It Must Be Love: Magic and Divination at Newcastle Castle with Icy Sedgwick

Perched inside the Black Gate at Castle Garth in Newcastle upon Tyne, a one-hour evening lecture with folklorist Icy Sedgwick turns the castle’s stone rooms into a laboratory for love: practical divination, plant lore, and household charms that folklore claims can help you find — and keep — a partner. The Harbottle Suite on Floor 2 is wheelchair accessible by lift and opens its doors at 17:45 for an 18:00 start, making this an easy, city-center outing after work or before a night out in town. Sedgwick, host of the Fabulous Folklore podcast and a regular contributor to Newcastle Castle programming, lays out historical practices from Tyneside and across Europe with clear instruction, period references, and a storyteller’s eye. Expect to learn a handful of simple rituals for seeing visions of future partners, plants historically associated with attraction and fidelity, and ways ordinary objects in your home have been repurposed as charms. The talk is rooted in place: the Black Gate’s medieval stone, narrow stair passages, and proximity to the Tyne give context to regional superstitions about spirits, matchmaking, and communal rites. The Harbottle Suite’s walls make a fitting backdrop for conversations that move between folkloric detail and practical takeaway. There’s time built in for a Q&A so you can ask about specifics or bring up family lore; the format is conversational and geared toward curious adults. Accessibility is explicit: check in at Black Gate reception on Floor 1, then take the lift to Floor 2. The event lasts roughly an hour and requires no prior experience. This is as much a cultural night out as a practical workshop. For visitors exploring Newcastle upon Tyne, the event pairs well with a riverside stroll on the Quayside, a visit to nearby museums, or dinner at one of the city center’s restaurants. It’s also a chance to see local folklore treated as living practice rather than museum relic: Sedgwick connects oral histories, Gothic fiction influences, and contemporary interest in ritual in a way that feels current and usable. If you’re intrigued by the idea that everyday herbs and objects carry stories — and maybe a little luck — this is a compact, well-paced session that highlights why Newcastle Castle remains a hub for local cultural programming. Bring questions, an open mind, and comfortable shoes for the castle’s floors. Tickets usually sell out at Newcastle Castle talks, so reserve early. The Harbottle Suite format is forgiving: no preparation required, no materials to bring, and the Q&A often surfaces personal tales that illuminate how folklore evolves. Whether you’re a local with family lore or a visitor hunting offbeat cultural programming, this hour offers practical folklore, convivial company, and new ways to read ordinary objects.