Pellars, Charmers & Cunning Folk

Join Keith Wallis, host of The Piskie Trap, for this talk exploring the history, customs and superstitions surrounding witchcraft in Cornwall over the centuries. We’ll take a look at some examples of individuals who were deemed to be witches, their role within the community, and how they were perceived by the people around them.

From so-called ‘White witches’ and ‘black witches’ to Pellars, conjurors and charmers, we’ll explore a wide range of beliefs in magic and folk remedies, and consider how many of these beliefs and superstitions have since been lost, and whether any of them remain with us to this day.

Keith Wallis is the host of The Piskie Trap – a podcast series exploring the folklore, history and legends from across Cornwall. His recent work has involved a number of collaborations with leading historians, writers, folklorists and storytellers, as part of a movement to preserve local folklore traditions, and to promote Cornish history and heritage.