Hidden Charms is a bi-annual conference on magical house protection and related topics. Expert speakers from around the world converge on an historic British city to share their research on magical house protection in a friendly and supportive environment. Each speaker has 20 minutes to deliver a focused piece of research and then there is 10 minutes for them to field questions from attendees. One of the many things people really enjoy about the day is that there is a 45 minute break in the morning and in the afternoon where everyone can mingle, chat and enjoy tea/coffee and biscuits!

Hidden Charms 4 took place on Saturday 15th April 2023 at The National Centre for Early Music (YO1 9TL) in York.

Speakers were as follows:
Brian Hoggard - Witch-bottles: A re-appraisal.
Rosie Barrett - Three Witchposts: Interpreting stories of witchcraft in the North York Moors.
Anthea Hawdon - A Dictionary of Symbols - Clog almanacs as a resource for interpreting graffiti and protective marks.
Tony Hack - Lacock Abbey: A need for protection.
Dr Petra Schad - The Secret of Mummified Cats: Archaeological finds and written sources.
Val Thomas - Inspiration and Adaptation: Old Charms in Modern Magical Practice.
Robyn Lacy - Daisy Wheel, Hexfoil, Hexfoil, Rosette: Protective Marks in a Mortuary Context.
Marc Robben - Signs in brick masonry in GB.

---