Borderland Magic: Witches, Wizards & Cunning folk of the Welsh Marches with The Witch of Salopia

The iconic figure of the Witch, with their nefarious reputation for  enacting out malefic magic against the community has provided a source  of inspiration for many individuals. However, the Welsh Marches have  often been over looked in terms of Witch lore. Yet deep with the  crevices of the land, at the edge of forest lies tales of malicious  individuals in league with the Devil, frog familiars who devour the  souls of others and the power of the cunning folk who were sought after   to protect and heal against attacks from witches. 

This talk will focus  on the Infamous individuals recollected through trial records and  folklore including Nanny Morgan the Witch of Westwood Common and Gwen Ferch Ellis as well as popular examples of apotropaic magic used to guard the home. This lecture will also focus on the history of the Witch Trials and how they played a role within the Welsh Marches alongside various cunning practices focusing on healing and divination.