Dragons in the Landscape (and in the flesh)
Bishop Jocelyn's Wyrm
Location: Wells (Somerset) - Area around the cathedral
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Bishop Jocelyn drove away a dragon that had been terrorising locals around seven holy springs - the cathedral was later built in the area.
The Devil's Mount
Location: Wievliscombe (Somerset) - Area around the church
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1827?
Further Comments: When the church in Wievliscombe was being rebuilt, the devil manifested riding a green dragon and began hurling rocks at the construction. Saint Andrew materialised and used a crucifix to drive both Devil and dragon away.
Dragon Death
Location: Sockburn (Yorkshire) - Area marked by the Greystone
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Sir John Conyers killed this worm by stabbing it under a wing, marking the spot with a stone and donating the used sword to Durham Cathedral.
Wormstall
Location: Churchstanton (Somerset) - Area where Stapley Farm now stands
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The dragon which took up residence in this area was killed by a knight; the lashing of the dying dragon's tail is said to have carved out a hollow in a field known as Wormstall.
Skeleton
Location: Walmsgate (Lincolnshire) - Barrow
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A long barrow located here is said to contain most of the bones of a dragon killed by Sir Hugh Bardolph in the area. The dragon's severed head was sent to the king.
Imprints
Location: Bignor (Sussex) - Bignor hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large snake-like creature wrapped itself around Bignor hill and squeezed so tightly that it left imprints of its coils.
Dragon Slaying
Location: Wormingford (Essex) - Bloody Meadow
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Fifteenth century
Further Comments: The local church gives the account of how a local dragon that was immune to arrows was put to death in a nearby field by Sir George de la Haye. A virtually identical tale exists from nearby Bures.
Fire Breathers
Location: Challacombe (Devon) - Bronze Age burial mounds in the area
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Breathing fire as they travelled, the dragons in this region are said to have an interest in Bronze Age burial mounds scattered around the region.
Curse
Location: Taunton (Somerset) - Castle Neroche
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Treasure believed (by some) to be concealed in the area around the Iron Age hillfort has yet to be fully discovered - death and serious accidents have befallen all those to have tried. Another legend says that the treasure is protected by a dragon.
Slain Beast
Location: Trull (Somerset) - Castleman's hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Little is known about the dragon said to have been killed in this area.
Winged Serpent
Location: Cawthorne (Yorkshire) - Cawthorn Park region
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A winged serpent dwelt in Serpent's Well and would between the area and Cawthorn Park.
Dragon of Aller
Location: Low Ham (Somerset) - Church
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The church is home to a spear that was used to kill a local dragon which lived in Athelney Fens - the creature snacked on the local livestock until a local hero bore arms against the beast.
Guarded Secret Tunnel
Location: Worthing (Sussex) - Cissbury Ring (Hillfort)
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Leading to an untold amount of wealth, the tunnel hidden in this hillfort is guarded by a pair of snake-like dragons. The ghost of a druid is reported to haunt the site looking for this treasure, and the sound of phantom galloping horses have also been reported. Finally, another legend says the structure was formed by earth falling off the Devil's shovel as he tried to dig a hole in the South Downs.
Undying Prince
Location: South Barrule (Isle of Man) - Devil's Den (was a hole in the ground, current status not known)
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: An immortal prince was bound by magicians and remains trapped in the hole. No one knows what he looks like, but animals which were led to the mouth of the hole would become terrified and become covered in sweat. One man was said to have seen a dragon with burning eyes enter the hole, followed by terrible groans emerging from below the ground.
Goraidh Crobhan
Location: Islay (Argyll and Bute) - Dragon den close to Ballygrant
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Crobhan killed the dragon that had levelled most of the island by having the beast chase him while he travelled with three horses. The hero ensured that the dragon ate the three horses during the pursuit, resulting in the dragon slowing down and tiring. Still being chased, Crobhan leapt across a series of barrels in which he had earlier hammered iron stakes - the dragon failed the jump, impaling itself on the stakes, ensuring Crobhan had an easy kill.
Duel
Location: Bisterne (Hampshire) - Dragon Fields
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The area was held to ransom by a fire breather who demanded a pail of milk once a day. The knight who engaged the dragon in battle barely made it out of the conflict with his life, and though the dragon lay slain, the victor died shortly after.
Spilt Blood
Location: Uffington (Oxfordshire) - Dragon Hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Parts of this hill are bare and chalky - some legends say that a dragon was slain on top of the hill, and where the beast's blood fell, the grass died.
Dragon Stone
Location: Anwick (Lincolnshire) - Drake Stone, currently in the churchyard
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1651, stone still present
Further Comments: A farmer watched in horror as his horses and plough were sucked underground in the middle of a field - a few seconds later a large dragon emerged and few off. The stone that remains today is said to cover the dragon's treasure. Some believe the dragon was in fact Satan.
Drake's Home
Location: Wolverley (Hereford & Worcester) - Drakelow, adjacent to an SSSI woodland called Kinver Edge
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1582
Further Comments: An ancient document gives reference to this place has being home to a dragon.
Sleeping Dragon
Location: Shrewsbury (Shropshire) - Earl's Hill and Pontesford Hill
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Some locals say that the two hills are a sleeping dragon. Another legend connected with the area says that either the king of Mercia or the king of Wessex lost a gold arrow here in the seventh century, and it can only be found by a seventh daughter of a seventh son.
Great Worm
Location: East Horndon (Essex) - East Horndon churchyard
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This dragon was discovered hiding amongst the tombs of the churchyard; it was finally slain by Sir James Tyrell. Some reports say the dragon lived in the nearby woods.
Well Monster
Location: Strathmartin (Angus) - Exact area not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A dragon which guarded a well managed to eat nine maidens who came one by one to draw water. It was finally slain by a man named Martin who was to be married to the youngest girl.
Multi-eyed Cockatrice
Location: Castle Gwys (Dyfed) - Exact area not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The body of this cockatrice was covered with eyes, and it was said that the estates of Winston belonged to anyone who could see the creature before it could see them. One man managed to win the lands by hiding in a barrel which rolled into the monster's lair.
Dragon Slayer
Location: Aller, Curry Rivel (Somerset) - Exact area unknown
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The village is named after a local hero who slew a dragon but died as the beast released a final breath of flame. In another version of the tale, the hero survives and finds a brood of hatchlings in the dragon's cave, which is subsequently blocked up.
Dragon's Den
Location: Ludlow (Shropshire) - Exact location not known
Type: Dragon
Date / Time: 1344
Further Comments: A Saracen arrived in the area and sought permission from the Earl to kill the dragon which was poisoning the area. The Earl agreed and the Saracen was successful in defeating the beast. What happened to the Saracen is unclear, but the Earl gained possession of the dragon's gold.
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