delorescasper2564]

As a child in the states this story was told to us. The tinker was a few men of an opposing army. I think it was set during the Civil War. I haven't heard that story for a very long time. Thank you

[@TheStoryCrow]

Ah. I’m loving the (slightly) more modern American takes on this tale I’m hearing in the comments. That’s a good one. Such an adaptable folk tale. Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@mrkultra1655]

Thanks, we have this story over here in the States as well

[@Eriugena8]

I didn’t know about the axe-head info. Then two days later I listened to our strange skies podcast number 87 talking Swedish ufo history, and some guy reported seeing a floating axe-head.

[@TheStoryCrow]

😂 that’s wild 🪓 🛸

[@JesseP.Watson]

Lovely story, as always, well spoken. I'm just near completing an animated "story by the fire" I wrote about Ötzi the Iceman, which has turned out very magical - I read it as a gentleman puffing a pipe as he tells the story and then have created a stereo field that places the listener in the room with the story teller, a crackling fire, a grandfather clock ticking and the wind atop the mountain beyond. The animated scenery matches it, with a crackling fire and day-night cycle with changing weather passing over the mountain where Ötzi was found. I've placed the room the story teller is occupying on a flying carpet, with fireplace and furnishings but no walls so the mountain and weather passes around the room. Point being, it feels very strong, best thing I've made for ages... and accessible, which is the main thing. So, it's making me think seriously about building a channel hosting "virtual stories by the fire" in this format with this pipe smoking fellow on his magic carpet flying in to the scene of the stories to tell them... I have been thinking of reading H.G.Wells' version of the fairy mound myth next as I'd like to create the fairy mound imagery... but you have been on my mind likewise, for obvious reasons, as someone who'd be perfectly placed to create something with in that direction. I've been vaguely wondering if you would allow me to rewrite some of your stories in a slightly more antiquated turn of phrase to fit the drawing room atmosphere or if you would have any interest in a collaboration in that direction...? There could be another character appear by that fire, of course. I should wait till I've published it then you could see it, but, well, was on my mind so thought to mention it. [...] All the best, good Crow.

[@TheStoryCrow]

You speak good words by the fire j

[@TheStoryCrow]

The wind atop the mountain beyond…. And my fire to your fire my friend 🔥🙏✨

[@EbbandFlow1234]

Thankyou.

[@sarasmr4278]

Hail 💜

[@elendil7]

❤❤❤ Your dog!

[@TheStoryCrow]

He’s the best boy ♥️

[@martinamusovic1785]

Is it related to the old custom, still preserved amongst the Basques, of heating up the milk by putting a hot stone into a bowl? It is apparently an old custom from the Neolithic times, originating in the Levant.

[@TheStoryCrow]

No idea, haven’t heard of that one. Sounds plausible. Thanks for sharing!

[@TheStoryCrow]

Are you walking the ridgeway, or going on some other hiking expedition and wondering what food rations to bring? Don't bother! All you need is a smooth stone from a Welsh river.

[@charliesmith_]

Rode the ridgeway every day for years. Rather boring to ride, but very nice in 'off-piste' parts. 😉😘 Wish you'd showed us the wooden spoon being carved x

[@TheStoryCrow]

@@charliesmith_ I will next time 😉🙏

[@sweetchariotengland]

No, thank you my friend

[@josephturner7569]

A story Short. John Hurt The Storyteller.

[@greenspiral2955]

Loved the story. And the dog. And a gorgeous carved spoon too. But communistic sharing? If I want to share food don't I have to own it first to be able to give it away? I used to think sharing tools was neat untill I found out no one wanted to maintain them as they belonged to everybody. Yea, lost me on that...

[@scottingram580]

I make soup with the spoons i carve with ray iles knives, buy your soon to be wife some and you'll never go hungry, ps i don't know the fella but his knives have no equal

[@TheStoryCrow]

Ahhh, ray isles eh? I’ll point tam in his direction. She uses mora knives mostly

[@fillyfresh]

You have lost weight...

[@TheStoryCrow]

That’s what walking 40 miles in the heat will do 😂

[@infectedrainbow]

This is an incredibly common tale in the US. I must have heard half a dozen variations.

[@dianetheone4059]

We-made-stone-soup-in-first-grade.🧭🧭🧭🧭🧭